Podcast Episode Summary

The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast

Episode: Why Did Judas Betray Jesus?
Date: January 29, 2026
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz
Produced by: Ascension

Overview of the Episode

In this reflective episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz tackles the frequently debated motivations behind Judas Iscariot’s betrayal of Jesus, challenging modern reinterpretations and reaffirming the Gospel narrative. He explores themes of free will, divine knowledge, the depth of betrayal, the hope of restoration, and personal application for listeners struggling with guilt or spiritual despair.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Rethinking Judas’s Motivation

• Popular Theories Addressed:
  Fr. Mike notes a trend where people attribute noble or misunderstood intentions to Judas, such as thinking he was helping Jesus reveal his power or acting under Jesus’ direct instruction (00:00).
• Gospel Consistency:
  • Fr. Mike is clear: "The Bible actually tells us Judas betrayed Jesus for money." (02:59)
  • He warns against “retconning” Scripture or imposing motivations contrary to the text, likening it to rewriting a character’s story for convenience (03:17).

2. Did Jesus Want Judas to Betray Him?

• Clarifying Jesus’ Words:
  Fr. Mike explains:
  • Jesus’ statement, “What you are about to do, do quickly,” (John 13:27) is not an instruction, but an acceptance of an act already in progress (04:23).
  • "God never, ever wills that someone sins." (05:15)
• God’s Will vs. Human Choice:
  Citing Scripture (St. Paul’s letter to Timothy and the Book of Wisdom), Fr. Mike makes it clear God does not will anyone’s destruction—free will remains intact (05:45).
• The Mystery of Divine Knowledge & Free Will:
  • "We don’t know exactly how God’s divine knowledge, his working of grace, and our free will interact... but Scripture says each of these is real." (08:03)
  • Reiterates that, like Judas, we all have the freedom to choose, and God does not predestine anyone for sin (07:10).

3. The Reality and Tragedy of Betrayal

• Betrayal Requires Relationship:
  "You can only truly betray someone who has placed their heart in your hands..." (09:05)
• Judas as Friend, Not Foe:
  Fr. Mike emphasizes the painful intimacy of Judas’ betrayal: Jesus trusted him, called him friend (09:18).
• Every Sin as Betrayal:
  "Every time we sin, we are betraying Jesus." (08:30)
• Peter vs. Judas:
  Both Apostles failed Jesus, yet their stories diverge radically:
  • Both experienced regret and heartbreak (10:08).
  • Peter returns to Jesus, allows mercy and restoration.
  • Judas does not, making his story the greater tragedy (11:40).

4. Redemption: The Saint Who Never Was

• Restoration After Failure:
  Fr. Mike recalls the emotional restoration of Peter by Jesus at the Sea of Galilee (John 21) (11:00).
• No ‘Saint Judas’:
  "The real tragedy is: there’s no Saint Judas. And there could have been." (11:45)
  • Not the failure itself, but Judas’ refusal to return for forgiveness is the ultimate loss.

5. Personal Application: No One Is Too Far Gone

• Message of Hope:
  Fr. Mike encourages those who feel “too far gone” by their failures:
  • "The difference between Judas and St. Peter… one failed and chose to remain lost; the other failed and chose to let Jesus find him." (13:30)
  • "Jesus would have forgiven Judas if he had given him a chance." (13:00)
  • Final exhortation: let Jesus find, forgive, and restore you, no matter what you’ve done (14:15).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Motivation (Money):
  "The Bible actually tells us Judas betrayed Jesus for money." – Fr. Mike Schmitz [03:00]
• On Jesus and Free Will:
  "Jesus is not telling Judas to go betray him. He's allowing him to." – [04:33]
• On Betrayal’s Uniqueness:
  "You can only truly betray someone who has placed their heart in your hands." – [09:05]
• On the Possibility of Redemption:
  "The tragedy is there's no Saint Judas. Maybe the most tragic reality of the Gospels is there's no Saint Judas." – [11:45]
• On Mercy for Listeners:
  "You are not too far gone. The difference between Judas and St. Peter isn't that one failed and one didn't fail. It's that one failed and chose to remain lost and the other failed and chose to let Jesus find him." – [13:30]

Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:00–03:30 — Modern theories about Judas’s motivation; Fr. Mike insists on staying faithful to the Gospel account
• 04:00–06:00 — Did Jesus want/ask Judas to betray him? The difference between permission and will
• 06:00–08:30 — God’s grace, divine foreknowledge, and human free will interaction
• 08:30–10:30 — Nature of betrayal and our own capacity for betraying Jesus
• 10:30–12:00 — Peter’s restoration vs. Judas’s despair; the missed opportunity for Saint Judas
• 12:00–14:15 — The heart of the Christian message: hope, possibility of forgiveness, and the call to return

Closing Reflection

Fr. Mike Schmitz’s heartfelt message goes beyond ancient history, challenging listeners to consider their own hearts: Do I let failure keep me in despair, like Judas—or do I let Jesus restore me, like Peter? The episode concludes with the reminder that no betrayal, however great, is beyond the reach of Christ’s mercy—if we choose to accept it.