Twelve Ordinary Men by John MacArthur
Week 11: Chapter 10 — Judas Iscariot: The Apostle Who Was a Devil
Read Chapter 10 of Twelve Ordinary Men. Key passages: John 6:70–71; John 12:4–6; Matthew 26:14–16; Matthew 27:3–5; Acts 1:18–19.
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Judas Iscariot is the darkest figure in the New Testament, and MacArthur's treatment of him is searching, sobering, and ultimately deeply instructive about the nature of false faith.
Discussion Questions
8 questions1.MacArthur argues that Judas was never a genuine believer — he was a counterfeit from the beginning, chosen by Jesus not in spite of his treachery but in fulfillment of prophecy. What passages does MacArthur cite to support this claim (e.g., John 6:64, 70–71; 17:12)? How do you think Jesus' foreknowledge of Judas' betrayal should be understood?
2.For three years, Judas lived alongside Jesus, witnessed miracles, heard teaching, and apparently performed ministry as the others did. Yet John reveals he was a thief who stole from the disciples' money bag (John 12:6). What does Judas' long-running hypocrisy suggest about the difference between religious exposure and genuine transformation?
3.MacArthur notes that at the Last Supper, when Jesus said 'one of you will betray me,' the disciples all asked 'Is it I, Lord?' — no one immediately suspected Judas. What does this tell us about how convincing religious hypocrisy can be, and what warning should this carry for self-examination?
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