Luke 22:3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Yet God allows this, sometimes for correction, sometimes for punishment, or to test us more profoundly, as seen in the case of Job. Recall how the adversary did not dare to confront him nor even came close, trembling in fear. But what of Job? The devil also hesitated to fully possess Judas until Christ had distanced him from his sacred presence. Until then, he could only influence him from afar, not daring to enter. Yet once he recognized Judas's separation from the holy community, he attacked with the ferocity of a wolf, refusing to withdraw until he had led him to ruin. This example serves as a lesson for our growth. Yet, what benefit is there in understanding that one of the twelve was a betrayer? What does it matter? It is of great significance. When we comprehend the motivations behind his treacherous decisions, we can remain vigilant, ensuring the same fate does not befall us. Why did he succumb? Out of greed.

For it could have been sold for much and given to the poor." Yet, the insightful evangelist countered his false reasoning by revealing, "And he said these things, not because he thought of the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the moneybag, and took what was put in it." Furthermore, Satan, skilled in his wickedness, does not launch a general attack on a man's soul when seeking to possess it; instead, he targets a specific passion that holds sway over him, using that to ensnare him.

The Lord must have seen in him the potential worthy of apostleship; otherwise, He would not have allowed Judas such close companionship or treated him as He did with the other apostles. However, this does not exclude the possibility that Judas had both commendable traits and flaws, with the Lord recognizing not only the seeds of goodness but also the beginnings of malice within him. The conflict between good and evil had not yet reached a conclusion, leaving hope that virtue could triumph over vice.

What was the primary wicked inclination in Judas from which his treachery arose? In seeking a historical context for understanding this, it is reasonable to first consider his love for silver. The Evangelist John notes that Judas was entrusted with a money bag containing the small funds of the disciples and that he was not faithful in this duty, using part of the treasury for his personal gain. This aligns with the consensus of the first three Evangelists who report that Judas conspired to hand over his Master to the Sanhedrin for a specific amount. This suggests that his greed had intensified to the extent that he did not hesitate to commit such a vile act to satisfy it. Nevertheless, it is difficult to accept this notion fully. If Judas's insatiable desire for wealth outweighed all else, it seems improbable that the Lord would select him as one of His disciples. The Lord, who deeply understood the essence of every individual, would not have entrusted such a person with the treasury. Furthermore, if Judas betrayed his Master solely out of greed, it raises questions as to why he settled for a mere thirty pieces of silver. One might argue that the Sanhedrin, intent on capturing Jesus prior to Passover, would have been willing to pay more if Judas had requested it. It could be posited that the Sanhedrin was either hesitant due to other methods of capturing Jesus that they had in mind or anticipated that He would not seek support from a crowd for His defense. Regardless, such a paltry sum could not be the sole incentive behind Judas's betrayal. Whether the payment was trivial or substantial, it is reasonable to believe that a man who once shared intimacy with his Lord, and at least acknowledged Him as the Messiah for some time, must have experienced a changed internal relationship with Him compared to the other disciples.

Thus, it appears that the love of money was not the predominant reason for the betrayal. Did Judas truly foresee the eventual outcome of these events? His tragic demise and his despair upon witnessing Jesus condemned imply that he may not have anticipated such a resolution. It is suggested that Judas intended to hasten the proceedings, believing that by placing Jesus in peril, he would compel Him to assert His kingship or exercise His divine power to overcome any obstacles. When the situation unfolded differently than he expected, and he realized that the One he once devoted his heart to was condemned, his despair became overwhelming. Such conduct can only be deemed criminal. The end does not justify immoral means. Can the works of God be treated with such disregard? What should be made of this perspective? If Judas acted under such misguided notions, surely the Lord would have prevented him from being led so far astray. Moreover, if this were indeed the case, it is difficult to imagine that the Lord would have spoken to him the words recorded by the Evangelist without addressing the severity of his intent. It would seem that Judas, like the other apostles, approached the Lord with earthly ambitions and carnal desires. However, upon realizing these expectations were unfounded, he grew disillusioned and aloof from what once ignited his passion. A year before Jesus's death, after a significant conversation in the synagogue of Capernaum in which many turned away, the Lord identified that there was a devil among them, referring to Judas. Certainly, Peter was cautioned too: "Get behind me, Satan; you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men" (Matthew 16:23). While Peter was quick to repent, Judas's heart had become hardened. Detached from the fellowship of Jesus, tethered only by worldly interests, Judas had long ceased to be a genuine disciple, merely awaiting an opportunity to sever his ties. The Lord allowed him to remain, partly to influence his soul and partly because He foresaw the destiny tied to Judas's actions (for Jesus knew from the beginning who would betray Him, John 6:64).

