46Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”
Betrayal and Arrest in Gethsemane
47 And awhile He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people.
48 Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.”
49 Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” aand kissed Him.
50 But Jesus said to him, a“Friend, why have you come?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him.
51 And suddenly, aone of those whowere with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.
52 But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, afor all who take the sword will1perish by the sword.
53Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with amore than twelve legions of angels?
54How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, athat it must happen thus?”
55 In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me.
56But all this was done that the aScriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then ball the disciples forsook Him and fled.
Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin
57aAnd those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.
58 But aPeter followed Him at a distance to the high priest’s courtyard. And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end.
59 Now the chief priests,1 the elders, and all the council sought afalse testimony against Jesus to put Him to death,
601but found none. Even though amany false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last btwo false witnesses came forward
61 and said, “This fellow said, a‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’ ”
Matthew 26:48 Gave them a sign. A kiss; a common method of salutation among intimate friends. A sign was needful to point Jesus out to the soldiers. Such a traitorous kiss was the depth of depravity—enmity under the guise of friendship.
Other People's Commentary (NT) entries containing Matthew 26:48:
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