The personality of Satan, and his old character as the father of all wickedness, are forcibly brought out here.
The word rendered " put " is literally " cast." This graphic- ally describes the way in which Satan works. He casts into the heart of those he tempts the seeds of evil. The heart is tlie seed plot which he sows. Suggestion is one of his chief weap- ons. The sin of man consists in opening his heart to the sug- gestion ; giving it a place, and letting it sink down. This is ob- vious in the first temptation of Eve in the garden of Eden.
Tittman's idea that the expression is only a " popular form of speaking," is utterly untenable, and cannot be reconciled wiih the general teaching of the Bible about the devil.
[Judas Iscariot, Simon's son.] Here, as in three other places, the false apostle is called emphatically " Simon's son." Doubt- less this was to mark him out as not the Judas who was brother of James and son of Alphgeus. Who this Simon was we do not know. (See note on John vi. 71.)
[To betray him.] There seems no need for regarding Judas'g betrayal of his Master as anything but the wicked act of a wick- ed man, who loved money more than his soul. The theory that he was a high-minded, impatient disciple, who wished his Mas- ter no harm, but desired to hasten His kingdom, and expected Him to work a miracle, and save Himself at the last, is ingen- ious, but lacks foundation. Our Lord's word applied to him, " a devil," and the word of St. John, " a thief," appear to me to overturn the theory altogether. Judas betrayed Jesus because he loved money better than His Master. He probably did not realize the full consequence of his act. But this is often the case with wicked men.
3. — [Jesus, knowing that the Father, etc.] The reason why this verse comes in here is not very plain. Why are we told that Jesus " washed His disciples' feet," knowing all these wonder- ful things? What is the special point and object of the sen- tence ?
Some think that the words mean that our Lord knew the end of His ministry was at hand, that all His work was accom- plished, that the Father had now committed to Him all power in heaven and earth, and that having come from God, He was about to return to God very shortly. Knowing this. He seized the last opportunity that remained to give His disciples a prac- tical example of love and humility. He knew that His time was short, and that He must give the lesson this night, if it was to be given at all.
Others, as Chrysostom, Augustine, and Zwingle, think that the object of the words is to show the extent and depth of our Lord's infinite condescension and love to His disciples. With a full knowledge that the Father had committed all power into His hands, that He had been from eternity with God, and wa3
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