Then one of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver, 16 and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.
17 On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples approached Jesus and said, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The teacher says, “My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples.”’” 19 The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered, and prepared the Passover.
20 When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve. 21 And while they were eating, he said, “Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another, “Surely it is not I, Lord?” 23 He said in reply, “He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me. 24 The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born.” 25 Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” He answered, “You have said so.”
On Holy Wednesday, the Gospel moves from Judas’s bargain to the Passover meal, and from the meal to Jesus’ announcement that the betrayer is already at the table.
Matthew begins with Judas, “one of the Twelve” (v. 14). The betrayer is not an outsider. He is one of those closest to Jesus. Matthew places this scene immediately after the anointing at Bethany (Matt. 26:6-13). The contrast is important. The woman gave generously out of love. Judas asks, “What are you willing to give me?” (v. 15). One gives to Jesus. The other sells him.
Matthew alone gives the amount: “thirty pieces of silver” (v. 15). This recalls the price of a slave (Exod. 21:32) and echoes the wages paid to the rejected shepherd (Zech. 11:12-13; cf. Matt. 27:9-10). Here Matthew’s emphasis is not on Jesus’ willing humility, but on the shameful price set on him by others. Judas treats Jesus as though he were worth very little. Matthew then says, “from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over” (v. 16). The betrayal now moves from decision to action.
The scene then shifts to Passover (vv. 17-19). Passover was Israel’s memorial of deliverance from slavery in Egypt (Exod. 12:1-20, 21-27). A lamb was sacrificed, and the meal recalled the Lord’s saving act. In that setting Jesus says, “My appointed time draws near” (v. 18). He is not overtaken by events. He knows what is coming and moves toward it deliberately.
This passage holds together two truths. Jesus goes forward according to the Scriptures (v. 24), yet Judas is still responsible for betraying him. God’s saving purpose does not excuse human sin. Jesus is handed over for our salvation, but Judas hands him over in betrayal.
When evening comes, Jesus reclines “with the Twelve” (v. 20). The betrayer is not merely nearby. He shares the meal with Jesus. That makes the betrayal more terrible. The wound comes from within table fellowship. Psalm 41 speaks of the pain caused by a close companion who turns against the righteous man (Ps. 41:10).
Jesus then says, “one of you will betray me” (v. 21). The disciples are “deeply distressed” (v. 22). Each asks, “Surely it is not I, Lord?” (v. 22). Their response shows both sorrow and uncertainty. They do not accuse one another. Each one examines himself before the Lord.
Jesus answers that the betrayer is one who shares the dish with him (v. 23). Then he says, “The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him” (v. 24). His death belongs to God’s saving plan. But Jesus immediately adds, “woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed” (v. 24). Judas is not a puppet. He acts freely, and he is accountable. The warning is severe: “It would be better for that man if he had never been born” (v. 24). Jesus shows the full gravity of betraying the Son of Man.
Finally Judas asks, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” (v. 25). Matthew lets that difference remain. The others address Jesus as Lord, the language of discipleship and submission. Judas calls him Rabbi. The word is respectful, but here it sounds more distant. Even at the table, Judas does not speak as the others do. Jesus replies, “You have said so” (v. 25). The answer is restrained, but clear. Jesus knows who the betrayer is.
This is why the passage belongs so fittingly to Holy Wednesday. The betrayal is already in motion, yet Jesus remains sovereign. He knows that his hour is near (v. 18). He knows what Judas will do (v. 25). He goes forward in obedience to the Father, toward the saving work for which he came.
The passage also places two responses to Jesus side by side. One response gives to him freely. The other asks what can be gained by handing him over. Holy Wednesday calls us to see that difference clearly.
Lord Jesus Christ, as your appointed time drew near, you remained faithful to your Father’s will. Keep us from divided hearts, from false discipleship, and from every betrayal of your grace. Teach us to remain near you in truth and fidelity. Amen.
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Sources and References
- The New American Bible, Revised Edition. Washington, DC: Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, 2011. Matthew 26:14-25 and notes.
- Aguilar Chiu, José Enrique, et al., eds. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. New York: Paulist Press, 2018, 964.
- Brown, Raymond E., Joseph A. Fitzmyer, and Roland E. Murphy, eds. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1990, 669-670, para. 149-150.
- Casciaro, José María, gen. ed. The Navarre Bible: New Testament, Expanded Edition. Dublin: Four Courts Press; New York: Scepter Publishers, 2008, 138-139.
- Collins, John J., Gina Hens-Piazza, Barbara Reid OP, and Donald Senior CP, eds. The Jerome Biblical Commentary for the Twenty-First Century. Third Fully Revised Edition. With a Foreword by Pope Francis. 2020, 1229-1230.
- Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: New Testament. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2010, 26.
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