Luke 22:48

The Persic version adds, "of Jews, with arrows, swords, and spears"; but the multitude consisted partly of Roman soldiers, and partly of the officers of the chief priests: and he that was called Judas: and sometimes Iscariot, to distinguish him from another Judas, who also was of the number of the apostles: one of the twelve; disciples of Christ, whom he had chosen, called, and ordained: went before them; as their guide, to show them where Jesus was, and to point him out unto them; see Acts 1:16 and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him; that being the signal he had given them, by which they should know him. The Syriac version here adds, "for this sign he had given to them, whomsoever I shall kiss, the same is he": and so likewise the Persic and Ethiopic versions, adding also this, "lay hold upon him"; but the whole seems to be transcribed from Matthew 26:48. Luke 22:48 Ver. 48. But Jesus said unto him, Judas,.... Calling him by his name, that he might know he knew him, and to aggravate his sin; what, Judas, my apostle, my friend, my familiar friend, in whom I trusted, or with whom I trusted all my worldly affairs, betrayest thou the son of man with a kiss!

22:47-53 Nothing can be a greater affront or grief to the Lord Jesus, than to be betrayed by those who profess to be his followers, and say that they love him. Many instances there are, of Christ's being betrayed by those who, under the form of godliness, fight against the power of it. Jesus here gave an illustrious example of his own rule of doing good to those that hate us, as afterwards he did of praying for those that despitefully use us. Corrupt nature warps our conduct to extremes; we should seek for the Lord's direction before we act in difficult circumstances. Christ was willing to wait for his triumphs till his warfare was accomplished, and we must be so too. But the hour and the power of darkness were short, and such the triumphs of the wicked always will be.

But Jesus said unto him, Judas,.... Calling him by his name, that he might know he knew him, and to aggravate his sin; what, Judas, my apostle, my friend, my familiar friend, in whom I trusted, or with whom I trusted all my worldly affairs, betrayest thou the son of man with a kiss! who assumed human nature for the good of mankind, who is the Messiah spoken of by the prophets, under the character of the son of man, and who is holy, harmless, and never did any mortal man any hurt or injury; and what, betray such an one into the hands of his most implacable adversaries, and in such an hypocritical and deceitful way! all which Christ said, to show he was no stranger to what he was about to do.

Luke 22:48 . [ Εἶπεν αὐτῷ , said unto him ) In the confused din of the multitude (comp. Luke 22:51-52 ), the exceedingly wise course of proceeding which Jesus adopted is well worthy of observation.—V. g.]— φιλήματι , with a kiss ) The traitor abuses the highest token of love with the highest degree of daring presumption. Comp. the note on Luke 7:45 . [None of His most intimate disciples and friends had ever kissed the Lord. The traitor alone dared to profane with impure lips the face of the Lord. This unprecedented act matched well with his unprecedented treachery.] Luke 22:48

(48) Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man? —The first three Gospels all record the Traitor’s kiss. St. Luke alone reports the question. In our Lord’s use of the words, “the Son of Man,” we may trace a two-fold purpose. It was the old familiar title by which He had been wont to speak of Himself in converse with the disciples, and so it appealed to memory and conscience. It was the name which was specially connected with His office as Judge and King ( Daniel 7:13 ), and so it came as a warning of the terrible retribution which the Traitor was preparing for himself.

Betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? - By the "Son of man" was evidently meant "the Messiah." Judas had had the most satisfactory evidence of that, and did not doubt it. A kiss was the sign of affection. By that slight artifice Judas thought to conceal his base purpose. Jesus with severity reproaches him for it. Every word is emphatic. "Betrayest" thou - dost thou violate all thy obligations of fidelity, and deliver thy Master up to death? Betrayest "thou" - thou, so long with him, so much favored, so sure that this is the Messiah? Betrayest thou "the Son of man" - the Messiah, the hope of the nations, the desire of all people, the world's Redeemer? Betrayest thou the Son of man "with a kiss" - the sign of friendship and affection employed in a base and wicked purpose, intending to add deceit, disguise, and the prostitution of a mark of affection to the "crime of treason?" Every word of this must have gone to the very soul of Judas. Perhaps few reproofs of crime more resemble the awful searchings of the souls of the wicked in the day of judgment.

as in agony, and it is the manner of God to sustain the afflicted by the intervention of others; nor was there any more unfitness in sustaining the human nature of his Son in this manner than any other sufferer. {a} "angel" Matthew 4:11 ## THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 22 - Verse 44 ## Verse 44. In an agony . See Barnes " Matthew 26:42, also Matthew 26:43-44 {b} "agony" Lamentations 1:12; John 12:27; Hebrews 5:7 ## THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 22 - Verse 45 ## Verse 45. Sleeping for sorrow . On account of the greatness of their sorrow. See Barnes "Mt ## 26:40" . ## THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 22 - Verse 46 Verse 46. No Barnes text on this verse. {c} "pray" Luke 22:40 ## THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 22 - Verse 47 ## Verses 47-53. See Barnes "Matthew 26:48, also Matthew 26:49-56 {d} "behold" Matthew 26:47; Mr 14:43; John 18:3 ## THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 22 - Verse 48 Verse 48. Betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? By the Son of man was evidently meant the Messiah. Judas had had the most satisfactory evidence of that, and did not doubt it. A kiss was the sign of affection. By that slight artifice Judas thought to conceal his base purpose. Jesus with severity reproaches him for it. Every word is emphatic. Betrayest thou—dost thou violate all thy obligations of fidelity, and deliver thy Master up to death? Betrayest thou — thou, so long with