Luke 22:48Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

If the Lord showed such care for someone who would ignore His counsel, how can we stand justified when we neglect the salvation of our neighbors, abandoning them after only a few attempts at guidance?

Recognizing the malice of Judas, the Lord bore with it until the final moment, accepting the kiss of the traitor. Your Master kissed and allowed the one who was about to betray Him to touch His lips, yet many refuse to show even a basic kindness to those in need or honor the teachings of Christ. His actions taught us that the poor should not be disregarded, nor should those who may lead us astray. Therefore, do not claim that someone has wronged you, but reflect on what Christ did just before His crucifixion with the kiss that marked Judas’s betrayal, attempting to reform him. Consider the shame that should have accompanied that kiss. Christ asked, “Judas, do you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” Who would not have been moved by such words? What heart could remain hard? Yet that unfortunate man remained unmoved.

Thus, do not declare that someone has harmed another, leading you to bitterness against them. If anyone seeks to do you harm, remember that you should approach that person with kindness, just as Christ did even in the moment of His own betrayal. Rather than meet them with animosity, respond with tears and compassion, for even those who wrong us merit our sorrow. We are servants of Him who embraced the traitor, and I will persist in saying this; He spoke more lovingly than any kiss could convey. The Lord did not address Judas with accusations of wickedness or treachery, saying, “After all I have done for you, is this how you repay me?” Instead, He simply called him by name, “Judas,” which conveys a sense of regret and longing rather than anger. He did not say, “You are betraying your Master and my Benefactor,” but rather, “You betray the Son of Man.” Even if He were not your Teacher and Lord, can you indeed betray Him who treats you with such grace and sincerity, kissing you even in betrayal, where a kiss signifies treachery? Blessed are You, O Lord. What humility and compassion You have demonstrated for us as an example.

Instead, He calls him by name: "Judas." He would not have admonished him unless it served a purpose for his betterment, should he have desired it. This was an intended rebuke, so Judas would understand that the Lord did not conceal Himself, and perhaps, in recognizing Him as Lord and All-Knowing, he might humble himself and repent. Even though the Lord was aware of Judas's unyielding nature, He fulfilled His mission, just as His Father did in the Old Testament. He was aware that the Jews would not heed their prophets, yet He still sent them. He demonstrates this principle to us as well: we should not be disheartened by the correction offered to those who fall.

It is clear that, since Satan was within him, he uttered falsehoods, even proclaiming, “Rejoice.” In response to such duplicity, the prophet declares, “Their tongue is the point of a spear; the words of their mouth are deceitful; to their neighbor they speak peaceably, but inwardly they harbor enmity.” Moreover, we must also acknowledge the account given by the Apostle John, which informs us that the officers of the Jews came to arrest Jesus. He approached them and asked, “Whom do you seek?” When they responded, “Jesus of Nazareth,” He willingly surrendered Himself to the hands of those intent on murder, stating, “I am He.” It is noted that they staggered back, and this happened three times. What was the purpose of this? Why did the Savior deliver Himself to them, causing them to fall at His words, “I am He?” This was intended to reveal that His suffering did not occur against His will and that they could not have apprehended Him unless He had chosen to be seized. They did not capture Christ through their own power and deliver Him to corrupt leaders; rather, He willingly endured suffering, fully aware that His Passion on the cross was for the redemption of all humanity.

The Lord seems to gently admonish His betrayer: ‘Why do you inflict wounds with a greeting intended for love, shed blood while calling me brother, and bring death with an act of peace? Are you a servant who betrays the Lord, a disciple of the Master, one chosen from among the Elect?’ These words resonate with the one betraying Him: Better are the wounds of a friend than deceitful kisses from an adversary (Proverbs 27:6). And what does it say about the peacemaker? Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! (Song of Songs 1:1). The Lord returned Judas’ kiss—not to teach hypocrisy, but to demonstrate that He would not turn away even a traitor. The most profound condemnation of betrayal is to continue showing love, as it is written, With them that hate the world I was at peace (Psalm 119:7).

Through this sign, those who approached with weapons seized Him. Yet the Lord of all is not captured by violence but by the profound mystery of our redemption. It sufficed for Him to ask, ‘Why do I need legions of angels, for what are the heavenly hosts?’ At His words, they recoiled and fell to the ground (John 18:6). The voice of the Lord alone instills fear and awe. This account is recorded by the disciple who reclined at Jesus’ side (John 13:23) to affirm His divine splendor. The crowd laid hands upon the Lord and bound Him willingly. O foolish ones, O unbelievers! This is not the way to seize Wisdom, nor to grasp Truth!

This is the example we ought to follow in bearing the offenses from those closest to us—our friends, our family, those to whom we have extended love. By addressing the distressed disciple as a friend, the Lord reveals that His divine love remains open to receive him even in this moment. By expressing astonishment rather than anger at Judas’ presence amidst enemies and his treacherous kiss, He demonstrates love’s sorrow for the lost disciple, mourning the deep wound to his conscience, and through His loving breath, He seeks to soothe and heal the anguish of his soul. Here lies a love that, without concern for its own peril, reaches out to care for its adversary!

