Matthew 26:21Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

As evening approached, Jesus reclined with the twelve disciples. What a disgraceful act by Judas! He was present, partaking in the sacred meal, yet he faced condemnation at the very table, where even an animal would have shown humility. Thus, the evangelist notes that during the meal, Christ spoke about the impending betrayal, intending to highlight the treachery of the traitor through the context of both the time and the meal. After the disciples fulfilled Jesus' instructions, He declared, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” Prior to the meal, Christ washed Judas' feet, demonstrating His mercy toward the betrayer.

In verse 20, He predicts Judas's actions as a means to admonish him, attempting to bring him to shame, if not through any other means, then at least through the communion of the meal. This serves to reveal to Judas that he intends to betray God, who is aware of his innermost thoughts.

The one who predicted the suffering also reveals the traitor, providing him a chance for repentance, implying that the betrayer, realizing that his thoughts and hidden motives are known, might turn away from his wrongdoing. However, He refrained from explicitly naming him, so that the betrayer, if publicly acknowledged, would not grow bolder in his shame. The Lord addresses the wrongdoing broadly, allowing those aware of it the opportunity for repentance.

Mark notes that Jesus said, “He that eateth with me,” indicating that He is referring to one who shared in His fellowship yet was not among the twelve disciples. In doing so, Jesus subtly revealed to Judas that He was aware of his inner thoughts. Jesus washed Judas’s feet in an effort to lead him to repentance, yet Judas remained resolute in his intentions. Betrayal, in this context, signifies the act of surrendering: he handed Jesus over to death and to those who were wicked.

It was not due to Judas's descent into betrayal that the Lord predicted his malevolent intentions, O esteemed one. Rather, the Lord, perceiving the hidden inclinations of Judas's heart, proclaimed the future as though it were already happening, recognizing the malice within this wicked individual.

Jesus declared, "Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray Me" (John 13:21). If Judas's treachery is a shocking betrayal even in the case of a morally upright person, how much more grievous was it for the God-Man? The more pure and sacred a soul is, the more abhorrent sin becomes to it. St. Cyril observes, "The righteous anger of Jesus is a response to the evil of the betrayer." Conversely, could the compassionate Lord not feel sorrow over the impending demise of one of His chosen apostles? A painful future awaits! Yet, this prophecy serves an essential purpose for the faithful (John 13:19).

Look, St. Chrysostom remarks, how He shows mercy to the one who will betray Him, for instead of directly naming the traitor, He states: “one of you,” thus concealed, granting him a chance for repentance, while also instilling fear in the others as a means of securing his salvation. Here is one of the twelve, constantly in My presence, whose feet I have washed and to whom I have extended such profound blessings! At this, the holy gathering was engulfed in deep sorrow. John notes that the disciples were filled with confusion, glancing at one another. The Lord further revealed: “And behold, the hand of him who betrays Me is with Me at the table” (Luke 22:21). In that moment, each disciple, hesitant to look at another, began to question himself with trepidation, despite being unaware of any wrongdoing.

In the account of the revelation of the traitor Judas, there is a notable distinction in the presentation of the story among the different Gospel writers. The Hebrew Luke, in a concise manner, recounts how, following Christ's prediction of the betrayer, the disciples began to question one another about who would commit this act. This aspect is similarly highlighted by the Hebrew John, who observes that the disciples looked at one another, confused about whom Jesus was referring to.

Jesus felt deep sorrow at having Judas, the betrayer, present at this farewell meal, which created an uncomfortable atmosphere. Judas ought to have departed, allowing Jesus to be alone with the other apostles, yet he chose to remain, defiantly meeting the gazes of those around him. In an effort to indicate that he was unwelcome, Jesus addressed all the apostles, saying, “Truly, truly, I say to you that one of you will betray Me” (John 13:21).

Yet His gaze settled on Judas, and His heart was troubled. Noticing that the disciples overlooked the previous warning (John 13:10-11), Christ straightforwardly declared to them in a clear manner: ‘Truly, truly, I say to you that one of you will betray Me.’

"One of you will betray Me": "During the meal, Christ addressed His disciples regarding the impending betrayal, using that very moment to reveal the traitor... Observe how He protects the identity of the betrayer, for He does not explicitly name him, but says, one of you, allowing for the possibility of repentance while aiming to invoke fear in the others for the sake of that individual's salvation."

The Supper proceeded with a series of rituals: the attendees partook of bitter herbs, Passover dishes, and sipped wine from the four bowls of the Old Testament. At that moment, as a church hymn reflects, ‘the glorious disciples at the washing of the Supper were enlightened,’ while the treacherous Judas, consumed by greed, became increasingly enshrouded in darkness. He plotted and schemed about when and how to carry out his deceitful intentions, aiming to hoodwink those present with an appearance of false friendship and sincerity. Showing indifference to the Lord’s subtle warnings, he demonstrated that he did not regard them personally. This relentless pursuit of wickedness, marked by extreme shamelessness and cunning audacity, distressed the pure spirit of the Theotokos.