The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 2 — Section 220

Vers. 1-23.-Tlie last Passover of our Lord. After the significant survey of J eru- salem's fate which is given in the previous chapter, Jesus seems to have remained quietly at Bethany, or in the Mount of Olives, until the time for the Passover. The seaijon of solitude was brief, but all the more important in consequence. Every moment was utilized by our Lord that he might be ready for his great ordeal. Bu~ if be was making preparations, so were his enemies. AccorJiogly, we have au account here of the treason which led up to bis sacrifice. ·we have, consequently, to consider- I. Tm: TREASON OF JUDAS. (Vers. 1-6.) The Sanhedrin was in session, anxious to seize on Jesus and get him removed; for they feared that an attached populace woulJ declare for him rather than for the old leaders. It was a vain fear. 'l'be people were fickle, and as ready to cry out for his cracifixion as they bad been to cry "Hosanna I" Yet the fear of losing popularity goaded the Church leaders to despera- tion. Beiog beaten in debate by the Master-Mind who tabernacled among them, they can only expect by treachery to ~ecure their purpose. They find their ready iostru- ment in Judas. And here consider: 1. The wurldliness of Judas. He hau. evidently joined the cause of Jesus in hope of a place in a world-kingdom. But our Lord's pro- phecies of bis speeu.y suffering and death have blightetl. all these hopes. How can ho best make his peace with the world, which is getting the upper hand, and before which Jesus is going down? Judas believes that he can best do this by betraying Jesus to his enemies, and, to make the transition the easier for himself, he co11s,·nts lo u.o the shameful work for thirty pieces of silver-the mean price of the life of a slave I lt wa~ not covetousness pure and simple which led Judas to such a bargain, but astute world- liness. He was making bis peace with the world on the most liberal terms. 2. Notice the Satanic inspiration under which Judas acted. It is evident that Scripture repre- sents the sphere of evil as under the domination of a great penionality called Satan. He can enter into men and tnke possession of them. But we arc not to suppose that he has the same intimate access to the human spirit which God the Holy Ghost enjoys. \Ve have reason to believe that Satan moves men by pl'eseuting in all their attractive- ness the worldly motives such as we have noticed. Further, the Satanic impulse b euch ns in no way to relieve the subject of it from responsibility. No one will be able to plead "not guilty" on the ground of Satanic temptation. 3. Notice the mean pru- dence under which tl;e traitor acted. Had the band come in open day, wheu the entranced populace hung upon the lips of Jesus, there wonhl have been a dam;erous emeute, and life been lost-. Accordingly, Ju,la~ seeks to betray Je,us "in the abouce· of the multitude." There is a meanness nnd cowardice about most of the diabolic  TUE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO S'l'. LUKE. [err. nn.1-71.