(Luke 6:13-16) "and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor."

Judas is mentioned by name 15 times in the N.T.

He is referred to several other times in both the old and new Testaments.

11 of the 15 times he is mentioned by name the word BETRAYED, BETRAYER, or BETRAY is also used.

At least 6 other times the word BETRAY or BETRAYED is used specifically speaking of Judas' deed where Judas' name is not used.

Therefore, Judas is called a BETRAYER at least 15 times in the N.T.

In addition to the term BETRAYER, Judas is given at least EIGHT distinct names in the Scriptures

A THIEF - This was given as a reason for wanting to hold the bag.

THE SON OF PERDITION - It literally means someone that is destined for destruction.

A DEVIL - Not like a devil, but Jesus said "one of you is A DEVIL!"

[Psa 41:9] "Yea, MINE OWN FAMILIAR FRIEND, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me."

[Mat 26:50] "And Jesus said unto him, FRIEND, wherefore art thou come?"

He was also called, A Disciple, An Apostle, and a Bishop!

 

But, here in our text Judas is called "THE TRAITOR!"

Betrayal is an action. To betray is an act of treason.

A Betrayer is one who has performed an act of betrayal.

The term TRAITOR on the other hand is a noun!

It is a name given to one who has betrayed a friend, or a nation.

Judas is called THE TRAITOR. Not just A TRAITOR, but THE TRAITOR.

Forever will his name go down in infamy as THE ONE who betrayed Christ!

Forever in history he has been known, and is known as THE TRAITOR!

> All of history records the deeds of Judas Iscariot.

Benedict Arnold was a military hero for both sides in the same war.

He began his career as an American Patriot in May 1775, when he and Ethan Allen led the brigade that captured Fort Ticonderoga on Lake Champlain.

> Arnold's heroics continued in September, when he led an expedition of 1,150 riflemen against Quebec, the capital of British Canada.

This American commander drove his men hard through the Maine wilderness...

> Overcoming leaky boats, spoiled provisions, treacherous rivers, and near starvation to arrive at Quebec in November, his force reduced to 650 men.

These losses did not deter Arnold.

> Joined by General Richard Montgomery, who had arrived with 300 troops after capturing Montreal, Arnold's forces attacked the strongly fortified city, only to have the assault end in disaster.

> 100 Americans killed, including Montgomery; 400 captured; and many wounded, including Arnold!

Quebec was only the beginning.

For the next five years Arnold served the American Patriots with distinction in one battle after another.

> Including a dangerous assault against the center of the British line at Saratoga, where he was again wounded in the leg.

No general was more imaginative than Arnold.

> No field officer more daring, no soldier more courageous.

Yet Arnold has gone down in history NOT AS A HERO but as a VILLAIN.

He was as valiant of a hero as could be found...

> Yet he is known today as a military traitor.

As commander of the American fort at West Point, New York, in 1780, he schemed to hand it over to the British.

> Of his role in this conspiracy there is no doubt.

> His British contact, Major John Andre, was caught with incriminating documents in Arnold's handwriting, including routes of access to the fort.

Arnold, fled down the Hudson River on a British ship.

> He wrote a letter to George Washington, defended his treason saying that men would never understand what he did.

What caused a brilliant General and American hero to turn against his own country?

After his success at Fort Ticonderoga Arnold submitted an inflated claim for expenses and protested vehemently when the suspicious legislators closely examined each item.

> Some said of him:

> He was ambitious and extravagant, an egocentric man who craved power and the financial rewards that came with it.

> Such men often are resented as much as they are admired, and so it was with Arnold.

> At Quebec some New England officers accused him of arrogance and tried to withdraw from his command.

In the middle of the struggle at Saratoga, General Horatio Gates, relieved Arnold of his command, partly for insubordination and partly because Gates considered him a "pompous little fellow."

> Washington promoted Arnold nonetheless, appointing him commandant at Philadelphia in July 1778, after the British evacuation of the city.

