Matthew 26:23-25
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Jesus doesn't just say "one of you will betray me," he points to an intimate, shared act of eating together – dipping bread into the same dish. This highlights the profound betrayal wasn't just a distant plot, but a violation happening right there, at the very heart of their fellowship. It underscores how the deepest hurts often come from those closest to us, who are most familiar with our vulnerability.
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.” Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is sharing the Passover meal with his disciples, a meal rich with tradition and remembrance. As they eat, Jesus drops a bombshell: one of them will betray him, causing deep sorrow and prompting each disciple to ask if it's them. Jesus then gives a more specific clue, pointing to the intimate act of dipping bread into a shared dish as the sign of the traitor among them.
Imagine sharing a meal, a moment of deep connection. What if the one closest to you is the one planning your downfall? Jesus points to a shocking detail – the traitor is someone sharing his intimate space at the table.
Jesus reveals the shocking depth of Judas's betrayal not just by identifying him as a disciple, but by highlighting the intimacy of their shared meal.
A Shared Dish
At Passover meals, dipping bread into a common sauce or dish was a sign of fellowship and close relationship. The commentators note that this dish likely contained bitter herbs or a sauce representing hardship. For Judas to dip his hand in the same dish as Jesus meant they were sharing this intimate, symbolic act.
The Ultimate Treachery
This shared act made the betrayal even more monstrous. It wasn't an outsider, but someone within the circle of trust, someone literally sharing food and fellowship, who would commit the ultimate act of treachery. Jesus uses this physical closeness to underscore the profound spiritual and relational breach Judas was about to enact.
Jesus declares a betrayal is coming, but then speaks of God's predetermined plan. How can a wicked act be part of God's sovereign purpose without God being responsible for the sin?
Jesus’s words about the betrayal are framed within the reality of God’s sovereign plan. This is a profound theological concept that can be hard to grasp.
God's Foreknowledge and Decree
Ask a follow-up
Commentators emphasize that Jesus isn't just stating a future event; He's pointing to something that was foreordained. The betrayal, though a horrific act by Judas, was part of God's eternal decree for salvation. This doesn't mean God caused Judas to sin, but that He sovereignly allowed and incorporated this wicked act into His perfect plan to redeem humanity.
Human Responsibility and Divine Sovereignty
This passage wrestles with the tension between God’s all-encompassing plan and human free will. Judas is fully responsible for his wicked choice, driven by his own greed and malice. Yet, his actions, like those of Herod and Pilate mentioned in Acts, were ultimately carried out according to God’s determined purpose. God uses the sinful actions of people to accomplish His righteous will, without Himself sinning.
Understand the original words
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.
rhabbi · Greek Noun
A title of respect meaning "my great one" or "my master," used by students to address a Jewish teacher of the Law. It signifies academic and religious recognition but stops short of acknowledging the full divine authority attributed to "Lord."
The act of dipping into the same dish with Jesus during the Passover meal highlights the deep intimacy and trust that Judas betrayed, making his treachery particularly shocking given the sacred context.
c. 30 AD— this verse
Last Passover Meal
Jesus shares the Passover meal with his disciples, a significant event in Jewish tradition commemorating the Exodus from Egypt. During this meal, Jesus predicts his betrayal.
c. 30 AD
Institution of the Lord's Supper
Following the Passover meal, Jesus institutes the Lord's Supper, using bread and wine as symbols of his body and blood. This ritual becomes a central practice for his followers.
c. 30 AD
Judas Iscariot's Betrayal
Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, betrays Jesus to the authorities for thirty pieces of silver, leading to Jesus' arrest.
c. 30 AD
Jesus' Arrest and Trial
Jesus is arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane and undergoes a series of trials before the Jewish and Roman authorities.
c. 30 AD
Jesus' Crucifixion
Jesus is crucified on Golgotha, fulfilling prophecies and serving as a sacrifice for the sins of humanity.
c. 30 AD
Jesus' Resurrection
Three days after his crucifixion, Jesus is resurrected from the dead, demonstrating his divine power over sin and death.
This Old Testament psalm is directly quoted by Jesus in John 13:18, highlighting the sorrowful fulfillment of prophecy when a close companion betrays.
Luke 22:21-22Luke's account emphasizes that Jesus acknowledges the presence of the betrayer's hand at the table, echoing the specific detail mentioned in Matthew and underscoring the divine foreknowledge and purpose in the betrayal.
John 13:21-30John's Gospel provides the most detailed narrative, showing Peter prompting the beloved disciple to ask Jesus who the betrayer is, and Jesus identifying Judas by giving him a morsel, directly related to the act of dipping in the dish.
Matthew 26:25Judas's own question, 'Is it I, Rabbi?', immediately following Jesus' statement, reveals his awareness and the profound disconnect between his outward actions and inner intentions, showing the depth of his deception.
vincentMatthew 26:23: "And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me."
The dish (τρυβλίῳ)Wyc., platter. A dish containing a broth made with nuts, raisins, dates, figs, etc., into which' pieces of bread were dipped.
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…
Jesus doesn't just say "one of you will betray me," he points to an intimate, shared act of eating together – dipping bread into the same dish. This highlights the profound betrayal wasn't just a distant plot, but a violation happening right there, at the very heart of their fellowship. It underscores how the deepest hurts often come from those closest to us, who are most familiar with our vulnerability.
Jesus is sharing the Passover meal with his disciples, a meal rich with tradition and remembrance. As they eat, Jesus drops a bombshell: one of them will betray him, causing deep sorrow and prompting each disciple to ask if it's them. Jesus then gives a more specific clue, pointing to the intimate act of dipping bread into a shared dish as the sign of the traitor among them.
Jesus is sharing the Passover meal with his disciples, a meal rich with tradition and remembrance. As they eat, Jesus drops a bombshell: one of them will betray him, causing deep sorrow and prompting each disciple to ask if it's them. Jesus then gives a more specific clue, pointing to the intimate act of dipping bread into a shared dish as the sign of the traitor among them.
"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 bor…" — Jesus doesn't just say "one of you will betray me," he points to an intimate, shared act of eating together – dipping bread into the same dish. This highlights the profound betrayal wasn't just a dis…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
