Saturday, June 1, 2019

LUKE 22:21-23 WOE TO THE BETRAYER


WOE TO THE BETRAYER
LUKE 22:21-23
(See also Matthew 26, Mark 14,
and John 13)

Luke 22:21 But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table.

Susie: Each of the gospels gives slightly different details of how Jesus delivered the news that His betrayer was in their midst at the Passover Meal, meaning he had to be one of them, one of Jesus’s twelve closest disciples.

Susan: It seemed to be simply beyond the comprehension of the disciples that the betrayer could be one of their own. They were probably thinking, “Did Jesus just say what I think He said?!”

Matthew 26:21-23 And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.

Mark 14:18 And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me.

John 13:26 Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.

Susan: Jesus, as the host of the Passover Seder, would dip a small piece of matza cracker into the charoseth and hand one to each of His guests. Charoseth is a fruit and nut mixture that may include wine that was to remind the Israelites of the bricks and mortar they used in their forced labor building monuments for their Egyptian captors. It usually consists of diced apples, spices, walnuts, wine and maybe sugar or honey. We found a demonstration of how to make charoseth here:
Of course, Susie and I would substitute sweet grape juice for the wine because we are both teetotalers. LOL

Susie: The first person that Jesus handed this treat to after His statement that the one He shared it with was the betrayer was Judas Iscariot.

Susan: However, as we will see, this flew right over the rest of the disciples’ heads. They did not have a clue.



Luke 22:22 And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!

Susan: Jesus shares that His death on the cross was predetermined by the Father. In fact, in Revelation, we are told this was planned even before the creation of the earth! The sacrifice of Jesus as the final Passover Lamb was His determined purpose for being born as a human being all along. It was the only way that our redemption could become a reality.

Acts 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Susie: The gospels agree that Jesus pronounced “woe” or condemnation upon the man who would betray Him.

Matthew 26:24 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.

Mark 14:21 The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.

Susie: In fact, Jesus says it would have been better for His betrayer if he had never been born. MacArthur points out that Judas was labeled “the son of perdition” which he could not have been had he truly ever believed Jesus to be the Messiah and surrendered his life to Him. It is difficult to conceive that a man could walk with Jesus for three years, experience the miracles He performed in person, and listen to the Lord teach, and never trust Him as God incarnate. However, the Bible tells us just that regarding Judas Iscariot.

Acts 1:17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.

MacArthur Study Bible:

Acts 1:17 obtained a part in this ministry. Judas Iscariot was a member of the 12, but was never truly saved which is why he was called “the son of perdition” (John 17:12). See Matt. 26:24; John 6:64, 70, 71; cf. 2:23; Luke 22:22.

John 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

Susan: Only one soul of the twelve was lost, Judas Iscariot, who did not believe and repent. Judas could have had the same forgiveness as the thief on the cross if he would have come to Jesus in repentance and asked for it. 

Susie: As Jesus protected the disciples, the Father continues to keep us in His care while Jesus intercedes on our behalf.

Luke 22:23 And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.

Susan: Even though the other eleven had to have seen to whom Jesus handed the sop, it still was beyond any of their comprehension that it could be any one of them.

Susie: Therefore, they were asking each other and each one asking himself who it could be. That is, everyone but Judas. John’s gospel makes it clear that Judas understood and at some point, left the scene:

John 13:27 & 30 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. . . He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.

Ponder this and Apply it: There is not a direct application here since the role of Judas was already fulfilled. However, there is a caution that it is possible for someone to be among believers, appearing to be a legitimate child of God on the surface, but still lost in their sin and unbelief. Jesus tells us, “By their fruits ye shall know them” (Matthew 7:20). We need to pray for discernment, not that we can expel them but that we can share the Lord Jesus with them. Only the Lord truly knows what is in a man’s heart, but if we are not seeing fruit, we need to pray for and share truth with the person.

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