Luke 22:6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Are you unaware that Lazarus was resurrected after four days in the tomb, and that the widow’s son and the synagogue leader’s daughter were restored to life on His command? Do you not recall His declaration to the Jews concerning His body, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up?’ Have you forgotten His promise, ‘I am the resurrection and the life?’ What could provoke such madness? The Evangelist reveals that ‘Satan entered into him,’ finding an opening through his insatiable greed. However, ‘the fear of God with contentment is great gain,’ and as Scripture reminds us, ‘we brought nothing into the world, and can carry nothing out.’ Furthermore, ‘those who desire wealth fall into numerous temptations and harmful desires that plunge men into destruction.’ This is starkly exemplified by the disciple who betrayed his Lord: he perished for a few worthless coins. And what of those who conspired with him? They, too, were ensnared by the same temptations. Although they were regarded as learned in the Law and the teachings of the holy prophets, they were tragically oblivious to the truths foretold about them. Among these are the words, ‘My wrath is kindled against the shepherds, and I will visit the lambs.’ The unfaithful shepherds met their demise, but the calling of the faithful to salvation served as a divine visitation, resulting in the remnant of Israel being saved. As if they had fallen into the depths of despair and were lamenting at this moment, the prophet reveals that ‘the voice of the shepherds cries because their might is brought low; the voice of the lions weeps because the pride of Jordan is destroyed.’ By lions, he refers to the pride of Jordan, symbolizing the leaders of the Jewish synagogue, who, as just punishment for their transgressions against Christ, mourned alongside their families as they faced ruin by fire and sword, with the temple at Jerusalem consumed and the cities of Judea left in utter desolation. Such was their destiny; yet Christ redeems us according to His merciful will. To Him, and together with the Father, be glory and dominion, with the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.

Instill in us a sacred reverence that we may flinch at sin as it nears our hearts. Fortify our resolve with gracious strength to combat wickedness. Dear listeners, the grave sin of Judas is alarming; his betrayal of the Savior for mere silver is deeply troubling. The sin of greed progressively consumed Judas. We must resolve to combat sin, and if we seize the opportunity to do so while it is still nascent, we can prevail. Why indulge in triviality? Why neglect prudence, allowing any minor passion to gain power over us? Let us not permit our wicked hearts to justify our frailties. With unwavering commitment, let us rise up against sin the moment it approaches our souls. We are called to resist sin with such intensity that it might lead to bloodshed, sacrificing our strength and everything dear to us. Let us sever dangerous bonds with others, avoid the counsel of the wicked, and refrain from walking the path of sinners (Psalm 1:1). The eternal salvation of our souls demands our utmost efforts. Let us maintain vigilance for the glory of God's name. St. Chrysostom warns, "Hear all those afflicted by the disease of Judas; be aware of the sin of greed. If one who was with Christ, who worked miracles and taught so profoundly, fell into such despair because he was not free from this ailment, how much more are you, who neglect the Scriptures and are preoccupied with the temporal, likely to stumble into this sin if you remain careless? How can you expect to evade this affliction when you neglect a powerful remedy and fail to make earnest efforts? This passion is the worst of all. It breeds murderers, incites wars and conflicts, and is the root of all evils, by whatever name you call them. Wealth bears no benefit when the soul is impoverished, nor does it suffer damage when the soul is enriched." To God be the glory. Amen.

Undoubtedly, the Lord recognized in him the potential to be a worthy apostle; otherwise, He would not have permitted Judas to share in such close companionship, nor would He have treated him as He did the other apostles. This recognition does not exclude the notion that Judas possessed both positive and negative traits, and that the Lord observed both the potential for good and the presence of evil within him. The struggle between these opposing forces had not yet reached a conclusion, and there remained hope that good could triumph over evil.

What then was the dominant evil inclination in Judas that led to his treachery? One might initially consider his love for money, as the Evangelist John notes that Judas was in charge of the money bag, utilizing the disciples' funds for personal gain. This aligns with the accounts of the first three Evangelists, who reveal that Judas conspired to hand over his Master to the Sanhedrin in exchange for a specific monetary amount. Such reasoning might lead to the conclusion that his greed had overtaken him to a point where he thought nothing of committing such a dreadful act for financial gain. However, it seems implausible that a person with such covetousness could have been welcomed among the Lord’s disciples. The Lord, who perceives the hearts of everyone and can use individuals for their utmost usefulness, would not have placed such a person in charge of the treasury. If Judas betrayed his Master solely out of greed, it is perplexing why he accepted a paltry sum of thirty pieces of silver. Surely, the Sanhedrin, intent on apprehending Jesus before Passover, would have offered more had Judas asked for it. Perhaps the Sanhedrin considered their options for capturing Jesus, knowing He would not seek to evade arrest by assembling a crowd for support. Regardless, a mere thirty shekels could not solely motivate such an act from Judas.

