“Good Last Words From A Very Bad Man”

Feature 1 – April 2023 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Good Last Words
From A Very Bad Man

The last words of a person about to die are important, especially when they have been recorded in the Bible. Careful attention should be given to what was said rather than responding, “Who cares?” or, “What is that to us?” (Mt. 27:4 KJV ). Some people made this comment after hearing the good last words of a very bad man!

All Scripture is valuable, and we should examine the details – the “who, when, what, why and how” – of what is recorded in it. Then we should ask, “What application or wisdom is there for us?” With this in mind, let’s look at some facts related to one specific disciple just before the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Who: The last words that solicited the strange response noted above were uttered by Judas Iscariot, the most notorious fiend, or wicked person, in the Bible. This man was the only one about whom the Lord Jesus declared, “It had been good for that man if he had not been born” (26:24).

The comeback to Judas, “What is that to us,” was stated by the unsympathetic high priests and Jewish elders (27:3), who had no conscience about his actions or theirs.

When: Judas voiced his last words as recorded in the Bible after he heard that the One he had betrayed had been condemned to death (27:3).

What: The good last words of this very bad man were “I have sinned” (v.4). To this, in the same verse, was added the admittance of his particular offence: “I have betrayed the innocent blood.”

Why: Judas learned the Lord had been condemned to death by the illegally held court of the Jewish hierarchy. The admission of sin came because he “repented himself” (v.3), or “was remorseful” (NKJV), having seen the damage his action had caused.

How: We might ask, “How can we make sense of the fact that these last words – a confession of sin – were expressed and yet he who uttered them hanged himself (27:5) and was immediately condemned to hell?” The Lord’s words “it had been good for that man if he had not been born” (26:24 KJV) and His reference to Judas as “the son of perdition” (Jn. 17:12), meaning “one doomed to hell,” confirm his condemnation.

Another question we might ask is, “Isn’t confession and repentance a means to salvation?” These questions were well answered by Rick Porter, a chaplain with the ministry of Truckers Chapel (with some edits for clarification):

Scripture presents Judas as “son of perdition” in John 17:12, meaning one doomed to destruction. Jesus knew He would be betrayed and, in fact, He announced it in front of His disciples in the upper room (Mt. 26:20-25). Effectively, Judas said, “Surely it’s not me,” and Jesus answered, “Yes, it is.” If Judas were going to repent and ask for forgiveness unto salvation, it would have been then. However, he didn’t, and Jesus then told him to go and do what he was going to do. John 13:26-27 gives more light. As John stated, Satan entered into Judas when he took the bread Jesus offered. After this, all the rest of the betrayal played out. Judas, then seeing the result, became exceedingly sorrowful to the point of regretful despair. Judas’ solution was suicide.

By contrast, notice what Peter did after his denial of Jesus, which was also announced by Jesus before it happened (Lk. 22:54-62). Peter wept bitterly, realizing his spirit was willing but his flesh was weak, just as Jesus said (Mt. 26:41).

What is the difference between the two disciples? Peter repented; Judas regretted. We might say that Peter was saved and [denied the Lord as he] was weak; Judas wasn’t saved, or born again, and betrayed the innocent blood.

Another problem with Judas’ confession is that it was made to the religious authorities rather than to the Lord, against whom he had sinned. When King David sinned in his adulterous act and subsequent murder, he confessed his sin to God, “Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight” (Ps. 51:4 nkjv). True confession that leads to forgiveness from God must be directed to Him, not to man.

Two Applications
The admission of “I have sinned” is very important. It is something that every individual must confess. It cannot come from a simple regret or remorse – just the clearing of a bad conscience. The admission must be from the heart! It is also important to recognize and confess to being a sinner by nature, a condition inherited through Adam’s original sin (Rom. 5:12). Real confession comes only through true repentance, involving a turning away from sin, stopping all evil practices and having a vital change from evil to good, or “from darkness to light” (Acts 26:18). It is a thorough reformation of life – a new life that cannot be obtained through self-will or effort but by God’s work (Eph. 2:1-5).

Consider another application. Confession of sins is something the believer should practice. No sin can cause a true believer to lose his salvation, but every sin grieves the Holy Spirit and hinders communion with the Lord. To restore the broken intimacy with Christ, confession of sin is necessary. This is the Christian’s path to restored fellowship with the Lord Jesus: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn. 1:9). Peter did not lose his salvation when he denied his Lord, but his denial had to be dealt with, and it likely was during his first meeting with the resurrected Christ (Lk. 24:34). We are not told the substance of that meeting; it was between Peter and the Lord only.

Things To Consider
If you speak those same good last words of a very bad man, of Judas, who only had some remorse and confessed just one sin, you are not converted. Come to the Lord with true repentance and confession, accepting His offer of salvation through faith, and be saved today! “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2). While there is no specified prayer of confession and repentance, one might go like this: “Lord Jesus, I confess my sin and helplessness. You died for me that the penalty of my sins could be forgiven. Please make me clean and enable me to live a life pleasing to You. I believe in You and thank You for saving me.”

For believers, keep a short account with the Savior. Restore your fellowship with Him as soon as you realize you have sinned, by a true confession from a contrite, sorrowful heart. He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us.

By G. B. H.