To illustrate to Judas that his betrayal could not be concealed, Jesus asked, "Judas, do you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?" Just then, the guards arrived, and Jesus inquired, "Whom do you seek?" Although the group was uncertain of their quarry, there were elders from the people (members of the Sanhedrin) observing Judas, perhaps to gauge how he would execute his secret mission and to ensure he would not deceive them. When Jesus asked, "Who are you looking for?" they responded, "Jesus of Nazareth" (John 18:4-5). It is hard to believe that the elders accompanying the guards did not recognize Jesus; rather, it seems likely they feigned ignorance, eager to observe His reactions under such circumstances. Judas, now as an outsider due to the exposure of his betrayal, stood with those against Jesus. "It is I whom you seek," Jesus called out to the elders and the entire group that had come with him. The guards were warned to be careful, as they were told that capturing the one they sought would require cunning and deceit, considering he had followers who might defend him and conceal him. The guards were taken aback when Jesus declared, "It is I whom you have been ordered to take; take me then!" This unexpected declaration, along with the authority with which Jesus spoke, had a profound impact on the guards; they recoiled and fell to the ground. This mighty presence compelled the eager merchants to yield to Jesus and leave the temple without opposition. The same powerful spirit subdued the furious Pharisees who were poised to strike Jesus with stones; their hands fell limply, and the stones dropped to the ground. Now the crowd, armed with swords and daggers to capture a significant criminal, was also overwhelmed by the same divine power, causing them to retreat and tumble in fear. At that moment, the other eight apostles began to gather around Jesus. As the guards recovered from their shock, some moved closer to Jesus while others attempted to contain the disciples and arrest them all. Jesus then asked them again, "Whom do you seek?" When they again replied, "Jesus of Nazareth," He told them, "I have already mentioned it is I; therefore, if you seek Me, let these go." In recounting these words of Jesus, the Evangelist John clarifies that on that very night, as Jesus prayed for His disciples, He asked the Heavenly Father to protect them, saying, "Of those whom You have given Me, I have lost none." These words were to be fulfilled as the guards left the apostles to approach Jesus.

Why choose a gesture of affection and camaraderie as your means of treachery?’ It is evident that Judas aimed to mask his treachery from Jesus or the other disciples and, after greeting him with ‘Hail, Rabbi,’ and delivering the kiss, likely intended to step aside and possibly rejoin the other disciples, suggesting that the guards were not sent by him but rather happened upon them. However, Jesus made Judas' treachery known to the disciples. By referring to Himself as the Son of Man—a title revered among Jews as the holy and exalted designation of the Messiah—Jesus intended to make Judas aware of the gravity of his offense. For Judas, who had been a follower for over three years, witnessed His most significant miracles, and received His profound teachings, could have no doubt that Jesus did not claim the title of Messiah without reason, but was indeed the anointed one.

Abraham, upon meeting the three visitors at Mamre, demonstrated respect by bowing to the ground (Genesis 18:2). Lot also bowed before the travelers at Sodom's gate (Genesis 19:1), as did others in similar contexts (see 2 Samuel 9:6; 18:2). Kissing, a prevalent form of greeting among the Jews, Greeks, and Romans, symbolized goodwill, friendship, and affection. Family members, friends, and acquaintances would exchange kisses on various body parts—the hand, lips, chin, beard, cheeks, neck, and even eyes (see Genesis 27:26; 29:11, 13; 31:28; 33:4; 45:14; 48:10; 50:1; Exodus 4:27; 18:7; Ruth 1:9; 1 Samuel 10:1, 10:4; 2 Samuel 15:5, 20:9; 3 Samuel 19:20; Tobit 7:6-7; 9:8; 10:13; 11:11). In the New Covenant, this practice is referenced in Luke 7:45; 15:20; and Acts 20:37. Kissing feet was also sometimes seen as a sign of humble greeting (Luke 7:38; Isaiah 49:23). This act of affection, when twisted into a gesture of betrayal, was employed by Judas as an indication for his fellow conspirators to identify the Lord Jesus Christ. “Whom I kiss, that is He; take Him,” he instructed them (Matthew 26:48). Now, having reached his treacherous aim, all Judas desired was to carry out this sign swiftly. He approached quickly and, with the frigid greeting, “Hail, Rabbi” (ῥαββί—distinguishing from the usual term κύριε, meaning "Lord"), delivered a treacherous kiss to the sacred hand of his Master. Following this betrayal—after the solemn proclamation “I am”—and despite the passionate nature of Apostle Peter, the Son of Man willingly surrendered Himself into the hands of sinners. “Then the soldiers and the captain of the temple and the officers of the Jews took Jesus and bound Him” (John 18:12).

“By kissing”: through this gesture, which symbolizes love and fellowship, expressing the most sacred and genuine human emotions. “Betray”: as a deceiver turning against Him who had loved you dearly, who held you in great esteem, and who regarded you as His closest disciple. “Son of man”: the longing of Israel, the dawn of hope, the Redeemer of humanity! Each word must have struck terror into the shameful soul of the traitor.