Matthew 26:15Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Despite witnessing Jesus perform miracles and demonstrate His divine authority while surrounded by people, Judas believed he could restrain Him. Even after receiving multiple warnings from Jesus—both stern and gentle—Judas remained unrepentant. At the Last Supper, Jesus continued to reach out to him until the end. Yet, Judas remained unreformed, while the Lord continued His mission. A lesson for us emerges: we, too, must diligently reach out to the lost and indifferent, encouraging, teaching, comforting, and advising them, regardless of the outcome. Even knowing that Judas would not repent, Christ did not cease to show him compassion and guidance, even to the point of allowing himself to be kissed by the betrayer; yet, this ultimately meant nothing to Judas. Such is the dire consequence of avarice! It led Judas to become both sacrilegious and treacherous. Listen, all you who are entangled by the love of money—heed this warning and guard yourselves against this vice. If Judas, who was so close to Christ and witnessed many miracles, fell into such despair due to his greed, how much more should we be vigilant, particularly if we have not even been exposed to the Scriptures and remain fixated on worldly gains? Judas constantly learned from the One who had nowhere to lay His head and was taught through actions and words to reject gold, silver, and even extra garments, yet he remained undisciplined. How can you expect to guard against this affliction if you do not diligently seek healing and strive against it? Truly, this passion is ferocious! Yet, if you choose, you can conquer it easily. It is not an inherent desire; those freed from it testify to this. Such urges are universal, but this greed flourishes from negligence; it arises from neglect and consumes those who fall prey to it, forcing them to live against their nature. When a person no longer recognizes their neighbors, friends, or family, they effectively become detached from themselves. Therefore, it is evident that wickedness, like the disease of greed, leads one to betrayal, as is the case with Judas. You may wonder how he became a traitor despite being called by Christ. God extends His call without coercion, gently encouraging individuals to pursue virtue. If some choose to resist, He does not impose His will upon them. If you seek to comprehend why Judas fell into this way, you will discover he was doomed by his greed. Why was he ensnared by this desire? Because of his carelessness. While carelessness can lead to such a decline, diligence can inspire transformation. Many who once behaved cruelly have become gentler; those once captivated by pleasure have embraced chastity; former lovers of money now live simply. Yet, carelessness breeds the opposite. Gehazi, for example, lived with a holy man but succumbed to the sin of greed (2 Kings 5). Indeed, covetousness is the root of all evils, causing theft, murder, wars, and every conceivable wrongdoing. Such a person proves worthless in any endeavor—military or civilian. Even in his personal life, a man consumed by greed will choose a base partner and an inappropriate dwelling, driven by monetary gain rather than virtue. Should he marry, he will seek a spouse of little character; when buying a house, he will favor poorly placed properties with high returns rather than those suitable for a person of honor. His actions reflect self-interest even when he becomes a ruler, isolating himself from the common good. He measures present worth against future desires, perceiving what he possesses as trivial in comparison. This is why it has been said that nothing is more lawless than a person consumed by greed. Such a person sells their soul and becomes a universal enemy, lamenting that the earth does not yield gold instead of grain or that springs flow instead of precious stones; he is resentful of nature’s bounty and the welfare of all, merely tolerating others for the small coin they offer. He harbors contempt for the poor and disdain for the wealthy; he feels wronged by the world, convinced that all have stolen from him. Forever dissatisfied and empty, he experiences the depths of misery. Conversely, those liberated from such desires, who cherish true wisdom, possess profound joy and contentment. The virtuous, whether enslaved or captive, embody true happiness, unscathed even in the face of adversity. But the corrupt and unscrupulous suffer immensely, regardless of their status or wealth; evil is powerless over virtue. Why, then, do you sorrow in poverty? Why are you disheartened when joy should prevail? Your trials are an opportunity for triumph, provided you embrace them wisely. Why weep, dear child? Has someone wronged you? Count it joy; it brings you patience. Did someone deprive you of your wealth? They have liberated you from unnecessary burdens. Has your reputation waned? This, too, offers a different form of freedom. While you grieve for a