> By then Arnold was an embittered man, disdainful of his fellow officers and resentful toward Congress for not promoting him more quickly.

Faced with financial ruin, uncertain of future promotion, and disgusted with congressional politics, Arnold made a fateful decision:

He would seek fortune and fame in the service of Great Britain.

> With cool calculation, he initiated correspondence with Sir Henry Clinton, the British commander, promising to deliver West Point and its 3,000 defenders for 2O,OOO sterling (about one million dollars today).

Arnold served George III with the same skill and daring he had shown in the Patriot cause.

> In 1781 he led devastating strikes on Patriot supply depots:

> In Virginia he looted Richmond and destroyed munitions and grain intended for the American army.

> In Connecticut he burned ships, warehouses, and much of the town of New London, a major port for Patriot privateers.

In the end, Arnold did not become a TRAITOR for patriotic reasons...

He did not sell his countrymen for principle and honor.

> He did this for PERSONAL GAIN and SUCCESS.

> He became a TRAITOR for a few pieces of silver!

Arnold was treated with coldness and even contempt in Britain.

> He was hated by Americans for his betrayal.

> He was distrusted and hated by most Englishmen because he had fought against them.

> HE DIED AS HE LIVED, A MAN WITHOUT A COUNTRY.

 

II. The Similarities Between Benedict Arnold and Judas Iscariot.

A. He betrayed his friend.

1. Benedict Arnold and Pres. George Washington were very close friends.

> It was his relationship with Washington that enabled him to be put in the position to give West Point to the British.

> Arnold specifically asked his friend George Washington to be put in command of West Point.

> By his friends appointment he was put into a position to deliver this post and its 3000 soldiers to England.

2. Benedict Arnold, used his relationship with Washington as a tool to betray him.

> Judas used his relationship with the Lord to get close enough to Jesus to identify Him.

B. His sold out for SILVER.

1. Judas betrayed the Lord for 30 pieces of silver.

[Mat 26:14-16] "Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him."

2. Benedict Arnold sold his country for SILVER.

> With cool calculation, he initiated correspondence with Sir Henry Clinton, the British commander, promising to deliver West Point and its 3,000 defenders for 2O,OOO sterling...

> Sterling is the highest quality of SILVER.

HE BETRAYED HIS FRIEND.

C. He started out as a defender of truth and righteousness.

1. Benedict Arnold had every reason to go down in American history as a HERO.

> He began his career as an American soldier.

> He fought many battles and won many medals and promotions for his acts of heroism.

2. The Friends of Saratoga Battlefield sponsor many programs and activities in carrying out its educational mission.... —>

> One of the Items they sponsor is The Saratoga Monument.

> The Saratoga Monument is an imposing 155' obelisk begun in 1877 to commemorate the Battles of Saratoga.

> On each face of the monument there is a niche for the statues of the principal American commanding officers:

<1> Horatio Gates.

> Arnold's niche is empty in testament to his later treachery and exile in England.

3. The erected a monument in his honor, that they never filled, nor used for another.

> He began as a hero, and would have gone down in history as a hero.

4. Benedict Arnold questioned an American officer who had been captured.

> Arnold asked, "What would be my fate if I should be taken prisoner by the Americans?"

> The officer replied: "They will cut off that leg of yours which was wounded at Quebec and again at Saratoga and bury it with all the honors of war ... then they will hang the rest of you on a gallows!"

> Which is why... —>

> If you visit the Saratoga battlefield, you will find at the place where Benedict Arnold was wounded, a small statue of his leg.

> No name! No mention of all the things he did.

> A STATUE of his leg commemorates his service to his country.

> But, he goes down in history as A TRAITOR; Not THE TRAITOR, but A TRAITOR.

5. Judas started out as a defender of truth and righteousness.

> As far as we can tell he did all the acts of his Apostleship that Peter, James and John did.

> As far as the Scriptures describe he preached, healed the sick, cast out devils...

