Matthew 26:21-24
And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus drops a bomb right in the middle of their meal, but the shocking part isn't just that one of them will betray Him. It's that He says it while they're all eating together, highlighting the profound, almost unimaginable betrayal of sharing a table with the one who plots your destruction.
As Jesus shared the Passover meal with his disciples, a somber mood settled over them when he revealed that one of them would betray him. This announcement, made during their final meal together before his arrest, immediately plunged the disciples into distress and self-examination, each one asking, "Lord, is it I?" Jesus’s words directly follow his desire to eat this final meal with them and precede the institution of the Lord's Supper, underscoring the profound moment of both fellowship and impending betrayal.
Imagine sharing a meal with your closest friends, a moment of deep connection. Suddenly, your leader drops a bombshell: one of you is going to betray them. This verse captures that shocking moment, highlighting the profound depth of Jesus's sorrow.
Jesus's announcement, 'One of you will betray me,' isn't just a factual statement; it's a profound expression of his inner turmoil and deep sorrow. He knew Judas had already agreed to betray him, and now, at the very Passover meal, the symbols of their shared covenant and love, Judas is present, about to fulfill his treacherous plan.
A Shadow Over Sacredness
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When Jesus dropped the bombshell, the disciples didn't immediately point fingers. Instead, they reacted with profound personal concern, each asking, 'Lord, is it I?' What does this reaction tell us about their hearts?
The disciples' immediate and collective response—'Lord, is it I?'—reveals a deep desire to be free from such a heinous crime. It wasn't an accusation hurled outward, but an introspective plea.
A Stirring of Conscience
Jesus doesn't just lament the betrayal; he frames it within God's sovereign plan. How can a loving God allow such wickedness, and what does it mean for us today?
Jesus makes a crucial connection between the impending betrayal and God's foreknowledge and plan: 'The Son of Man goes on as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed!' This statement holds two profound truths in tension.
The Unshakeable Decree and the Heinous Act
Understand the original words
amēn · Greek Adverb
An emphatic, solemn declaration used to introduce a statement of truth or importance, often highlighting the authority of the speaker. It signifies absolute certainty in the message that follows.
paradidōmi · Greek Verb
To deliver someone into the hands of an enemy or authority, often through treachery or a violation of a relationship of trust. Biblically, it refers to the act of turning Jesus over to his persecutors.
lypeō · Greek Adjective
A feeling of deep distress, anguish, or grief, often caused by misfortune, loss, or impending tragedy. It denotes a profound emotional reaction to a serious or alarming circumstance.
kyrios · Greek Noun
A title of authority, honor, or mastery. When applied to Jesus, it acknowledges his divinity, sovereignty, and rightful claim to the obedience and worship of his followers.
ho huios tou anthrōpou · Greek Noun phrase
A Messianic title used by Jesus to refer to himself, derived from Daniel 7:13-14. It emphasizes both his humanity and his divine authority as the representative figure who will judge the world and establish God's kingdom.
ouai · Greek Interjection
An expression of intense grief, judgment, or impending disaster. It is a prophetic announcement of divine condemnation or the inevitable consequences of sinful choices.
This intimate, yet tense, moment occurs during the Passover Seder, a feast rich with symbolism of liberation. Jesus' announcement of betrayal within this sacred context underscores the profound grief and shock his disciples experienced, highlighting the deep personal violation of this act.
c. 30 AD— this verse
Jesus institutes the Passover meal
Jesus and his disciples gather for the Passover meal, a significant Jewish festival commemorating the Exodus from Egypt. During this meal, Jesus announces that one of them will betray him.
c. 30 AD
Jesus predicts his betrayal
Amidst the Passover meal, Jesus reveals to his disciples that one among them will hand him over to his enemies. This causes great sorrow and prompts each disciple to ask if it is they.
c. 30 AD
Judas Iscariot identified as the betrayer
Jesus specifically identifies Judas Iscariot as the one who will betray him, further intensifying the solemnity and tension of the evening.
c. 30 AD
Institution of the Lord's Supper
Following the Passover meal and the announcement of betrayal, Jesus institutes the Lord's Supper, using the bread and wine as symbols of his body and blood.
c. 30 AD
Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane
After the meal, Jesus goes to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray, wrestling with the impending suffering and betrayal.
c. 30 AD
Arrest of Jesus
Judas Iscariot leads temple guards and Roman soldiers to Gethsemane, identifying Jesus with a kiss, leading to his arrest.
This Old Testament passage is directly quoted by Jesus in John 13:18 as a prophecy of the betrayal he is announcing, showing that this painful event was foreseen and part of God's plan.
Mark 14:18This passage from Mark provides a parallel account of the Last Supper, highlighting Jesus' sorrow and the disciples' immediate reaction of questioning, 'Is it I?'
Luke 22:21-23Luke's Gospel also records this moment, emphasizing Jesus' statement that 'the hand of the one who is to betray me is with me on the table,' underscoring the shocking intimacy of the betrayal.
John 13:21John's Gospel offers a more detailed account, explaining Jesus' deep distress and his initial statement about the impending betrayal before the disciples began to ask him individually.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26While focused on the institution of the Lord's Supper, Paul's recounting of the event includes Jesus breaking bread and giving it, which happened shortly after this announcement of betrayal, linking the remembrance of his sacrifice to the foreknowledge of his suffering.
calvinMatthew 26:21-25: "And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me."
- And while they were eating, he said, Verily I tell you, That one of you will betray me. 22. And they became exceedingly sorrowful, and began every one of them to say to him, Lord, is it I? 23. But he answering said, He who hath dipped his hand with me in the dish will betray me. 24. The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betra…
clarkeMatthew 26:21: "And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me."
One of you shall betray me - Or, will deliver me up. Judas had already betrayed him, Matthew 26:15 , and he was now about to deliver him into the hands of the chief priests, according to the agreement he had made with them.
Jesus drops a bomb right in the middle of their meal, but the shocking part isn't just that one of them will betray Him. It's that He says it while they're all eating together, highlighting the profound, almost unimaginable betrayal of sharing a table with the one who plots your destruction.
As Jesus shared the Passover meal with his disciples, a somber mood settled over them when he revealed that one of them would betray him. This announcement, made during their final meal together before his arrest, immediately plunged the disciples into distress and self-examination, each one asking, "Lord, is it I?" Jesus’s words directly follow his desire to eat this final meal with them and precede the institution of the Lord's Supper, underscoring the profound moment of both fellowship and impending betrayal.
As Jesus shared the Passover meal with his disciples, a somber mood settled over them when he revealed that one of them would betray him. This announcement, made during their final meal together before his arrest, immediately plunged the disciples into distress and self-examination, each one asking, "Lord, is it I?" Jesus’s words directly follow his desire to eat this final meal with them and precede the institution of the Lord's Supper, underscoring the profound moment of both fellowship and impending betrayal.
"And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will…" — Jesus drops a bomb right in the middle of their meal, but the shocking part isn't just that one of them will betray Him. It's that He says it while they're all eating together, highlighting the pro…
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