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Luke 22:3–6
“Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them” (vv. 3–4).
Because Jesus was popular with the Passover crowds in Jerusalem, the chief priests and scribes wanted to put Him to death (Luke 22:1–2). They seemed to have had at least two motivations. First, they were envious of the acclaim that our Savior enjoyed in the eyes of the Jews (Mark 15:10). Second, “they feared the people” (Luke 22:2). They knew that large crowds could quickly shift from peacefully celebrating the Passover to revolting against the Roman authorities, and they did not want to see the violent retribution that Rome would bring if the people rose up against Caesar.
The chief priests and scribes sought in vain for a way to take Jesus prisoner without alerting the crowds to their actions. It would take betrayal from within Jesus’ circle of closest friends and disciples to provide the Jewish leaders with an opportunity to arrest Jesus. As we see in today’s passage, Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, would hand Christ over to the authorities (Luke 22:3–6).
Luke 22:3 tells us that Judas went to conspire with the Jewish leaders only after “Satan entered into” him. The phrasing here does not make clear whether Satan possessed Judas or simply began to exercise more influence on his heart, mind, and will. Either way, Judas could not claim, “The devil made me do it.” Other passages in the Gospels tell us that Judas was not truly committed to Jesus but saw discipleship as an opportunity to steal from others (see John 12:4–6). This lack of commitment opened Judas up to being used by Satan to betray our Lord. No one forced him to act against his will. He even sought to receive financial compensation for his misdeed, and the chief priests and scribes were glad to pay him because they knew that he could help them take Jesus into custody in private (Luke 22:4–6).
Judas’ betrayal is the most heinous act of betrayal in the history of mankind since the fall. We should not think, however, that we cannot likewise betray Jesus. We commit lesser betrayals of Jesus whenever we sin. Thanks be to God, Jesus never betrays us. Dr. R.C. Sproul writes in his commentary: “You and I know that there are a thousand ways that we have betrayed Jesus by not keeping His commandments. By not willingly participating in His suffering, affliction, and humiliation. By seeking escape from the scandal that is the stone of stumbling to the world in Jesus. Never once has He betrayed you or me.”
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
As we seek to put wickedness to death in our lives, it may be helpful for us to remember that each sin constitutes a betrayal of our Savior. When we do not serve Him faithfully, we betray His entrusting His mission to us as His disciples. Thanks be to God that there is forgiveness for every sin when we ask Him to forgive us. Jesus’ grace and commitment to never betraying us, in turn, should move us to greater devotion to Christ.
for further study
- Isaiah 24:16
- Matthew 26:14–16
- John 13:26–27
- 2 Timothy 2:11–13
the bible in a year
- Jeremiah 33–35
- Titus 3