John 13:29Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

At that time the apostles, being seized by fear and great anxiety, were troubled and did not understand the true meaning of Christ's words. They thought that Christ had said "that he should give something to the poor," since He cared greatly for the poor and taught us also to have great concern for them. They thought this not without reason, but because Judas had the money box. Yet it is not evident that anyone brought money to Christ. It is said that the disciples supported Him from their possessions, but no hint of the other is given anywhere. How, then, did He who commanded them not to carry a bag, copper, or staff carry a money box for serving the poor? This was so that you might know that even a man in extreme poverty, who has crucified his flesh, must have great concern for this. For Christ did many things for our instruction. Thus the disciples thought that this was what He was saying, namely, that Judas should give something to the poor.

Thus no one understood the words, “Do quickly,” but they thought that the Lord was commanding Judas to buy something for the feast or to give something to the poor. For He cared greatly for the poor. Though He urged the others to have neither bag nor copper, He Himself allowed a money box to be carried with Him. By this He showed that even one who possesses nothing, and who has been crucified to the world, must have great care for this portion of humanity, the poor.

Not understanding the meaning of the Lord's words, the disciples at once turn to their usual conjectures. They think that the Savior is again indicating what He habitually commanded. Since the feast was drawing near, they naturally expected a command from Him to the one who had the money box, either to buy something needed for the feast, or to carry out what He especially cared for, namely to give aid to the needy, according to the amount of offerings in the box. For "the Lord is good and merciful," as it is written (Ps 102:8). This should serve most excellently for us as well. I think that those who wish to celebrate purely and pleasingly ought not consider only their own cheerfulness. Nor should they care only that they alone pass the feast joyfully.

Thus the Lord also had a treasury, in which the offerings of the faithful were kept, and which He could spend for the needs of His followers or of the poor. From this point the custom was introduced of having monetary funds in the Church. The Lord shows that His commandment not to be anxious about tomorrow (Mt 6:34) does not mean that the saints may not collect money. Rather, the service of God must not pursue such an aim, and fear of falling into need must not turn us away from righteousness. Thus the Lord had a money box, in which the offerings of the faithful were kept. He distributed them for the needs of His disciples and of other people. Then the custom of having church funds was first established.

The Evangelist also indicated the time, to show that even the night did not restrain Judas. See the explanation of all these verses in the same twenty-sixth chapter of the Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 26).

After this they had to expect that Judas's conscience would awaken and restrain him from carrying out his infernal intention. Otherwise he had to leave this company quickly and take the final step toward the crime. He rose from his place, and the Lord said to him only as a parting word: "What you do, do quickly." These words were not a command. On the contrary, they could have brought about a saving change in a soul capable of receiving better impressions. But since Judas had once resolved on the deed, and since this deed constantly occupied him and was already almost accomplished in his intention, the Lord thereby revealed only this: He Himself was already ready, on His part, for everything that had to be.

In the account of Judas being revealed as the betrayer, there is the following difference among the Evangelists. Luke, who relates this history very briefly, says that after Jesus Christ's prediction of the betrayer, the disciples "began to question one another, which of them it could be who would do this." John also points to this circumstance, saying that "the disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom He spoke" (22). Matthew and Mark, without indicating this circumstance, state that the disciples were greatly sorrowful and began to say to Him, each of them, "Is it I.

No one except John understood why Jesus told Judas to fulfill his plan quickly. Since Judas was the treasurer and always carried out all commissions connected with monetary expenses, some of the Apostles thought that Jesus had now commanded him to buy what was needed for the feast, or to give something to the poor.

Since Judas’s presence at the supper had become impossible after all this, Christ made His last appeal to his conscience and said to him: “What you are doing, do quickly.” And Judas, as though burned by this remark, hastily rose from the table. Hiding in the darkness of night, he went to carry out his vile deed. Many of the simple-hearted disciples still did not understand what this deed was. Some even thought that the Teacher had sent him to buy things for the feast, or to distribute alms to the poor.

Judas had the money box: see the note on Jn 12:6. "Buy what we need for the feast": for on the next day toward evening the Feast of Passover began, and then the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This indication is certain proof that the Lord and His disciples ate the Passover a day earlier than the appointed time. For on that very evening, when the Passover was already being eaten, nothing could be bought or sold according to the law. The same is proved by the disciples' other supposition, that the Lord had ordered Judas to give something to the poor. These were the needy, who might have difficulty preparing for themselves everything required for the feast by the law. For this they needed monetary assistance.

But even this attention from the Savior did not soften Judas's heart. As the Evangelist John observes, together with the morsel received by Judas from Christ's hands, Satan entered into him. That is, the satanically malicious decision to betray Christ was finally strengthened in him. "What you do, do quickly," Jesus said to him. Judas departed, but not all the disciples understood the meaning of the words Christ had spoken to him. They thought that Christ, regarding him as treasurer, had given him pre-festal errands and was urging him to carry them out quickly.

None of the disciples understood what was said to Judas, with the exception, of course, of John. The betrayer had been indicated to him, and therefore the words to the betrayer that followed the indication could not have been unclear to him. The other disciples, who had not heard what was said to the one reclining on the Savior’s breast, thought that the Lord had commanded Judas, who kept the money offerings, either to buy something for the feast or to give something to the poor. It would no longer have been possible to buy anything the next morning. On a feast, especially one such as Pascha, nothing was sold.

Again we notice the words of an eyewitness, a participant in the events. Only such a man could indicate with such precision the thoughts of his companions, thoughts which he himself apparently shared, saying, "no one understood." We have said above that St. John, even after being warned by the Lord's words spoken quietly, did not understand the sign by which the Lord indicated the betrayer. Only after all the great events he had seen were his eyes opened, and he understood all that had taken place before him. Apparently, on the night of the Mystical Supper, the disciples even thought that Judas enjoyed the Lord's special trust. He carried the money box and received instructions on how these funds were to be used. St.