Judas Iscariot
Did he kill himself?
4) Evil entered him.
Let's not overlook the fact he was possessed.
Luke 22:3
Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.
Who was allowed to enter him? Not just evil... we got a name. It doesn't say God (or Jesus) knew Judas was evil. It doesn't say Jesus knew Satan was inside pretending to be a disciple. No. It said that Satan entered into him. Who's driving Judas' body? Is it Judas, or is it Satan? Or, is it Judas falling for Satan's direct influences? That is why God is the judge, and we aren't.
Dr. John Lightfoot writes:
‘The devil immediately after Judas had cast back his money into the temple, caught him up into the air, strangled him, threw him headlong, and dashed him in pieces on the ground.’ He refers to Tobit 3:8 and adds, “That this was known to all the dwellers at Jerusalem, argues that it was no common and ordinary event, and must be something more than hanging himself, which was an accident not so very unusual in that nation.” Works, viii, pp. 366,367. This requires that Matthew 27:5 be read, “He was hanged, or strangled,” instead of “hanged himself.”
The issue and the difference is accountability. We are all accountable for our own choices. Is it possible that because of the prophesy related to Jesus being betrayed that those conditions had to be set ensuring it happened as written? Meaning that if the scriptures prophesied a betrayal with a kiss, there would have to be a vehicle for that to happen. God's vehicle for things like that is us.
That brings us to free will.
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