Luke 22:5

22:1-6 Christ knew all men, and had wise and holy ends in taking Judas to be a disciple. How he who knew Christ so well, came to betray him, we are here told; Satan entered into Judas. It is hard to say whether more mischief is done to Christ's kingdom, by the power of its open enemies, or by the treachery of its pretended friends; but without the latter, its enemies could not do so much evil as they do.

And they were glad,.... For nothing could be more opportune and agreeable to them, than that one of his disciples should meet them at this juncture, and offer to put him into their hands in the most private manner; and covenanted to give him money. The Ethiopic version read, "thirty pieces of silver"; which was the sum they agreed to give him, and he accepted of; see Matthew 26:15.

5 . they were glad ] This spontaneous offer—and that too from one of Christ’s immediate followers—seemed to solve all their difficulties. covenanted ] Or, ‘agreed;’ in St Mark, ‘ promised’ In Matthew 26:15 it is said that they ‘paid’ or ‘weighed’ him the money, with a reference to Zechariah 11:12-13 (LXX.). This was perhaps done at a second meeting when the actual plan was ripened. to give him money ] The proposal came from the wretched man himself ( Matthew 26:15 ). The paltry sum given (which is mentioned by St Matthew only)-30 shekels, about £3. 1 6s., the price given for the meanest slave—shews that this sum was either regarded as earnest money, or more probably that the Priests felt themselves quite able to carry out their plot, though less conveniently, without any aid from Judas. On one side of these shekels would be stamped the olive-branch, the emblem of peace; on the obverse the censer, the type of prayer, with the inscription, “Jerusalem the Holy”!

Chief priests and captains - See the notes at Matthew 26:14 . See the account of the bargain which Judas made with them explained in the Matthew 26:14-16 notes, and Mark 14:10-11 notes. Absence of the multitude - The multitude, "the people," were then favorable to Jesus. He had preached in the temple, and many of them believed that he was the Messiah. It was a hazardous thing, therefore, to take him by force, and in their presence, as they might rise and rescue him. Hence, they sought to take him when "he" was away from the multitude; and as Judas knew of a place where he could be found "alone," they were glad of the opportunity of so easily securing him.

The word rendered "presbytery" - πρεσβυτέριον presbuterion - occurs only in two other places in the New Testament - Luke 22:66, where it is rendered "elders;" and Acts 22:5, where it is rendered "estate of the elders." It properly means an "assembly of aged men; council of elders." In Luke 22:66, and Acts 22:5, it refers to the Jewish "sanhedrin;" see the notes on Matthew 5:22. In the passage before us, it cannot refer to that body - for they did not ordain men to the Christian ministry - but to some association, or council, or body of elders of the Christian church. It is clear from the passage: (1) that there was more than "one person" engaged in this service, and taking part in it when Timothy was ordained, and therefore it could not have been by a "prelate" or "bishop" alone. (2) that the power conferred, whatever it was, was conferred by the whole body constituting the presbytery - since the apostle says that the "gift" was imparted, not in virtue of any particular power or eminence in anyone individual, but by the "laying on of the hands of the presbytery." (3) the statement here is just such a one as would be made now respecting a Presbyterian ordination; it is not one which would be made of an Episcopal ordination.

[Bible] 25:46. And these shall go into everlasting punishment: but the just, into life everlasting. Matthew Chapter 26 The Jews conspire against Christ. He is anointed by Mary. The treason of Judas. The last supper. The prayer in the garden. The apprehension of our Lord. His treatment in the house of Caiphas. 26:1. And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended all these words, he said to his disciples: 26:2. You know that after two days shall be the pasch: and the Son of man shall be delivered up to be crucified. 26:3. Then were gathered together the chief priests and ancients of the people, into the court of the high priest, who was called Caiphas: 26:4. And they consulted together that by subtilty they might apprehend Jesus and put him to death. 26:5. But they said: Not on the festival day, lest perhaps there should be a tumult among the people. 26:6. And when Jesus was in Bethania, in the house of Simon the leper, 26:7. There came to him a woman having an alabaster box of precious ointment and poured it on his head as he was at table. 26:8. And the disciples seeing it had indignation, saying: To what purpose is this waste? 26:9. For this might have been sold for much and given to the poor. 26:10. And Jesus knowing it, said to them: Why do you trouble this woman? For she hath wrought a good work upon me. 26:11. For the poor you have always with you: but me you have not always. Me you have not always... Viz., in a visible manner, as when conversant here on earth; and as we have the poor, whom we may daily assist and relieve. 26:12. For she in pouring this ointment on my body hath done it for my burial. 26:13. Amen I say to you, wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, that also which she hath done shall be told for a memory of her. 26:14. Then went one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, to the chief priests. 26:15. And said to them: What will you give me, and I will deliver him unto you? But they appointed him thirty pieces of silver.

FOB THE DOWNCAST. Ifil] ; And this we see clearly in the xxvith of Matthew; our Sa viour tells the disciples, at the 21st verse, that one of them should betray him; whereupon they were all of them aston ished, and said every one, one by one, " Lord, is it I?" These were good disciples. Judas yet stirs not: but at verse 25, it is said, " Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered, and said, Master, is it I?" Then; When? Look to verse 24, and you shall read that our Saviour speaks of the burden and punishment of his sin: " The Son of Man goes, as it is written of him; but woe unto that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed; it had been good for that man if he had not been born." Then Judas answered, Is it I, Lord? Then he startled. The true and gracious disciples of Christ startled at the sin, when Christ did but name the sin; but then not