“JUDAS
ISCARIOT’S FATHER IS CALLED SIMON …
BUT WHICH ONE?”
“And supper
being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot,
Simon's son, to betray him;” (John 13:2; 6:71)
There are eight possibilities, however the father of Judas Iscariot points to either #7 Simon the leper or #8 Simon the Pharisee … with the most likely being Simon the Pharisee.
Determining which Simon it was as being Judas
Iscariot’s father, revolves around Jesus’ three anointings … one
at Simon the Pharisee’s house early in Christ’s ministry; and two
at Simon the leper’s house, six days and two days
before the Passover.
The following table compares ten points of the accounts of the three anointings of Jesus:
|
|
Early in Christ’s ministry The Pharisees seek out who Jesus is |
6 days before the cross Passover Jesus first arrives at Bethany before the cross |
2 days before the cross Passover Jesus at Bethany before the cross |
|
|
Luke7:40-43, Luke7:44-47, Luke7:48-50 |
John 12:1-4, John 12:5-8, John 12:9-10 |
Matt 26:6-9, Matt 26:10-13, Matt 26:14-16; Mark 14:3-6, Mark 14:7-9, Mark 14:10-11 |
|
1 |
Simon the Pharisee’s house |
Simon the leper’s house |
Simon the leper’s house |
|
2 |
A time to eat |
Supper |
Food not mentioned
|
|
3 |
Lazarus not mentioned |
Lazarus present |
Lazarus not mentioned |
|
4 |
Sinner woman |
Mary (& Martha) |
Unknown woman |
|
5 |
Alabaster box of ointment |
Spikenard |
Alabaster box of ointment |
|
6 |
Anointed feet of Jesus |
Anointed feet of Jesus |
Anointed the head of Jesus |
|
7 |
Sinner woman weeping |
No weeping |
No weeping |
|
8 |
Simon protests at the character of sinner woman |
Judas protests at ‘waste’ for the poor |
Disciples & Judas protest at ‘waste’ for the
poor |
|
9 |
Judas not mentioned |
Judas is present and seeks to betray Christ |
Judas is present and goes to priests to deliver Jesus for 30
silver pieces |
|
10 |
No openly stated plot to kill Jesus |
Separate meeting of priests plotting to kill Lazarus |
Priests separately meet to kill Jesus |
Comments:
1. Judas had a foot in two camps …
being Jesus’ disciple and a betraying agent for the chief
priests and Pharisees.
2. Simon the leper is not reported
as being in cahoots with the Pharisees unlike his opposite namesake of Simon
the pharisee.
3. Simon the leper would be extremely
grateful to Jesus for healing him, and would seek to live with his own kind,
the believers in Jesus, Martha and Mary, along with Lazarus, having been raised
from the dead.
It is never shown that Simon the leper
sought to betray Jesus. In fact, he would have been appalled … having been a leper and healed by Jesus.
4. Furthermore, depending on at what age he
became a leper, and how long had lapsed after being healed, would he have been
able to have children, and perhaps raise a son?
He would have been prohibited by
law to have contact with anyone, let alone a woman to have a child.
5. Judas, being present at the two
anointings at Simon the leper’s house, and privy to the ‘timetable’ of the
comings and goings of Jesus, as was Simon the leper, would be very unlikely
to go to Simon the leper, and say “Psst! Hey Dad! I’m looking to betray Jesus
and deliver him to chief priests … do you want to help me?”
The reply would be something like
“Judas, firstly I have no son, I’ve been a leper, and secondly, Jesus
has healed me and given me life … unthinkable … be off you scoundrel!”
We note that it was the disciples, being
influenced by Judas, who were indignant of the waste for the poor (Matthew
26:8) … not Simon the leper!
6. Judas would most likely go to another
Simon … the Pharisee … and say “Psst! Hey Dad! I’ve got the low-down on Jesus …
where and when he will be … do you want to help. Furthermore, I’m a little low
on cash even though I control the disciples’ money bag … how about thirty
pieces of the shiny stuff?”
The reply likely would have been “Sounds
good! I really want to kill Jesus now … for publicly shaming me in front of my
peers!”
7. Being a Pharisee, Simon, would have had
the motive to kill Jesus … not Simon the leper.
Firstly, as a Pharisee.
Secondly, being publicly admonished
by Jesus, for deliberately withholding from Jesus, the accepted welcoming
for a guest … that of water for feet washing, a welcoming kiss, and an oil
anointing for his head (Luke 7:44-46).
Thirdly, being publicly exposed
as self-righteous in condemning the sinner woman, thereby being silently forced
to agree with Jesus (John 7:39).
8. Simon the leper has no reason to
betray or kill Jesus … unlike Simon the Pharisee having been publicly castigated
and exposed by Jesus … and driven by a generational perpetual hatred (Ezekiel
35:5)
Conclusion:
Dear Readers, we needs ask ourselves the
following question … “Which Simon would be the mostly likely, as the father of
Judas Iscariot?
Against the background of the popular
saying “Birds of a feather flock together!”, reason would point to Simon the
Pharisee being the father of Judas Iscariot (Isaiah 1:18).
“And supper
being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot,
Simon's son, to betray him;” (John 13:2; 6:71)
Simon the Pharisee, already having ‘sold
his soul to the devil’ (not a Bible phrase … but we know what it stands for …
irretrievably lost to Satan) … corrupts Judas the disciple who wants to be
corrupted and led astray.
For what reason?
Envy of Jesus (who can stand before envy
Proverbs 27:4)
Pride …. I will be like the most high
(Isaiah 14:12-14)
No thankfulness for Jesus (Romans
1:21)
Lust of the eyes and lust of the flesh (I John
2:16)
… just like his Papa … Simon the
Pharisee! What we would call a generational hatred and curse being
passed down from Esau’s perpetual hatred (Ezekiel 35:5).
Harley Hitchcock
April 2024
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