The Bible does give us a window into Judas’ state of mind after his betrayal of Jesus, but it shows a tragic difference between regret and true repentance.
📖 What Scripture Says
- Matthew 27:3–5 tells us: “When Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. ‘I have sinned,’ he said, ‘for I have betrayed innocent blood.’ But they replied, ‘What is that to us? That’s your responsibility.’ So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.”
- The word used in Greek for “remorse” (metamelētheis) means regret or sorrow over consequences, not the deeper repentance (metanoia) that means turning back to God.
- In contrast, Peter also sinned by denying Jesus three times, but he wept bitterly and turned back to Christ (Luke 22:62; John 21:15–19).
✨ Understanding Judas’ Sorrow
- Judas clearly felt guilt and sorrow for what he did. He admitted, “I have sinned.”
- But instead of turning to Jesus for forgiveness, he turned inward and into despair.
- His response ended in hopelessness — tragically, he took his own life.
💡 The Difference
- Remorse = sorrow for being caught or for the consequences of sin.
- Repentance = sorrow that turns back to God, seeking His mercy and forgiveness.
Judas was sorry — but his sorrow never became repentance that sought Christ’s grace. That’s why Paul later says in 2 Corinthians 7:10:
“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”
✅ So yes, Judas was sorry for his betrayal. But sadly, it was not the kind of sorrow that leads to forgiveness and life — it ended instead in despair.
Here’s a devotional reflection based on Judas’ story and the difference between regret and repentance:
🌿 Devotional: Sorry or Repentant?
When Judas saw that Jesus had been condemned, “he was seized with remorse” (Matthew 27:3). He even admitted, “I have sinned, for I have betrayed innocent blood.” His sorrow was real. His guilt was heavy. But instead of running to the Lord for mercy, he ran away in despair.
Peter, too, denied Jesus three times. He also wept bitterly. But the difference was this: Peter’s sorrow turned him back to Christ, while Judas’ sorrow drove him further into hopelessness.
This contrast teaches us a sobering truth:
- Regret looks back at what we’ve done and despairs.
- Repentance looks up to God and believes He can still forgive and restore.
Paul captures this distinction in 2 Corinthians 7:10:
“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”
We all stumble. We all fail. But the invitation of Christ is not to stay in the pit of regret, but to rise into the arms of mercy. Where Judas saw no way back, Peter discovered forgiveness and a future.
Here’s a prayer you could use alongside that devotional:
🙏 Prayer: From Regret to Repentance
Lord Jesus,
You know the weight of my heart, the places where regret clings and sorrow runs deep. Like Judas, I have failed You. Like Peter, I have denied You in my words, my silence, and my choices. Yet I do not want to stay in despair.
Draw me to Yourself. Take my regret and turn it into true repentance. Wash me with Your mercy and remind me that the cross was enough — even for me. Where shame whispers “no way back,” let Your Spirit speak louder, “forgiven and loved.”
Help me to rise, not in my strength but in Yours, and to walk forward in the freedom of Your grace. Thank You that in You, sorrow is not the end, but the beginning of a new story.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen.
*