ACC ~ Matthew 26 v47 - 56

OVERVIEW:

Those who gathered at Jesus’ betrayal with clubs in hand did so because they thought that he could disappear from their midst (ORIGEN), which indeed he could have done; nevertheless Jesus submitted quietly to his betrayers. By contrast the betrayers were enraged, especially Judas (CHRYSOSTOM). Accepting the kiss of betrayal, Jesus grants power to his adversaries (HILARY OF POITIERS). All adversaries of truth betray God’s Word in the same way that Judas betrayed Jesus (ORIGEN).

The disciple severed the slave’s ear because it was closed to truth in the first place (HILARY OF POITIERS). Jesus commands that the sword be sheathed in order that he remain true to his commitment to God’s will (ORIGEN, CHRYSOSTOM). The disciples’ possession of swords symbolizes Jesus’ betrayal. In spite of swords and clubs on both sides, Jesus was not forced to submit to his adversaries; he willingly submitted to them according to the Scriptures. The disciples, however, fled because they realized that Jesus would not attempt to escape (CHRYSOSTOM). Origen suggests they fled because they had not yet received the Holy Spirit.

26:47 | Judas and a Large Crowd

A GREAT CROWD WITH CLUBS

ORIGEN: Someone may question why “a great crowd” gathered “with swords and clubs” against him. According to John, this large crowd consisted of a band of soldiers and officers sent by the chief priests. And someone may say that because of the multitude of believers from the people, so many came against him lest a large crowd of believers snatch him out of their hands. But I think there may be another reason why the crowd had gathered against him. Those who believed that he exorcised devils in the name of Beelzebub thought that out of a kind of black magic he could escape from the midst of those who wanted to take hold of him. And perhaps some of them had heard that once when he was to be thrown down from a mountaintop he escaped from the hands of those who were holding him, not by simple human flight but by some preternatural force. [1] COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 99. [2]

[1] Lk 4:28-30.

[2] GCS 38.2:217.

26:48-49 | Judas Had Given a Sign

THEY SEIZED HIM

CHRYSOSTOM: For having shown his own strength, at once he yielded himself. But the other Evangelist says that even at that very moment he continued to reprove him, saying, “Judas, would you betray the Son of man with a kiss?” [1] Are you not ashamed even of the form of your betrayal? Nonetheless he submitted to be kissed and did not even resist this shameless act. He gave himself up willingly. They laid their hands on him. They seized him that night on which they ate the Passover. To such a degree did they boil with rage and madness. They, however, would have had no strength against him unless he had permitted it. Yet this did not deliver Judas from unspeakable punishment. He even more exceedingly condemns himself by the manner of his betrayal, by the Lord’s meekness and leniency and gentleness. He became fiercer than any wild beast. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 83.2. [2]

[1] Lk 22:48.

[2] PG 58:748; NPNF 1 10:499.

BROKEN TRUST

JEROME: It was shameless indeed and a sign of broken trust to call him master and to plant a kiss on the one he betrayed. But Judas still has something of the modesty of a disciple, for he does not deliver up Christ to his persecutors openly but with the sign of a kiss. This is the mark which God put on Cain lest anyone who came upon him should kill him. [1] COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 4.26.49. [2]

[1] Gen 4:15.

[2] CCL 77:257.

THE BETRAYER KISSED HIM

CHRYSOSTOM: How fitting are the instruments of the priests! They came against him “with swords and clubs.” [1] Judas himself was with them, one of the Twelve. In the interest of fair disclosure the Evangelist still calls him “one of the Twelve,” unashamedly. “Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, ‘The one I shall kiss is the man; seize him.’ ” O with what depravity had the traitor’s soul been inflamed! With what kind of eyes did he then look at his Master? With what mouth did he kiss him? O accursed purpose! What sign did he devise? What did he dare? What sort of clue of betrayal did he give? Whoever I kiss! He was emboldened by his Master’s gentleness. Yet it by itself was sufficient to shame him. The kiss deprived him of all excuse, for he was betraying one incomparably meek.

