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Luke 22

Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.

And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.

Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.

And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.

And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.

And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.

Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed.

And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.

And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare?

And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in.

And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?

And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready.

And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.

And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.

And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:

For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.

And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:

For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.

And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table.

And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!

And they began to inquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.

And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.

And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.

But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.

For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.

And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;

That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.

And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.

Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.

For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.

And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.

And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.

And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.

And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,

Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,

And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him.

But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?

When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?

And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.

And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.

Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves?

When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.

Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off.

And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.

But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.

And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.

And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not.

And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean.

And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.

And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.

And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him.

And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?

And many other things blasphemously spake they against him.

And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying,

Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe:

And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go.

Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.

Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am.

And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.

What does Luke 22:48 mean?

Explanation

The verse Luke 22:48 is a poignant moment in the New Testament narrative, where Jesus addresses Judas Iscariot right before he is betrayed with a kiss.

The kiss was a conventional greeting at the time, but here it is loaded with dramatic irony.

Jesus's question to Judas, "Betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?" uses the tenderness of a kiss to contrast the grave act of betrayal.

It underscores the intimacy of the relationship between Jesus and Judas, as Judas was one of the twelve original disciples.

By calling himself the "Son of man," a title often used for the Messiah, Jesus is also alluding to his divine identity and mission, even in the face of betrayal.

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Historical Context

Luke 22:48 is situated in the context of the Passover feast, which Jesus is celebrating with his disciples.

This event takes place in the Garden of Gethsemane, following the Last Supper.

During this time, the Jewish people were under Roman occupation, and there was much anticipation for a Messiah who would liberate them.

The act of betrayal by one of his own disciples adds to the pathos of Jesus's impending crucifixion.

Judas had arranged with the chief priests to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, and the kiss served as a signal to the authorities to identify and arrest Jesus.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse encapsulates themes of sin, free will, and divine providence.

Some theological interpretations view Judas's betrayal as a necessary part of God's salvific plan.

Others grapple with the question of Judas's motivations and the nature of his culpability.

The title "Son of man" as used by Jesus in this context has been subject to theological debate; it can be seen as an affirmation of both Jesus's humanity and his divine role as foretold by prophets like Daniel.

Practical Applications

This verse can serve as a meditation on personal betrayal and the nature of human relationships.

It highlights the distress caused by the treachery of those close to us and encourages individuals to reflect on their own actions and motivations, particularly the ways they might 'betray' others, be it emotionally, ethically, or spiritually.

It also invites believers to consider the forgiving example of Jesus who, despite knowing about Judas's impending betrayal, chose to address him compassionately.

Cross-References

Matthew 26:49-50: "And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him."
Mark 14:44-45: "And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely."
Psalm 41:9: "Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me."
John 13:21: "When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me."

Language Study

The key terms in the original Greek text for this verse are:

"Judas" (Ἰούδας): The Greek form of the name Judas, the disciple who betrayed Jesus.
"Betrayest thou" (παραδίδως): The verb here is a form of "paradidōmi," which means to hand over or to betray.
"Son of man" (υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου): A title used in the Gospels, which reflects the prophetic literature in the Hebrew Bible and emphasizes the messianic role.
"With a kiss" (ἐν φιλήματι): The noun "philema" means a kiss, which in this context is an act of greeting but ironically becomes an act of betrayal.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In other cultural and religious contexts, the concept of betrayal by a close friend or associate comes with strong condemnation.

The story of Judas's betrayal of Jesus has similarities to themes found in other ancient texts, including betrayals in Greek tragedies or the infamous treachery of Brutus against Julius Caesar in Roman history.

Religiously, some traditions compare Judas's betrayal to the deception found in stories like the betrayal of the deity Osiris by his brother Set in Egyptian mythology.

Scientific Perspectives

While there is no direct scientific perspective on this verse, psychology offers insights into the dynamics of betrayal and interpersonal relationships.

The emotional impact of betrayal by someone close, like a friend or confidant, can cause psychological distress and trust issues.

This aligns with the emotional gravity of Jesus's response to Judas's kiss.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and commentators interpret this verse and the surrounding passages quite differently.

Some emphasize the fulfillment of prophecy being played out in Judas's actions, while others focus on the personal drama and heartbreak of betrayal.

Commentators like William Barclay have noted the contrast between the sign of love which a kiss represented and the act of betrayal Judas was committing. Others, such as John Calvin, have seen in this passage a warning against hypocrisy and false gestures of affection.

Many contemporary scholars also discuss the complex character of Judas and the mystery surrounding his motives and the consequences of his actions.

Luke 22

Luke 22

What does Luke 22:48 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 22:48 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?