grand house, remember the open expanse of land before you, ready for your enjoyment. What is more exquisite than the heavens above? Until when shall you remain impoverished in spirit? One cannot claim true riches who neglects to enrich their soul, nor can one be truly destitute if their soul is rich. If the spirit surpasses the body, it should not be swayed by its weaker counterpart. Instead, the stronger spirit draws in what is lesser, influencing it. Just as a healthy heart can restore a weakened body, a healthy soul uplifts the spirit. Now consider: what use is a thriving branch if the root is withered? Conversely, what harm is done if the leaves wither while the roots remain strong? Just like this, wealth loses significance in the presence of a deficient soul, whereas a rich soul bears no adverse effects, even when lacking material wealth. How, you may wonder, can a soul thrive without monetary wealth? Its richness is particularly evident in such circumstances. As we previously stated, true wealth is marked by disdain for material gain. A truly rich individual finds satisfaction in simplicity, while the poor are driven by need. Consequently, poverty can often result in a deeper appreciation for life’s riches. Those who possess much tend to crave even more; those satiated still yearn for more. Desire cannot be extinguished by superficial fulfillment; rather, it intensifies with indulgence. Similarly, the more one feeds the fire of greed with gold, the hotter it burns. If a greater longing signifies poverty, and the rich continue to desire more, they become impoverished in spirit. Hence, the soul stands impoverished in apparent richness and enriched in true poverty. To illustrate, picture two individuals: one with ten thousand talents and another with ten. If we strip them of their wealth, who would lament more? The one with ten thousand would grieve more deeply—not from the loss itself, but from his greater attachment. The more one loves, the more one desires, and that desire reveals deeper poverty. True desire springs from genuine need; where there is contentment, desire ceases. We feel thirst most acutely when we crave to drink. Thus, I share this to express that, if we remain vigilant, we can withstand harm, for it does not stem from poverty itself, but from within us. Therefore, I implore you to eradicate the malady of avarice, so we may attain true riches and enjoy everlasting blessings bestowed by the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, TO whom belongs glory forever. Amen.

Why did Judas betray? Out of thievery. He was consumed by this sin, trading the Lord of creation for merely thirty pieces of silver. What greater folly exists than this? The One who lacks equals and before whom "all nations are regarded as nothing" (Isaiah 40:17)—He was sold for a trifling sum. The weight of greed is burdensome; it can drive one to madness. It is not merely drunkenness that leads to such folly but a love for silver. What did you exchange for this betrayal? You were known and called by Him, made one of the apostles, taught profound truths, promised countless blessings, empowered to perform miracles, and shared in His meals and travels. Were these gifts insufficient to prevent your downfall? Why did you betray Him, wretched man? What neglect did you face? You were beloved despite your flaws, as He continued to make Himself known to you. Time and again He warned you, “One of you will betray Me” (Matthew 26:21); hints that were meant for your awareness. Yet in spite of your acknowledgment of Him, He did not cast you aside but honored you as one among the twelve, demonstrating His love. At the Last Supper, He even washed your feet, yet this devotion failed to move you. He bore your withholdings from the poor, hoping to mitigate your descent into greater wickedness, yet you remained unmoved. Were you not transformed by the many signs and teachings? How could you harden your heart to such a degree? Fear his fate! For it is through his greed—his love of money—that he fell into such depravity. Shun this vice; it breeds further afflictions. It corrupts and distracts one from God despite His abundant mercy. Reject this desire; it is destructive. We see Judas’s experience and tremble, lest we find ourselves ensnared in a similar predicament. The warnings are presented to keep us vigilant. Flee this path; it is not merely excessive greed that corrupts, but an attachment to material things. Judas betrayed Christ for thirty pieces of silver—hardly a great sum. Do not be deceived; the love of money is insidious. It is more than simply coveting much wealth; even desiring what is beyond your needs is harmful. How egregious for Judas to betray for so little; it was frozen silver that enticed him! A heart that covets can scarcely see the face of Christ; this is a profound truth. Greed is the root of all evil. If one with a solitary vice is cast aside from glory, what shall be the fate of one who harbors this root?

