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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Matthew 26:47 - 26:50
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mat_26:47-50
47While He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came up accompanied by a large crowd with swords and clubs, who came from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48Now he who was betraying Him gave them a sign, saying, "Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him." 49Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said, "Hail, Rabbi!" and kissed Him. 50And Jesus said to him, "Friend, do what you have come for." Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him.
Mat_26:47 "Judas, one of the Twelve, came up accompanied by a large crowd with swords and clubs" There has been much discussion about the motivation of Judas. It must be said that this remains uncertain. His kiss of Jesus in Mat_26:49 either (1) was a sign to the soldiers that this was the man to arrest (cf. Mat_26:48) or (2) lends support to the modern theory that He was trying to force Jesus' hand to act, (cf. Mat_27:4). Other Gospel passages state that he was a robber and an unbeliever from the beginning (cf. Joh_12:6).
From Luk_22:52 we know the makeup of this crowd. There were Roman soldiers involved because they were the only ones who could legally carry swords. Also, the Temple police were involved because they usually carried clubs. Representatives from the Sanhedrin were also present at the arrest (cf. Mat_26:47; Mat_26:51).
Mat_26:48 "kiss" This was a sign of respect and greetings among rabbis. In Mat_26:49 Judas calls Jesus "Rabbi" (" my teacher").
Mat_26:50
NASB "Friend, do what you have come for"
NKJV "Friend, why have you come"
NRSV "Friend, do what you are here to do"
TEV "Be quick about it, friend"
NJB "My friend, do what you are here for"
There has been some disagreement over the meaning of this Greek idiom. It could be
1. a question (NKJV)
2. a reproach (TEV)
3. an idiom for "do what you came to do" (NASB, NRSV, JB)
The American Standard Version and the Williams translation agree that it is a statement of irony or purposeful understatement. However, King James and the Revised Standard Version see it as a question, also of veiled irony. The use of the term "friend" may have been an attempt to remind Judas of their discussions in the Upper Room (cf. Mat_26:23) or an idiom of sarcasm (cf. Mat_20:13; Mat_22:12).