The type of sorrow that Judas Iscariot experienced is undesirable. I pray that you will not experience such sorrow in your life, in Jesus name. Peter’s sorrow is seen as godly because it led to repentance while that of Judas Iscariot is ungodly because it led to his death (2 Corinthians 7:10). When a person thinks he or she can outsmart the Lord, the result is ungodly sorrow. What makes man think he can outsmart God is greed and materialistic tendencies. 1 Timothy 6:6-8 says:
“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.”

Judas Iscariot obviously had allowed greed to establish and grow within his heart. It was recorded in John 12:6 that he had been stealing from the purse Jesus asked him to keep. The greed then grew to the extent that he decided to betray the Lord Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. He probably imagined that he could swindle the Jewish leaders. Judas probably expected that Jesus could not be arrested because he had witnessed Him escaping from the hands of the Jews before (Luke 4:28-30).

Judas however came to know the import of what he had done when he realised that Jesus surrendered Himself to be arrested and was condemned. This made Judas very sorrowful. Matthew 27:3,5 says: “Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.”

This type of sorrow however is ungodly as it led to despair, frustration, regret and eventually suicide.

Some Christians today also exhibit ungodly sorrow not for committing sin, but for getting caught. This kind of sorrow does not lead to genuine repentance but rather dries up the bones as we read in Proverbs 17:22.

May this never be our portion, in the mighty name of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.