Before we look at scripture relating to Judas Iscariot, let’s define the words selfish, greedy and narcissist.

SELFISH: Lacking consideration for others; concerned chiefly with one’s own personal profit or pleasure.

GREEDY: Having or showing an intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth or power.

NARCISSIST: A person who has an excessive interest in or admiration of themselves.

Now let’s look at two scripture passages (from the NKJV) which will help us to see if Judas fits any of these definitions. The first one is John 12:3-6, “Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. Then one of His disciples, JUDAS ISCARIOT, Simon’s son, WHO WOULD BETRAY HIM, said, ‘Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?’ This he said, NOT THAT HE CARED FOR THE POOR, BUT BECAUSE HE WAS A THIEF, and had the money box; and HE USED TO TAKE WHAT WAS PUT IN IT.” The second passage is Matthew 26:14-16, “Then one of the twelve, called JUDAS ISCARIOT, went to the chief priests and said, ‘WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO GIVE ME IF I DELIVER HIM TO YOU?’ And they counted out to him THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER. So, from that time HE SOUGHT OPPORTUNITY TO BETRAY HIM.” Based on these passages we learn the Judas was indeed SELFISH, for he “didn’t care for others”; he only cared for “his own personal profit.” We also learn that he was GREEDY, for his “intense and selfish desire for wealth” was so great he was willing to steal money from the treasury bag and eventually betray the Lord Jesus. I don’t believe Judas was a NARCISSIST, for he didn’t show any outward signs of admiring himself; in fact, he always came across as seemingly humble and a devout servant of Christ. When the Lord ate the Passover Supper with His disciples (shortly before His arrest, trial and crucifixion) He announced, “Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me” (John 13:21).  How did the disciples react to this solemn declaration? Verse 22 tells us, “Then the disciples looked at one another, PERPLEXED ABOUT WHOM HE SPOKE.” In Matthew 26:22 we read, “And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and EACH OF THEM BEGAN TO SAY TO HIM, ‘Lord, IS IT I?’” This teaches us that Judas had everyone fooled, for no one suspected that it was Judas who would betray the Lord. They even started to question their own loyalty to the Lord! Had Judas been a narcissist and gone around boasting of himself, you can bet someone would have looked suspiciously on Judas and called him out after the Lord’s solemn announcement.

In closing, it is sobering indeed to see how serious it is to be SELFISH and GREEDY. Those two traits resulted in Judas being a THIEF and a BETRAYER. And in John 13:2 & 26-27 we learn something else: “And supper being ended, THE DEVIL HAVING ALREADY PUT IT INTO THE HEART OF JUDAS ISCARIOT, Simon’s son, TO BETRAY HIM…And having dipped the bread, He (Jesus) gave it to Judas Iscariot…Now after the piece of bread, SATAN ENTERED HIM.” Judas’s selfishness and greed opened the door of his heart to Satan! First Satan put the thought of betrayal in his heart and then Satan himself entered into Judas and completely controlled him. If ever there was a case of “selling one’s soul to the devil,” it was Judas Iscariot!  (482.5)  (DO)