The Influence of Structural Injustice of Power in Society on Judas's Decision to Hang Himself
A Socio-Scientific Critique of Matthew 27:1–10
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62926/js.v1i2.89Keywords:
collective pressure, Gospel of Matthew, Judas Iscariot, social influence, socio-scientific critique, stigma, suicideAbstract
The death of Judas Iscariot in Matthew 27:1–10 is often interpreted merely as punishment for betrayal. However, the social-scientific criticism approach allows for a more complex reading—one that sees his death as a response to the social pressures and structural injustices that marked society during the time the Gospel of Matthew was written. This study examines the social context of Roman agrarian society, characterized by the dominance of both political and religious elites who systematically oppressed non-elite groups. Within this framework, Judas’ death is examined as an expression of moral alienation experienced by individuals who are denied a place in the community. His act of hanging himself is understood not only as a personal act of despair but also as the result of the failure of both social and religious systems to offer paths toward restoration. Thus, the text delivers a sharp critique of religious leadership lacking in empathy and highlights how Judas’ death reflects the tangible effects of structural injustice under oppressive power.
References
Conrad, Audrey. “The Fate of Judas: Matthew 27:3-10.” Toronto Journal of Theology 7, no. 2 (1 September 1991): 158–68. https://doi.org/10.3138/tjt.7.2.158.
Conway-Jones, Ann. “Matthew’s Gospel and Jewish–Christian Relations.” The Expository Times 134, no. 10 (Juli 2023): 445–56. https://doi.org/10.1177/00145246231156834.
Elliott, John Hall. What Is Social-Scientific Criticism? Repr. New Testament Series. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2011.
Hamilton, Catherine Sider. “The Death of Judas in Matthew: Matthew 27:9 Reconsidered.” Journal of Biblical Literature 137, no. 2 (2018): 419–37. https://doi.org/10.1353/jbl.2018.0023.
Hare, Douglas R. The Theme of Jewish Persecution of Christians in the Gospel According to St. Matthew. Society for New Testament Studies Monograph Series 6. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1967.
Kalaitzidis, Panteleimon. “The Temptation of Judas: Church and National Identities.” Greek Orthodox Theological Review 47, no. 1–4 (2002): 357–79.
Keener, Craig S. The Gospel of Matthew. Michigan: William B. Eerdmans, 2009.
Klassen, William. Judas: Betrayer or Friend of Jesus? Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1996.
Listijabudi, Daniel K. “Yudas Murid Yang Terhilang? Discourse Analysis Dari Penelitian Naratologi Terhadap Matius 27:1-10” Vol. 32 No. 2 (2008).
Manurung, Frans Setyadi. Memahami Tugas Pengutusan Di Dalam Injil Matius Sebagai Konsep Pelayanan Gereja Integral Dalam Konteks Indonesia. Yogyakarta: Tesis Universitas Kristen Duta Wacana, 2011.
———. “Realitas dan Fungsi Sosial Praktik Mukjizat Dalam Narasi Pengutusan Matius 10:5-8”, dalam Realitas Alkitab dalam Perjumpaan, ed. Frans Setyadi Manurung. Yogyakarta: Duta Wacana University Press, 2024.
Meier, John P. Christ, Church and Morality in The First Gospel. USA: Paulist Press, 1979.
Paffenroth, Kim. Judas: Images of the Lost Disciple. Louisville, Ky: Westminister John Knox Press, 2001.
Park, Wongi. “Identifying the Dominant Narrative: Non-Ethnoracial Readings of Matthew 26–27.” Dalam The Politics of Race and Ethnicity in Matthew’s Passion Narrative, disunting oleh Wongi Park, 15–46. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-02378-2_2.
Reed, David A. “‘Saving Judas’—A Social Scientific Approach to Judas’s Suicide in Matthew 27:3—10.” Biblical Theology Bulletin: Journal of Bible and Culture 35, no. 2 (Mei 2005): 51–59. https://doi.org/10.1177/01461079050350020301.
Renger, A.-B. “The Ambiguity of Judas: On the Mythicity of a New Testament Figure.” Literature and Theology 27, no. 1 (1 Maret 2013): 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1093/litthe/frs012.
Riches (ed.), John, dan David C. Sim (ed.). The Gospel of Matthew in its Roman Imperial Context. London: T&T Clark, 2005.
Ryan, Maurice. “Creating Judas Iscariot: Critical Questions for Presenting the Betrayer of Jesus.” Journal of Religious Education 67, no. 3 (Oktober 2019): 223–37. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40839-019-00089-z.
Segovia (ed.), Fernando F., dan R.S. Sugirtharajah (ed.). A Postcolonial Commentary on The New Testament Writings. London: T & T Clark, 2009.
Stanford, Peter. Judas. Berkeley: Counterpoint, 2015.
Stanton (ed.), Graham N. The Interpretation of Matthew. Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1995.
Turner, David L. Baker Exegetical Commentary: Matthew. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2008.
Van de Water, Rick. “The Punishment of the Wicked Priest and the Death of Judas.” Dead Sea Discoveries 10, no. 3 (2003): 395–419.
Weren, Wilhelmus Johannes Cornelis. Studies in Matthew’s Gospel: Literary Design, Intertextuality, and Social Setting. Biblical Interpretation Series, vol. 130. Leiden Boston (Mass.): Brill, 2014.
Wibowo, A. Setyo. Ataraxia. Yogyakarta: Kanisius, 2019.
Witherington, Ben. Matthew. Macon: Smith and Helwys Publishing, 1951.
———. The Gospel of Matthew. USA: Smith and Helwys Publishing, 1951.
Yasuda, Mayuko. “Reading the Death of Judas (Matthew 27:3-10) with Hauntology.” Currents in Theology and Mission 49, no. 4 (Oktober 2022): 10–13.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Sisean: Journal of Theology and Christian Mission
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
