And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them.
The verse records Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, going to the chief priests to betray Jesus. This took place at the time of the feast at Simon's home in Bethany, where Jesus and His disciples were gathered amid heightened public attention. The visit followed reports about Jesus and Lazarus at Bethany that intensified public excitement and the leaders' hostility toward Jesus. Some of the guests at the feast were watching Jesus with hostility.
The Jewish rulers were afraid of a tumult if they seized Jesus openly, so they sought someone to betray Him secretly and found that person in Judas. Judas secretly arranged with the priests and rulers to betray Jesus by leading them to a quiet place where they could seize Him without a crowd to resist or oppose them. He was driven by greed and covetousness, a love of money that perverted his nobler nature. His covetous spirit was exposed by Jesus' implied rebuke when Mary anointed her Lord with costly ointment. Annoyed at that rebuke, Judas yielded to the tempter and gave Satan easy access to his mind, becoming a fit agent for Satan to use in the betrayal.
For thirty pieces of silver Judas agreed and contracted to betray his Master, so Jesus was sold by one of His own disciples for money, for a small sum and small earthly gain. In going to betray Jesus, Judas had no thought that Jesus would permit Himself to be taken. He thought the priests would be cheated of their bribe while he would keep the money to use for some purpose of his own, and Jesus would have a new opportunity to display His divine power in delivering Himself from His enemies.
By this betrayal Jesus was delivered toward humiliation and death. This stands as part of His self-denial and self-sacrifice for humanity together with His trial in the judgment hall, His denial by Peter, His scourging, and His crucifixion, and dwelling on it touches and deeply moves hearts. His act illustrates how selfishness and covetousness can lead people who profess to follow Christ to sell their Lord and abandon good principles. Those who persist in covetousness will be sifted out from God's people.
The verse records Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, going to the chief priests to betray Jesus. This took place at the time of the feast at Simon's home in Bethany, where Jesus and His disciples were gathered amid heightened public attention. The visit followed reports about Jesus and Lazarus at Bethany that intensified public excitement and the leaders' hostility toward Jesus. Some of the guests at the feast were watching Jesus with hostility.
The Jewish rulers were afraid of a tumult if they seized Jesus openly, so they sought someone to betray Him secretly and found that person in Judas. Judas secretly arranged with the priests and rulers to betray Jesus by leading them to a quiet place where they could seize Him without a crowd to resist or oppose them. He was driven by greed and covetousness, a love of money that perverted his nobler nature. His covetous spirit was exposed by Jesus' implied rebuke when Mary anointed her Lord with costly ointment. Annoyed at that rebuke, Judas yielded to the tempter and gave Satan easy access to his mind, becoming a fit agent for Satan to use in the betrayal.
For thirty pieces of silver Judas agreed and contracted to betray his Master, so Jesus was sold by one of His own disciples for money, for a small sum and small earthly gain. In going to betray Jesus, Judas had no thought that Jesus would permit Himself to be taken. He thought the priests would be cheated of their bribe while he would keep the money to use for some purpose of his own, and Jesus would have a new opportunity to display His divine power in delivering Himself from His enemies.
By this betrayal Jesus was delivered toward humiliation and death. This stands as part of His self-denial and self-sacrifice for humanity together with His trial in the judgment hall, His denial by Peter, His scourging, and His crucifixion, and dwelling on it touches and deeply moves hearts. His act illustrates how selfishness and covetousness can lead people who profess to follow Christ to sell their Lord and abandon good principles. Those who persist in covetousness will be sifted out from God's people.