Jesus Holds the Cup at the Passover MealBible World
26:22Matthew 26:22
And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?
At the Passover supper Jesus, still greatly troubled, told His disciples that one of them would betray Him, and they were grieved, amazed and deeply distressed that one so favored could do such a thing. In sudden fear and painful self-distrust each examined his own heart for any evil thought against the Master and sorrowfully asked whether he himself was the one, without suspecting another or imagining who could do it. Judas alone at first remained silent though he knew the warning applied to him, and only spoke afterward to escape detection under their searching scrutiny, while Jesus still treated him with patient mercy to give him a final chance to repent. Each disciple's question is a model for personal self-examination, that when reproof and warning are given each person should take it home to himself and ask whether he is at fault, rather than applying it to someone else or passing it by as unimportant. In the church each person should ask whether his own perversity has burdened God's people or given their enemies cause to triumph, and if so seek God's mercy and salvation.
Setting at Passover Supper
The question was asked at the Passover supper table with Jesus, when He still seemed greatly troubled and a cloud had settled over all, so that they ate in silence. That supper was eaten with His disciples before He went with them to the garden of Gethsemane, where He often went to pray. As He walked with them toward the garden He talked with them and taught them, but He became strangely silent as they neared the garden.
At that supper Judas, though counted among Christ's disciples, had a selfish and covetous heart and was being led by Satan toward betrayal. His complaint about Mary's costly gift was an excuse for his greed rather than concern for the poor, and her generosity rebuked him. The disciples present were erring and faulty, and Christ's patient service, including washing their feet and allowing them to share in the sacrament, gave them opportunity to repent. All but one were brought to repentance.
Disciples' Sorrowful Self-Examination
When the troubled announcement came that one of them would betray Him, the disciples were grieved, amazed and deeply distressed. Remembering that His words were true and realizing the full import of what He said, they could not believe that one of the favored twelve who had eaten bread with Him and been treated as beloved friends could do such a thing. In sudden fear and painful self-distrust, each examined his own heart to see if there was any shadow of an evil thought against the Master or any thought against Him finding lodgment there. Though they could not imagine which of them would act treacherously, they did not assume themselves incapable of it. Each searched his own heart and asked whether he was the betrayer, showing fear and self-distrust rather than suspicion of another disciple.
With sorrowful hearts they looked at one another to see if any face showed signs of guilt, questioned one another, and searched one another's faces closely. One after another they sorrowfully asked Jesus whether it was themselves, with John asking in deep distress. All except Judas were at first spellbound. Their questioning showed they did not suspect Judas and could not imagine which of them could betray Jesus.
Judas alone at first remained silent as if unconcerned, though he knew the warning applied to him. His silence under their searching scrutiny drew all eyes to him, and he afterward repeated their words to escape detection. His self-excusing refusal to reform as he grew out of harmony with Christ and truth stood in contrast to their sincere self-examination. Jesus, knowing his guilt, treated him with patient mercy and gave him a final opportunity to repent, yet he remained committed to his plan.
Pattern for Personal Application
When reproof and warning are given, the question each disciple asked is the question each individual should ask himself. It is a model of personal self-examination in which each person examines himself and takes the warning home personally. He is to ask whether he is the one at fault and responsible, and whether the warning points to himself.
That model means not applying reproofs and warnings to someone else. It means not feeling the message is unimportant or of little consequence and passing it by unheeded. It means not dismissing it or assigning it to another instead of taking it personally.
In the church each person is to sorrowfully ask the Lord whether he is responsible for the wrong at hand. He is to ask whether his own perversity has burdened and discouraged God's people or given their enemies cause to triumph. If so, he is to seek God's mercy and salvation. This voice of warning is needed now.
At the Passover supper Jesus, still greatly troubled, told His disciples that one of them would betray Him, and they were grieved, amazed and deeply distressed that one so favored could do such a thing. In sudden fear and painful self-distrust each examined his own heart for any evil thought against the Master and sorrowfully asked whether he himself was the one, without suspecting another or imagining who could do it. Judas alone at first remained silent though he knew the warning applied to him, and only spoke afterward to escape detection under their searching scrutiny, while Jesus still treated him with patient mercy to give him a final chance to repent. Each disciple's question is a model for personal self-examination, that when reproof and warning are given each person should take it home to himself and ask whether he is at fault, rather than applying it to someone else or passing it by as unimportant. In the church each person should ask whether his own perversity has burdened God's people or given their enemies cause to triumph, and if so seek God's mercy and salvation.
Setting at Passover Supper
The question was asked at the Passover supper table with Jesus, when He still seemed greatly troubled and a cloud had settled over all, so that they ate in silence. That supper was eaten with His disciples before He went with them to the garden of Gethsemane, where He often went to pray. As He walked with them toward the garden He talked with them and taught them, but He became strangely silent as they neared the garden.
At that supper Judas, though counted among Christ's disciples, had a selfish and covetous heart and was being led by Satan toward betrayal. His complaint about Mary's costly gift was an excuse for his greed rather than concern for the poor, and her generosity rebuked him. The disciples present were erring and faulty, and Christ's patient service, including washing their feet and allowing them to share in the sacrament, gave them opportunity to repent. All but one were brought to repentance.
Disciples' Sorrowful Self-Examination
When the troubled announcement came that one of them would betray Him, the disciples were grieved, amazed and deeply distressed. Remembering that His words were true and realizing the full import of what He said, they could not believe that one of the favored twelve who had eaten bread with Him and been treated as beloved friends could do such a thing. In sudden fear and painful self-distrust, each examined his own heart to see if there was any shadow of an evil thought against the Master or any thought against Him finding lodgment there. Though they could not imagine which of them would act treacherously, they did not assume themselves incapable of it. Each searched his own heart and asked whether he was the betrayer, showing fear and self-distrust rather than suspicion of another disciple.
With sorrowful hearts they looked at one another to see if any face showed signs of guilt, questioned one another, and searched one another's faces closely. One after another they sorrowfully asked Jesus whether it was themselves, with John asking in deep distress. All except Judas were at first spellbound. Their questioning showed they did not suspect Judas and could not imagine which of them could betray Jesus.
Judas alone at first remained silent as if unconcerned, though he knew the warning applied to him. His silence under their searching scrutiny drew all eyes to him, and he afterward repeated their words to escape detection. His self-excusing refusal to reform as he grew out of harmony with Christ and truth stood in contrast to their sincere self-examination. Jesus, knowing his guilt, treated him with patient mercy and gave him a final opportunity to repent, yet he remained committed to his plan.
Pattern for Personal Application
When reproof and warning are given, the question each disciple asked is the question each individual should ask himself. It is a model of personal self-examination in which each person examines himself and takes the warning home personally. He is to ask whether he is the one at fault and responsible, and whether the warning points to himself.
That model means not applying reproofs and warnings to someone else. It means not feeling the message is unimportant or of little consequence and passing it by unheeded. It means not dismissing it or assigning it to another instead of taking it personally.
In the church each person is to sorrowfully ask the Lord whether he is responsible for the wrong at hand. He is to ask whether his own perversity has burdened and discouraged God's people or given their enemies cause to triumph. If so, he is to seek God's mercy and salvation. This voice of warning is needed now.