The Lawlessness of Judas

He also speaks similarly regarding this matter. For, did the soul of the Savior sin? The soul of the Savior is the whole of the significant part, not when it sins. Just as we say 'God is man', so also 'the soul of Jesus'. At times we say the soul of Jesus, which is the one he received, and at other times the soul of Jesus, thus the one made his own, according to what is signified by the saying, 'All souls are mine'. And if all are the Savior's, then each one is too.

For, did the soul of the saints sin? It is said that the soul of the saints sins in this way: when it occurs in a pre-passion. And often we use that example: a garment that has been cleaned, if it receives some stain from touching something, it does not appear at all as stained. But if you take for me a completely clean garment, having just come from the dye-vat, even if you touch it, it is said to be stained.

For, does the body not become in sin? My soul becomes in a pre-passion; for it 'began to be amazed and to be distressed'. From here, those who attribute the so-called irrationality to Jesus are refuted. An irrational animal is able to begin to be amazed, but not to be distressed; for to be distressed is foreign to an animal. From the being distressed and from the being amazed, they attached the beginning to him. But there is no beginning after the pre-passion; just as a passion is not a beginning, but the pre-passion itself is. And in another psalm it is said: 'My upholder; I shall not be shaken any further' (Psalm 62:7). For, what is being distressed? It is sorrow of the rational soul along with the inability to discern the causes of the sorrow.

Regarding the remnant of Judas, he says: if ever 'he went in to see, but in vain he ran' (Gen 45:22); just as we said recently, that he who possesses something more has more words concerning others than other men, so also Judas had something more than the other traitors; for he benefited from much time and had the legacy and the spark of his instruction. Therefore he entered many times toward Jesus, as also in the fellowship he was found.

It was not the Passover, but rather 'he was speaking falsely' when he said, 'Rabbi,' and loved him. He says, 'Whatever you do, do it quickly.' He was manifesting words of honor toward Jesus. But he was speaking falsely—for in order to show to those coming for his arrest, he had spoken these things, not so that he might truly manifest the reverence he previously showed toward the teacher. Therefore, all things that are not happening according to the truth are spoken falsely.

7 His heart gathered lawlessness unto himself. Even if his heart gathered lawlessness, it was to no one else but himself. 'What do you want me to do? And I will hand him over to you.' His heart gathered lawlessness in doing this when he gave his heart to the devil; 'and the devil entered after the morsel into him' (John 13:27). Therefore, Judas has committed lawlessness. To betray Jesus, the enemy of the teacher who had benefited him so much, was lawless. Thus, this lawlessness, which he gathered thinking that he was surrounding his teacher with death, he gathered for himself; for he did not touch him. He therefore rose from the dead, and all their efforts... greatness was shown.

7 He was going out and speaking. This happened... and after some honor he approached, whether 'he was going out'—his heart regarding... that they would come for the arrest of Jesus, saying, 'This is he, seize him' (Matt 26:48). 'He was going out... and he was going out.' Some indeed have become accustomed to say that there is neither outside nor inside. The end... because he betrayed Jesus. 'Knowing,' he says, 'that he was condemned, having gone away, he despaired.' 'Knowing that he was condemned'—Jesus by Pilate—he was greatly distressed, 'and having gone away, he despaired.' 'Having seen that he was condemned' himself, after the betrayal of such a distant teacher.