"How could it have come from his lips? How did it escape his tongue? How was it that his entire body did not become paralyzed? How did he not lose his sanity...? What will you give me, and I will deliver Him to you... Is this what Christ taught you? Is this the reason He instructed, ‘Take with you neither gold nor silver nor brass in your belts’ (Matthew 10:9)? What will you pay me, and I will betray Him to you... What insanity! For what reason, I ask? For what offense, be it small or great, do you betray the Master? Is it because He empowered you over demons? Because He granted you the ability to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, and raise the dead? Because He bestowed upon you authority over death itself? For such gifts—are these how you repay Him? Oh, madness, or rather, oh, love of silver— for all evils stem from it; it is mightier than a demon, driving those it possesses into frenzy, making them forget everything—including themselves, their neighbors, and the very laws of nature, robbing them of their minds and rendering them insane... Although Judas had witnessed many times Jesus moving unscathed through the crowd, displaying numerous signs of His divinity and power, he believed he could ensnare Him. Moreover, despite Jesus repeatedly addressing him with both admonitory and gentle words to quell his malice... It is beyond imagination to grasp the hellish delight surging through the hearts of Christ's enemies at the arrival of the traitor. His proposal aligned perfectly with their ambitions, immediately shifting their original intent. "The crafty Sadducee Caiaphas," remarks Innocent, Archbishop of Kherson, "quickly envisioned that with the assistance of such a man as the supposed traitor, they could capture Jesus without creating a disturbance, even without the populace being aware. By quickly condemning Him to death and handing Him over to the Roman authorities, they sought to eliminate the last remaining threat to themselves. They believed the people would not dare to oppose the Romans, especially since they had reinforced their military presence in Jerusalem during Passover... The price of betrayal was also readily established—the amount ordained by Moses for a slave’s unintentional death, which was thirty pieces of silver or shekels." THEY OFFERED HIM THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER. "The traitor's greed becomes even more astonishing," continues Innocent, Archbishop of Kherson, "who could be content with such a meager sum when it was likely that Jesus Christ’s enemies would have gladly paid him more."

Consequently, he resolved to betray his Master to His adversaries, anticipating that he could profit financially and counterbalance his dashed hopes. Greed had become his second nature. He had long since started to indulge this vice from the communal funds of the apostles, which he had been entrusted to manage. His obsession had escalated to the point where he no longer concealed it from his fellow disciples, who clearly recognized him as a 'thief.' When, at the banquet in the house of Simon (Lazarus), he was reproached by the Savior for his insidious comment regarding Mary’s commendable act, that insult ultimately soured him. With Satan having entered his heart, he resolved to become a traitor. Under the cover of darkness, he stealthily entered Jerusalem and approached the Sanhedrin. The high conspirators were eager for this moment, and when Judas requested from them a favor that was substantial for him yet trivial for them—a mere thirty pieces of silver—the agreement was swiftly reached. The Sanhedrin departed, buoyed by the success of their scheme, while Judas, summoning the forces of darkness, began to plot how he could achieve his treacherous aim.

Judas Iscariot's primary vice was his greed for silver, a trait he displayed during the supper at Lazarus's house, feigning concern for the poor (John 12:6). As the holy Evangelist Luke notes, Satan had taken hold of the betrayer’s darkened soul (Luke 22:3) and urged him, the son destined for destruction (John 17:12), toward the grave act of betraying his Master. The contrast between good and evil, light and darkness, has never been so stark. The holy Church sings, “At that time, when the sinner brought the myrrh, the disciple conspired with the wicked; one rejoiced in pouring out precious myrrh, while the other rushed to sell the Priceless One; one acknowledged the Lord, while the other distanced himself from Him; one was liberated, while the other was enslaved to the adversary.” The traitor, leaving the holy assembly at Bethany, to which his soul no longer belonged, retreated to the place where the original foe of God and humanity lured him, to that shadowy realm where the murderous scheme against God had long been maturing. “What will you give me,” Judas inquired of the chief priests and authorities, “and I will betray Him to you?” This suggestion immediately alleviated the Sanhedrin's obstacles in pursuing their nefarious objective. The closest disciple of Jesus, who was privy to His whereabouts and activities, could guide them to seize the despised Prophet of Galilee quietly and away from the crowd. By capturing Him and promptly handing Him over to the Roman governor, they absolved themselves of responsibility should the populace become agitated upon learning of their actions. The holy evangelists Mark and Luke explicitly state that the chief priests and rulers rejoiced at Judas’ proposal, anticipating that the Nazarene's demise would now be orchestrated according to their wishes, safely and faithfully. They readily agreed to compensate the traitor with money, though they may have underestimated Judas' expectations regarding the amount, offering him thirty pieces of silver. A silver shekel held a value of approximately 90 kopecks during Christ's time, making thirty shekels roughly equivalent to 30 rubles. This price represented the common compensation for a slave, based on Mosaic law (Exodus 21:32), to be paid in the event of the loss of a master. In establishing such a price, perhaps either from disdain for the one valued or in light of the traitor's avarice, did Christ's enemies believe they were fulfilling an ancient prophecy? “They,” the prophet Zechariah foretold, “set My wages at thirty pieces of silver—an extravagant price by which they valued Me! And I took the thirty pieces of silver and placed them in the house of the Lord for the potter” (Zechariah 11:12, 13).