Matthew is the only gospel that mentions Judas' second thoughts. Matthew is the only one who tells us what happened afterwards (though Luke mentions Judas briefly in Acts 1).
Don't you think it odd that John and Peter never mentioned Judas? They spent three years with him. They walked and talked and very possibly saw miracles, participated in miracles alongside Judas. Only Matthew expresses what Judas felt after the betrayal of Jesus.
I wonder if Matthew talked to Judas afterwards? Judas and Matthew had at least two things in common. They were both Jewish and both dealt with money. Matthew had been a tax collector and Judas had been in the one in charge of the money that supplied Jesus' ministry.
We are to forgive everyone. This includes Judas for betraying Jesus. Had the other disciples forgiven him? I don't know. Maybe they were too ashamed to mention him because they identified with him. I know Jesus loved Judas. I know Jesus picked Judas. I also know that Jesus willingly went to the cross and he didn't even condemn Judas. He told him just to do what he needed to do. Even at the end, when the betrayal happened, Jesus was loving Judas.
He asked Judas (in LUke 22), "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"
He could have shown anger. He could have rejected him. Yet, Jesus did none of these things.
Boy -- off track Jane! What I wanted to mention is that tiny detail -- that the 30 pieces of silver Judas threw at the priests' feet were used to care for strangers. Somehow God used that blood money to do good in this world.
It makes me think anyway.