Matthew 26:21-25
Mat 26:21 (KJB)
And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall
betray me.
Then as they were enjoying the meal, Jesus makes a statement that would shock
anybody. One of His disciples that were walking with Him for over three years
was now ready to betray Him. (John 6:70 KJV) Jesus answered them, Have not I
chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? Jesus knew exactly who it was
as it was part of God’s plan but He made the announcement because the disciples
needed to know what was going on as the events began to quickly unfold.
Mat 26:22 (KJB)
And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began
every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?
Sorrowful - Grieved
This is one of the first times the disciples had displayed some human emotion
contrasting this response to the fact that previously they wanted to know who
would be the greatest among them. When they heard this, they had all begun to be
grieved in their spirit and knowing human weakness, each one of them had asked
if it was them. They knew that Jesus would know who the betrayer was. Even Judas
asked the Lord if it was him full well knowing that he already was in the
process of betraying Him.
Mat 26:23 (KJB)
And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same
shall betray me.
(Psa 41:9 KJV) Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did
eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me. Jesus did not answer
directly as to who the betrayer was because possibly the other disciples would
have stopped him. Instead Jesus told them that whoever places their hands in the
dish is the traitor. This was basically a normal action because the bread would
be dipped in the bowl which contained a stewed fruit before eaten. Jesus was
basically stating Psalm 41:9 was being fulfilled at this time because it was
someone who actually sat at the table and ate with Him. It means someone within
His group would betray Him.
Mat 26:24 (KJB)
The Son of man goeth 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.
Jesus had told the disciples times before that He was to go to Jerusalem and be
crucified. He never even intimated that this was some type of random suffering
and death. What happened to the Lord was written as far back as Genesis.
(Gen 3:15 KJV) And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy
seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
As soon as the transgression in the garden of Eden took place, the announcement
of the Messiah was made. (Isa 53:7 KJV) He was oppressed, and he was
afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the
slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his
mouth. It was also prophesied in many of the Hebrew Scriptures that Christ
would die. Isaiah 53 is probably the most open written account. Then about 150
years later it was again prophesied by Zechariah. (Zec 13:7 KJV) Awake, O
sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the
LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will
turn mine hand upon the little ones. In fact, it is easy to find the
scarlet thread which runs through the Old Testament. Then Jesus states that it
would have been good if that man was not born. Judas was going to face the wrath
of God not only for his unbelief but for his actions in betraying Jesus. Just
because this was the plan of God does not mean that those who played a part in
it are excused from any responsibility. Judas showed his true colors by asking
for money. He was a greed driven individual who stole and he has to stand before
the Lord on Judgment day like every other unbeliever and will pay for his sins
in the eternal lake of fire. Many think that because Judas walked with the Lord
for three years he could have become saved but the reality is that if he was not
written in the Lamb’s Book of Life from the foundation of the world, then there
was no way that he could be saved. Even Jesus called him a devil because he knew
the eternal state of Judas.
Mat 26:25 (KJB)
Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto
him, Thou hast said.
Matthew is the only one who records the question of Judas as to whether it was
him. Judas had already been to the chief priests and was looking for the best
time to betray Jesus. In order to keep the disciples guessing who it was, Judas
knowing full well it was him had asked the question that the other eleven had
asked. If he did not, then the disciples would have become suspicious. Then the
Lord responds to Judas that he had spoken correctly. He did not say anything
like this to the other disciples and if they were astute enough, they would have
known that it was Judas because the Lord said it was him but in different words.