“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.


1

Simon Peter the disciple of Christ

“And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16; 4:14; 10:2; 17:25)

NO … Peter repented bitterly  (Luke 22:61)

 

2

 

Simon the Canaanite also called Zelotes … another of Christ’s disciples

Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.” (Matthew 10:4)

“Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes” (Luke 6:15; Mark 3:18)

 

NO … Jesus lost none of the twelve except Judas
(John 17:12
)

3

 

Simon the Cyrenian who carried Jesus’ cross

“And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.” (Mark 15:21; Matthew 27:32)

 

NO … a passer-by & not father of Judas

4

 

Simon the tanner in Joppa

“And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.” (Acts 9:43; 10:6, 32)

 

NO … he’s one of the believers at Joppa

5

 

Simon the sorcerer of Samaria

“But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:” (Acts 8:9, 13, 18, 24)

 

 

NO … Simon eventually believed

6

 

 

Simon Jesus’ step

brother

 

“Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon (Jesus’ step brother)? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.” (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3)

 

NO … he's a prominent elder of the Jerusalem church

7

 

Simon the leper in Bethany (Judea)

“Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper” (Matthew 26:6; Mark 14:3)

 

 

Possible

8

 

 

Simon

the Pharisee

“Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it … And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.” (Luke 7:39-40, 43, 44)

 

 

Possible

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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