John 13:18, commentary and pictures

Jesus knew whom He had chosen, and knew that one who was eating bread with Him at the table would turn against Him and betray Him. He said this at the foot-washing and last supper while Judas was still present with the twelve, when He was troubled in spirit and under painful restraint, and the other disciples did not yet recognize the traitor. He told of the betrayal beforehand so that when it came to pass they would believe that He is He, showing He was not surprised or deceived but foresaw it as Messiah to strengthen them for His suffering. Though Judas was outwardly a disciple yet inwardly unconverted and corrupted by covetousness, Jesus still washed his feet and let him partake as a final act of patient mercy to bring him to repentance, which love could not compel. Therefore known unworthiness does not bar any from the foot-washing and the supper, for hearts cannot be read, so none are to be excluded and none should stay away because an unworthy one is present, but the erring are to be sought and restored while all beware of betraying the Lord and live in unity.

Meaning and Setting

Jesus knew whom He had chosen, and He knew that one of them would betray Him while sharing bread with Him. That betrayal fulfilled Scripture, in that a trusted companion who shared bread with Him turned against Him. He understood the character and secret purpose of Judas perfectly, even as Judas shared the Passover meal and was included in His tender ministry. He revealed the traitor's purpose in advance as proof of divine foresight, so that His faithful disciples could believe when it happened and remember that He had not been surprised or deceived, and so that its fulfillment would serve as evidence of His Messiahship.

The words not of all mean that the truly chosen are those who render obedience to His lessons and believe in Him as a personal Saviour, and in that sense Judas was not one of the chosen. Though he acted as a disciple, showed interest, in a sense believed, and had valuable qualities, he was inwardly unconverted, corrupted by covetousness, unwilling to yield his will and way, to be born again of incorruptible seed, and to receive transforming grace. He was given every opportunity to receive Christ but refused, never received Him, never experienced soul cleansing and change of character, never was converted or a true son of God, and lost nothing once possessed because he never possessed it. Because he would not believe, he fulfilled the Scripture by lifting up his heel against Christ while eating bread with Him.

That fulfilled Scripture means the one who shared bread with Jesus at the Passover and sacramental supper turned against Him. Judas partook with the rest of the disciples of the bread and wine symbolizing Christ's body and blood at the sacramental table, Christ's last gift to His disciples, and this was the last time Judas would be present with the twelve. That the Scripture might be fulfilled he left that table to complete his work of betrayal. At that solemn service he had not yet passed the boundary of God's mercy and love and could still have recognized his awful pledged work and thrown himself penitent at Jesus' feet, but when his decision was made to carry out his purpose and he left the presence of his Lord and fellow disciples, that barrier was passed. His outward participation did not prove him united in heart with Christ.

The verse was spoken at the foot-washing and last supper as part of the words to be remembered in keeping the ordinance. In giving the example that His followers should wash one another's feet, He declared that He was not speaking of all the disciples, for He knew whom He had chosen, and He announced beforehand that the Scripture about betrayal by a close companion would be fulfilled, so that when it came to pass the disciples would believe that He is He. Jesus stated this plainly while Judas was still present at the table with the twelve, though the other disciples did not yet recognize the traitor or understand the warning. Afterward its fulfillment helped them see that Jesus had known what was coming.

When He testified that one of them would betray Him He was troubled in spirit. The traitor's presence placed Him under painful restraint during His sacred last meeting with His disciples, so He could not freely express His feelings, and His words excluding some of them revealed that restraint. Only after Judas went out to do Satan's work in Jerusalem, no longer favored by God but abandoned, was the restraint removed, and Jesus became cheerful and radiant and spoke to the remaining disciples with tenderest affection.

Foretold Betrayal and Mercy

Jesus spoke of the betrayal beforehand at the foot-washing, as part of words to be remembered in keeping the ordinance, declaring that He was not speaking of all because He knew whom He had chosen and that Scripture about a close companion sharing bread with Him would be fulfilled, so that when it came to pass the disciples would believe that He is He. That foretelling pointed to the sacramental supper where the one eating bread with Him lifted up his heel against Him, and because Judas would not believe he fulfilled that Scripture.

The advance revelation and its fulfillment were evidence of Messiahship and divine foresight, revealing hidden treachery to the others and showing He had not been surprised or deceived. By telling them beforehand He strengthened their faith for His coming humiliation, betrayal, rejection and suffering, so that after Judas's end they would remember His warning and believe when it happened. Though He knew exactly whom He had chosen and understood Judas's character perfectly, knowing he was working to betray Him into the hands of His enemies, He did not withhold His ministry from him. He washed his feet and let him partake of the sacrament, showing God's patience and mercy toward even the most grievously erring and long patience with perverse human nature, while outward participation did not prove a heart united with Christ.

That washing and warning were convincing proof of foreknowledge and the last act of love He could show to bring Judas to repentance and save him from that fatal step and from Satan's snare, with every opportunity granted and nothing left undone that could be done. At that solemn service, the last time Judas would be present with the twelve at Christ's last gift of bread and wine symbolizing body and blood, he had not yet passed the boundary of mercy and love and could still have recognized his pledged work, thrown himself penitent at Jesus' feet, and turned back after the tender ministry and final appeal of love. He rejected it, made his decision to carry out his purpose, and left that table and the presence of his Lord and fellow disciples to complete his work of betrayal, passing the barrier, for infinite love could not compel him to repent, confess his sin, and be saved.

Though he acted as a disciple with interest and in a sense believed, and had valuable qualities, he was inwardly unconverted and never a true son of God. Given every opportunity to receive Christ, he refused and never received Him, never experienced soul cleansing and change of character, never was converted, and lost nothing once possessed because he never possessed it. Corrupted by covetousness, he was unwilling to yield his will and way, unwilling to be born again of incorruptible seed and to receive transforming grace. The verse belongs to Christ's preparation of the disciples for the coming trial and separation in which, betrayed by Judas into the hands of wicked men, He would be rejected and made to suffer, events that would test them as they witnessed them.

Ordinance and Present Application

Known unworthiness does not bar a person from foot-washing and the supper, for though He knew Judas would leave the table to betray Him He still washed his feet and did not refuse him a place at the table. Outward sharing of bread and fellowship does not prove a person is united in heart with Christ, yet human beings cannot read the secrets of the soul and cannot tell who is worthy and who is not. Therefore the service is not to be deferred because some professed believers present are not cleansed from sin, no one is to be excluded and no one may decide who shall take part, and no one may refuse to attend because an unworthy person is present.

One supposed to be in error and sin is not to be refused association and left exposed to Satan but is to be sought in order to restore him. Even the humblest service is to be done to make sinners heirs of eternal treasure. The verse also warns against acting the part of Judas and betraying the Lord, and for that reason the chapter should be studied carefully with prayer.

The chapter containing the verse expresses God's will for His people. Its instruction is a remedy for dissension and a call to unity with one another and with Christ. That call to unity, given especially in Christ's prayer for unity, is to be applied in resisting dissension and Satan's attacks.