Judas did not say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money bag, he used to take from what was put into it.
Parallel translations
- WEB Now he said this, not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and having the money box, used to steal what was put into it.
- KJV This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
- NKJV This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.
- NASB Now he said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he kept the money box, he used to steal from what was put into it.
- NLT Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
John reveals Judas cared nothing for the poor but was a thief stealing from the money box. His true character is laid bare.
Overview
John exposes Judas's real motive, that he pilfered from the common purse he kept. The disclosure unmasks the betrayer's corruption well before his final act. It warns that proximity to Jesus and outward ministry do not guarantee a converted heart.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Ps 50:16–20To the wicked, however, God says, “What right have you to recite My statutes and to bear My covenant on your lips?
- John 13:29Since Judas kept the money bag, some thought that Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the feast, or to give something to the poor.
- Jas 2:6But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you and drag you into court?
- Jas 2:2Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.
- 2 Kgs 5:20–27Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “Look, my master has spared this Aramean, Naaman, while not accepting what he brought. As surely as the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something from him.”
- Gal 2:10They only asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.
- 1 Cor 6:10nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
- 2 Kgs 12:14–15Instead, it was paid to those doing the work, and with it they repaired the house of the LORD.
- Ezek 33:31So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest gain.
- Ezra 8:24–34Then I set apart twelve of the leading priests, together with Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brothers,
- Prov 29:7The righteous consider the cause of the poor, but the wicked have no regard for such concerns.
- Ps 14:1For the choirmaster. Of David. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt; their acts are vile. There is no one who does good.
- 1 Th 5:22Abstain from every form of evil.
- 2 Cor 8:19–21More than that, this brother was chosen by the churches to accompany us with the offering—the gracious gift we administer to honor the Lord Himself and to show our eagerness to help.
- Matt 21:13And He declared to them, “It is written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer.’ But you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”
- John 10:13The man runs away because he is a hired servant and is unconcerned for the sheep.
- John 10:8–10All who came before Me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
How John 12:6 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.