Whether the sum seemed insignificant or significant, it must be assumed that a man who had enjoyed close fellowship with his Master and had recognized Him as the Messiah for an extended time had entered into a different internal relationship with Jesus than at the beginning or compared to the other disciples. Thus, it seems money was not the primary catalyst for the betrayal. Did Judas truly foresee the consequences of his actions? His tragic end and his remorse upon witnessing Jesus condemned suggest he did not anticipate such an outcome. It appears that Judas intended to precipitate the case against Jesus, believing that by placing Him in a perilous situation, he could force Him into proclaiming Himself as Messiah-King or utilizing divine power to overcome all obstacles. When events unfolded differently than anticipated, and he saw the One to whom he had once devoted himself condemned, he sank into despair. Such actions can only be deemed criminal, as immoral means do not justify the end. Can the operations of God be treated in this manner?

What can be deduced from this implication? If Judas entertained such a thought, even if misguided, the Lord would not have allowed him to be consumed by such folly. Moreover, if this were the case, it is hard to believe that the Lord, recognizing Judas' intent to leave the supper, would have said the words attributed to him in the Gospels. These words could easily imply His endorsement, as if to say, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” It seems likely that Judas, like the other apostles, approached the Lord with worldly expectations and sensual aspirations. However, when he was soon disillusioned by these hopes, he grew distant from the cause to which he had once been dedicated. A year prior to Jesus' death, during a well-known discourse in the Capernaum synagogue, where many turned away from Him, the Lord remarked that a devil was among them, referring to Judas. Similarly, Peter was rebuked: “Get behind me, Satan; for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men” (Matthew 16:23). Yet Peter’s heart was quick to repent, in contrast to Judas, whose heart had grown callous. Detached from the company of Jesus and bound only by material interests, Judas had long ceased to be a true disciple, merely awaiting an opportunity to abandon Him. The Lord tolerated his presence, perhaps to influence his soul or because He foresaw the events intertwined with Judas' fate, as it is written, “For Jesus knew from the beginning who would betray Him” (John 6:64).

Finally, we must reflect on the events surrounding the final days of the Lord’s ministry. Following the resurrection of Lazarus, which captured public attention, the Sanhedrin became increasingly intent on eliminating Jesus. They had yet to finalize their approach, waiting to assess the situation further. It was uncertain whether Jesus would come to Jerusalem. To their surprise, Jesus not only publicly entered Jerusalem despite their threats but did so with an unprecedented show of solemnity. The leading Pharisees soon regretted allowing the situation to escalate, saying to one another, “Look, the world has gone after Him!” (John 12:19). They began to plot how to deceitfully capture and kill Him (Matthew 26:4); whether through the treachery of a secret traitor among them or some other means remains unclear. It was decided that this could not occur during the feast but rather either before or after it, with a preference for the former. It was then that Judas Iscariot, one of the Lord’s disciples, offered to assist them (Matthew 26:14-16; Luke 22:3-6). They agreed on a payment, and he promised to betray his Master to them.

What a stark contrast there was between good and evil, light and darkness! ‘At the time,’ the holy Church sings, ‘when the sinner brought the precious myrrh, the disciple conspired with the wicked; that one delighted in pouring out the costly myrrh, and this one hurried to sell the Priceless One; that one honored the Master, and this one distanced himself from the Lord; that one found freedom, and this one became enslaved to the adversary.’ The betrayer, having departed from the sanctified fellowship of Bethany—where his soul no longer belonged—retreated to the realm that the original enemy of God and humanity lured him to, a dark place where his murderous intent had long been brewing. “What will you give me,” Judas asked the chief priests and rulers, “if I deliver Him to you?” This proposal immediately alleviated the Sanhedrin's obstacles toward their intended objective. The closest disciple of Jesus, fully aware of His whereabouts and daily activities, could reveal the opportune moment to capture the despised Nazarene quietly, away from the public eye. By apprehending Him and handing Him over to the Roman governor without delay, they aimed to evade any responsibility if the public were to learn of their actions. The holy evangelists Mark and Luke clearly state that the chief priests and rulers rejoiced at Judas's offer, elated at the prospect of finally orchestrating the Nazarene's death as they wished, with guaranteed discretion. They readily agreed to compensate the traitor with silver, though perhaps they misled Judas regarding the amount, offering him thirty pieces of silver (a silver shekel, valued at approximately 90 kopecks, making the total about 30 roubles). This amount represented the typical price for a slave, as per the Mosaic Law (Exodus 21:32), which the master received for a slave should their life be lost. By assigning such a price, perhaps out of disdain for Him or taking advantage of the avarice of the traitor, who was easily satisfied with little, did Christ's adversaries believe they were fulfilling an age-old prophecy? ‘They,’ prophesied Zechariah, ‘have weighed My worth at thirty pieces of silver—a paltry sum at which they have valued Me! And I took the thirty pieces of silver and cast them into the house of the Lord for the potter’ (Zechariah 11:12, 13). Once the price was agreed upon, neither the chief priests nor the betrayer could precisely outline the time or method of the betrayal. Judas merely committed to seizing the first suitable chance to secretly turn over the Master, avoiding any public spectacle that could arouse suspicion or discontent among His fervent followers. The ungrateful disciple, blinded by his greed for silver, failed to comprehend the ramifications of his treachery and did not realize that he was betraying the innocent blood of the Master (Matthew 27:4), for which he would ultimately pay with his life and endure unimaginable sorrow (26:24). The fateful decision had been made, the unjust payment received; the traitor, driven relentlessly into the depths of wickedness, spurred on by the spirit of darkness and his own malevolent desires, began to seek an opportune moment to betray the Lord.