Did Judas Go To Heaven?

Judas Hangs Himself

27 Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed. 2 So they bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor.

3 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. 4 “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”

“What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.”

5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

Here we see the sad end of Judas Iscariot, the disciple who betrayed Jesus.  When Judas saw what would eventually happen to Jesus, he was overwhelmed with guilt and shame.  This sorry leads him to say, "I have sinned. I have betrayed innocent blood!"  The KJV translates this "repent".  So did Judas repent of his betrayal and possibly even make it into heaven?  

It is an interesting proposition but it is dubious at best.  Why?  Most conservative scholars conclude that Judas' words speak more to his own sorrow rather than true repentance?  Most conclude that the KJV version intepretation "repent" is not a good translation of this word.  The Greek word usually used for "repentance",  is "metanoia", which is not used here.  Repentance is a deep remorse that can lead one to faith.  But in this case it does not seem that Judas' remorse led him to Christ.  

There is a difference between "worldly sorrow" and "godly sorrow".  Worldy sorrow is often generated by feelling sorry for one's self.  Godly sorrow is realizing that one has sinned against God. Godly sorrow leads to repentance, or turning Christ for forgiveness and being willing to turn from the sin one committed.  Judas was sad for himself, but we don't necessarily see him turning to Christ for forgiveness.  Like the thief on the cross, I believe Jesus would have forgiven Judas if he realized his sin and turned to him.  I hope he did.  We don't know for sure whether he did, but the fact that he went and hung himself leads one to believe he did not.

2 Corinthians 7:10 sums it up perfectly in the NLT version,

"For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death."

Being sorry is one thing, but sorrow that leads to a change of belief and behavior is another.  If you feel guilty about something today, may it not just be feeling sorry for yourself, but may it lead you to Christ who can change your life AND your behavior.