> He was a faithful, dedicated follower of the Lord.

> He was trusted by his fellow disciples.

> But, he goes down in history not as A TRAITOR, but as THE TRAITOR!

Benedict Arnold had these similarities with Judas:

D. His name is forever associated with BETRAYAL and TREASON.

1. When you hear the name Benedict Arnold.

> It brings into your mouth the most vicious taste of bile.

> We completely forget his many acts of heroism and bravery.

> We think nothing about his many years of honorable service.

2. When you hear the name Benedict Arnold.

> In conjures in your mind the most traitorous acts.

> It brings to your heart the hated acts of treason!

3. So it is with Judas Iscariot.

> His very name is associated with betrayal and hypocrisy.

> Just the mention of his name causes us to picture the evil and deception of betrayal.

4. Such is the reputation of BOTH of these men.

> Both started out as defenders of truth and righteousness.

> Both acted on behalf of their friend and leader.

> Both became greedy of selfish gain.

> Both sold out for money!

> And, both have gone down in history as TRAITORS!

A. Even good men can go bad.

1. Don't think that because you are in church...

> Carry a KJV Bible.

> Can quote entire chapters...

2. Don't think because of these that you can never fall.

> The Apostle Paul...

"I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."

> The Apostle Paul fear that after he had served Christ, he might end up a castaway!

> What makes you think it could never happen to you?

3. Benedict Arnold was a hero.

> But, even heros can go bad!

> Judas was a preacher. But, even Preachers can go bad!

B. Environment does not automatically mean you'll turn out right.

1. Benedict Arnold was born in Connecticut.

> He was raised in America.

> He grew up around people with a spirit of Patriotism and honor.

> At 14 he ran away from home to fight in the French & Indian War.

> Buy the time the Revolutionary War began Arnold was already an experienced soldier.

2. He was born right, was raised right, even began right...

> But, that does automatically make you right!

3. Judas Iscariot was born in Israel to parents who obviously love God.

> They named him Judas, which means Jehovah will be praised.

> He evidently became spiritually active, because the Lord called him to preach.

4. He lived with Jesus for three years.

> He was born right; He served God.

> He lived with the Lord.

> But, he was still LOST!

> He was an integral part of God's work, but he was a HYPOCRITE!

EVEN GOOD MEN CAN GO BAD...

BEING IN THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT DOESN'T AUTOMATICALLY MAKE YOU RIGHT!

C. The love of money is STILL the root of all evil.

1. Money blinds people to righteousness.

> One of the biggest scams is so stupid, yet people fall for it!

> WHY? Because of GREED!

2. Good men and women turn bad because of money!

> The love of money IS the root of all evil.

3. Listen to these lessons...

> Don't think you could never fall, because good men; better men than you an I; have fallen.

> Don't think being brought up in a good home exempts you from falling...

> Don't think being in a good church makes you a Christian.

> Don't think that MONEY won't cause you to fall, because it can and it will.

D. You always hurt those you love when you fall.

1. Listen to this verse:

[John 13:21] "When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me."

2. The Lord was troubled in spirit over the betrayal of Judas.

[Psa 55:12] "For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it...

> It would have been easier to bare had it been an enemy!

> But, it was my FRIEND!

3. "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth..."

> The Apostle did not speak this about his own children, but about the church.

> In my heart its true in both cases.

> I love my children, and I love my church!

> It would hurt me if either of these went away from God!

YOU HURT YOUR FRIENDS WHEN YOU FALL!

E. Even in betrayal there is always forgiveness in Christ.

1. Judas could have found forgiveness even at the last moment.

> "FRIEND wherefore art thou come?"

> Your still my FRIEND!

2. What if Judas had not of hanged himself?

> What is he stayed around, even in his misery, until he saw the Resurrected Lord?

> He may have truly repented?

3. No matter where you are, or what you have done...

> Since your still alive...

> Since your sitting in church listening to a preacher...