ACC ~ Matthew 26 v14

THE TWO JUDASES

ORIGEN: Judas means “confessor.” Luke the Evangelist numbers both “Judas the son of James and Judas Iscariot” among the twelve apostles. [1] Since two of Christ’s disciples were given this same name and since there can be no meaningless symbol in the Christian mystery, I am convinced that the two Judases represent two distinct types of confessing Christians. The first, symbolized by Judas the son of James, perseveres in remaining faithful to Christ. The second type, however, after once believing and professing faith in Christ, then abandons him out of greed. He defects to the heretics and to the false priests of the Jews, that is, to counterfeit Christians, and (insofar as he is able) delivers Christ, the “Word of truth,” over to them to be crucified and destroyed. This type of Christian is represented by Judas Iscariot, who “went out to the chief priests” and agreed on a price for betraying Christ. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 78. [2]

[1] Lk 6:16.

[2] GCS 38.2:186.

THEN ONE OF THE TWELVE

CHRYSOSTOM: Then. When? It was when it had been made clear that he was being prepared for burial, that the Gospels would be preached everywhere and that he had been shown honor. Then Judas did the devil’s deed.

But what can be the reason they mention his surname? Because there was also another Judas.

And why do they specifically say that “he was one of the twelve”? They have opted entirely to hide none of those things which seem to be matters of reproach. And yet they might have merely said that he was one of the disciples, for there were others besides. But now they add, “of the twelve,” as though they had said, of the first company of those selected as the best, of those alongside Peter and John. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 80.2. [1]

[1] PG 58:726-27; NPNF 1 10:482.