Scripture:
Matthew 26:14-25 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
14 Then (A) one of the Twelve—the man called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests (B) 15 and said, "What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?" So they weighed out 30 pieces of silver for him. (C) 16 And from that time he started looking for a good opportunity to betray Him.
Betrayal at the Passover
17 On the first day of Unleavened Bread (D) the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Where do You want us to prepare the Passover so You may eat it?"
18 "Go into the city to a certain man," He said, "and tell him, 'The Teacher says: My time is near; I am celebrating the Passover at your place [a] with My disciples. (E) ' " 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover. 20 When evening came, He was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21 While they were eating, He said, " I assure you: One of you will betray Me." (F)
22 Deeply distressed, each one began to say to Him, "Surely not I, Lord?"
23 He replied, "The one who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl—he will betray Me. 24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, (G) but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born."
25 Then Judas, His betrayer, replied, "Surely not I, Rabbi?" (H)
"You have said it," He told him.
Footnotes:
Matthew 26:18 Lit Passover with you
Cross references:
Matthew 26:14 : Mk 14:10-11; Lk 22:3-6;
Matthew 26:14 : Mt 10:4; Jn 6:71; 12:4; 13:30; Ac 1:16;
Matthew 26:15 : Ex 21:32; Zch 11:12-13; Mt 27:3;
Matthew 26:17 : Mk 14:12-16; Lk 22:7-13;
Matthew 26:18 : Jn 7:6;, 8; 8:20; 13:1; 17:1;
Matthew 26:21 : Mk 14:17-21; Lk 22:21-23; Jn 13:21-26;
Matthew 26:24 : Dn 9:26; Mk 9:12; Lk 24:25-27; Ac 17:2-3; 26:22-23; 1Co 15:3; 1Pt 1:10;
Matthew 26:25 : Lk 22:70; Jn 1:38;
Reflection:
Why did Judas betray his Master? Was his treachery motivated by greed, bitter disappointment with Jesus or hatred because of disillusionment? It may be that Judas never intended for his Master to die. Maybe he thought Jesus was proceeding too slowly and not acting aggressively enough in setting up his messianic kingdom. Perhaps Judas wanted to force Jesus' hand by compelling him to act. Nonetheless, his tragedy was his refusal to accept Jesus as he was. Aren't we tempted to use God for our own purposes? It is not God who must change, but we must be changed by him. Jesus knew beforehand what would befall him.
As Jesus ate the passover meal with his twelve apostles he put them under trial and suspicion (one of you will betray me) to teach them to examine themselves rightly, lest they be highminded and think themselves more strong than they were. We, also must examine ourselves in the light of God's truth and grace and ask him to strengthen us in faith, hope, and love that we may not fail him or forsake him when we are tempted. Do you pray with confidence in the words Jesus gave us to pray: Do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil?
Every male Jew, who was of age and lived within 15 miles of Jerusalem, was bound to celebrate Passover every year in Jerusalem. This annual feast commemorated the deliverance of the people of Israel from their slavery in Egypt (see Exodus 12). On that night the angel of death slew the first-born of the Egyptians; but he "passed over" the homes of the Israelites, because the lintel of their doors was smeared with the blood of an unblemished lamb sacrificed for the occasion. It was at Passover time that Jesus came to Jerusalem knowing he would be betrayed and put to death as the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). Jesus fulfilled the Passover. His death and resurrection, which occured at Passover time, redeems us from enslavement to sin, death, Satan, and the world. His blood, like the blood of the first Passover lamb, protects God's people from the angel of death and breaks the oppressive rule of Satan. Easter is the Christian Passover (1 Cor. 5:7-8). Do you celebrate the Passover with sincerity and truth (see 1 Cor. 5:7-8)?
Prayer For The Day:
"God our Father, we are exceedingly frail and indisposed to every virtuous and gallant undertaking. Strengthen our weakness, we beseech you, that we may do valiantly in this spiritual war; help us against our own negligence and cowardice, and defend us from the treachery of our unfaithful hearts; for Jesus Christ's sake." (Prayer of Thomas a Kempis)
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