We must also reflect on the events during the concluding days of the Lord's ministry. From the moment Lazarus was resurrected and began to attract public attention, the Sanhedrin’s desire to eliminate Jesus intensified. They had not yet determined how to accomplish this and sought to evaluate the situation as it unfolded. It was unclear if Jesus would come to Jerusalem. However, contrary to the Sanhedrin's expectations, Jesus made a public entrance into Jerusalem amidst adversaries who sought to kill Him, doing so in a manner more triumphant than ever. The Pharisees in power soon regretted allowing events to progress so far, lamenting, “Look, the whole world has gone after Him” (John 12:19). They began to plot how to seize Jesus covertly and bring about His death (Matthew 26:4). It remained uncertain if this would involve a secret traitor—or if a plan had already been established to capture Him through deceit and execute Him under dubious circumstances. Nevertheless, it had been decided that this endeavor would not occur during the feast but rather either before or after it. The latter option was preferred when Judas Iscariot, one of the Lord's disciples, offered his assistance to them (Matthew 26:14-16; Luke 22:3-6). They agreed upon a price, and he promised to deliver his Master to them.

This disappointment led him to betray his Master to the adversaries, thinking he might gain some money and rectify his shattered hopes. Greed had become part of his very being. He had long ago begun to indulge this vice using the communal funds of the apostles, which had been entrusted to him, allowing this desire to escalate to the point where he no longer concealed it from his fellow disciples, who recognized him as a thief. During a dinner at Simon's house, when the Savior rebuked him for his disparaging comment about Mary’s generous act, Judas became embittered. With Satan entering him, he made the choice to become a traitor. In the darkness of night, he stealthily made his way into Jerusalem and presented himself before the Sanhedrin.

The holy Evangelist Luke noted that Satan had entered the heart of the traitor (22:3), propelling this lost soul (John 17:12) towards the heinous act of betraying the Lord. What a stark contrast there was between good and evil, light and darkness! The holy Church sings, "At the time, while the sinner poured forth priceless myrrh, the disciple conspired with the wicked; one rejoiced in the anointing with precious oil, whereas the other hurried to betray the Priceless One; one recognized the Master, while the other distanced himself from Him; one was liberated, and the other became enslaved to the adversary." The traitor departed from the sacred fellowship of Bethany, to which he no longer belonged in spirit, retreating to the realm where the primordial enemy of God and humanity had enticed him, to that shadowy place where the insidious plot against the Lord had been brewing for some time. "What will you give me," Judas asked the chief priests and elders, “if I deliver Him to you?" This offer immediately alleviated the Sanhedrin's hindrances in achieving their nefarious ends. The closest disciple of Jesus, who was well aware of His whereabouts and daily activities, could inform them of the most opportune moment to apprehend the despised Prophet of Galilee discreetly, far from the public eye. By capturing Him and promptly handing Him over to the Roman governor, they absolved themselves of any blame should the public become agitated upon learning the truth. The blessed evangelists Mark and Luke specifically note that the chief priests and elders rejoiced at Judas’ proposal, excited by the prospect of neatly orchestrating the Nazarene's death in a manner they deemed safe and secure. They willingly agreed to compensate the traitor with silver, though perhaps Judas was misled regarding the amount, as they offered him thirty pieces of silver (approximately 90 kopecks for a silver shekel during Christ’s time, making it roughly equivalent to 30 roubles). This sum was the typical price for a slave, as dictated by Mosaic law (Exodus 21:32), which a master would receive in the event of a loss. In establishing such a price, perhaps mocking the esteemed one or reflecting Judas’ own avarice for minimal reward, did Christ's adversaries believe they were fulfilling an ancient prophecy? "They," the prophet Zechariah had foretold, "have valued My wages at thirty pieces of silver—a paltry sum for which they have esteemed Me! And I took the thirty pieces of silver and cast them into the temple of the Lord for the potter" (Zechariah 11:12, 13). After agreeing on the compensation, the chief priests and Judas were unable to decide precisely when or how to carry out the betrayal. Judas committed to seizing the first available opportunity to surrender the Lord into their hands secretly, avoiding any public disturbance or suspicion from His devoted followers. The ungrateful disciple, blinded by his greed, failed to foresee the ramifications of his treachery, neglecting that he was betraying the innocent blood of his Master (Matthew 27:4), which would lead to his own demise and eternal sorrow (26:24). Nevertheless, the pivotal decision was made, the unjust payment was accepted, and the traitor was relentlessly drawn towards depths of malevolence, compelled by the forces of darkness and his own wicked intentions, and from that moment onward, he sought an opportune moment to betray the Lord.