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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Mark 14:10 - 14:11
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mar_14:10-11
10Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went off to the chief priests in order to betray Him to them. 11They were glad when they heard this, and promised to give him money. And he began seeking how to betray Him at an opportune time.
Mar_14:10 "Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve" There are several theories concerning Iscariot (the word is spelled differently in various Greek manuscripts). It could refer to
1. a man of Kerioth, a city of Judah
2. man of Kartam, a city of Galilee
3. the bag used to carry money
4. the Hebrew word for "strangling"
5. the Greek word for assassin's knife
If #1 is true he was the only Judean in the Twelve. If #4 or #5 is true he was a zealot like Simon.
There has recently been released an interesting, but highly speculative (depreciates John's Gospel), book that interprets Judas in a positive light. The book is entitled Judas, Betrayer or Friend of Jesus? by William Klassen, Fortress Press, 1996.
▣ "who was one of the twelve" He was a member of Jesus' hand-picked disciples. He was part of the mission trips and present at Jesus' teaching sessions, miracles, and the Last Supper.
This phrase has the definitive article "the one." There have been several suggestions as to the meaning of this: (1) Judas was a leader of the Apostolic group. He kept the money for the group and he had the seat of honor at the Last Supper or (2) it refers to the murmuring in Mar_14:4.
▣ "went off to the chief priests" Luk_22:4 adds and "temple police." Judas asked how much they would give him (cf. Mat_26:15). It was the price of a gored slave (cf. Exo_21:32; Zec_11:12).
Mat_26:16 tells us it was "thirty pieces of silver." This fulfilled the prophecy of Zec_11:12-13 (cf. Mat_27:9-10). Jesus was the rejected "Shepherd." The Gospel writers quote chapters 9-14 of Zechariah as a prophetic source or typology in relation to Jesus' ministry.
1. Mat_21:4-5 quotes Zec_9:9
2. Mat_24:3 quotes Zec_12:10
3. Mat_26:15 quotes Zec_11:12-13
4. Mat_26:31 quotes Zec_13:7
5. Mat_27:9-10 quotes Zec_11:12-13
▣ "betray" This is the Greek term "to give over" (paradidômi). The English Bibles always translate it "betray," but this is not an established meaning. It can have a positive meaning of "entrust" (cf. Mat_11:27) or "restore" or "command" (cf. Act_14:26; Act_15:40), as well as negative sense of "to hand someone over to the authorities" or "to put someone in Satan's hands" (cf. 1Co_5:5; 1Ti_1:20), or for God to abandon someone to his own idolatry (cf. Act_7:42). It is obvious that context must determine the meaning of this common verb. Betrayal fits Judas' actions.
Mar_14:11 "they were glad" It does not say they were surprised. Judas' motivation has always been a source of speculation. These religious leaders would have seen his defection from the Apostolic group as vindication of their murderous scheming!
▣ "at an opportune time" Luk_22:6 adds "apart from the crowd." They were afraid of Jesus' popularity with Galilean pilgrims present in Jerusalem for the feast (cf. Mar_11:18; Mar_12:12; Mat_26:5; Mat_27:24).