But why does he say [“Seize the one I kiss”?] Often when Jesus had been under attack and possible seizure, he had gone out from the crowd, through the middle of it, without their even knowing it. [2] THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 83.2. [3]

[1] Mt 26:47.

[2] Cf. Lk 4:30.

[3] PG 58:747-48; NPNF 1 10:498.

JUDAS KISSED HIM

HILARY OF POITIERS: There is a certain order to the different facets of Christ’s suffering. But the reason for Judas’s kiss was that we might discern all our enemies and those who we know would delight in raging against us. The Lord does not resist his kiss. ON MATTHEW 32.2. [1]

[1] SC 258:240.

26:50-51 | Jesus Arrested

AUTHORIZING HIS BETRAYAL

HILARY OF POITIERS: As to what he tells Judas, “Do what you have to do,” he authorizes his own betrayal by that very statement. For he who had it within his power to call upon twelve thousand legions of angels [1] against his betrayers would have found it so much easier to oppose the plans and artifices of one man. At length he says to Pilate, “You would have no power over me unless it had been given you.” [2] He thus gives power against himself when he says, “Do what you have to do.” In other words, because the crime of what is willed is counterbalanced by what is perpetuated, Judas would accomplish in deed what he had already done in his will. ON MATTHEW 32.2. [3]

[1] Mt 26:53.

[2] Jn 19:11.

[3] SC 258:240.

WHY ARE YOU HERE?

ORIGEN: But I think that all betrayers of the truth, pretending to love the truth and using the sign of a kiss as a mark of affection, betray the Word of God. Cloaked in belligerence, brandishing clubs and the swords of battle and proffering insults, his enemies desire to take hold of him. And the traitor says to Jesus, “Master.” Indeed, all heretics, like Judas, address Jesus in the same way, “Master.” They kiss him even as Judas did. Jesus speaks peacefully to them all, since they are all Judases who betray him: “Judas, is it with a kiss that you betray the Son of man?” As for Judas, he is reproached by Christ for his false friendship. “Friend, why are you here?” We hear of no one who is good called by that name in the Scriptures. Moreover, to the wicked and the one not wearing a wedding garment he says, “Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?” [1] Wicked too is that man in the parable of the denarius who hears the words, “Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you, and go. I choose to give to this last as I give to you.” [2] COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 100. [3]

[1] Mt 22:12.

[2] Mt 20:13-14.

[3] GCS 38.2:220.

HEARING WITH THE LEFT EAR

ORIGEN: Perhaps what Peter did [1] was a mystery, for the right ear of the Jewish people had to be cut off because of their malice toward Jesus. Though they seem to hear the law, they now hear with their left ear the shadowy tradition of the law but not the truth, since they are enslaved by words that profess the service of God but do not serve him in truth. The mystery of these words against Christ is found in the person of Christ’s adversary, the high priest Caiaphas. Now it seems to me, since all the Gentile believers were made one people in Christ, the very fact that they believed in Christ was the reason why the right ear of the Jews was cut off, according to what had been prophesied about them: “Make the ears of this people heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears … and turn and be healed.” [2] COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 101. [3]

[1] Jn 18:10.

[2] Is 6:10.

[3] GCS 38.2:221.

CUTTING OFF HIS EAR

HILARY OF POITIERS: The apostle cuts off the ear of the slave of the high priest; that is, a disciple of Christ cuts off a disobedient ear from a man in the priesthood. What was once incapable of hearing the truth is now cut off. ON MATTHEW 32.2. [1]

[1] SC 258:242.

26:52-54 | How Would the Scriptures Be Fulfilled?

PUT YOUR SWORD AWAY

ORIGEN: He said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its place” (which is one of patience). After restoring the amputated ear, as the other Evangelist says (which was a sign of both supreme kindness and divine power), [1] he spoke these words that they might ring true to what he had said and done before. Although they might not remember the good things done in the past, they might acknowledge the good things done in the present. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 103. [2]

[1] Lk 22:51.

[2] GCS 38.2:224.

THE SERVANT OF THE HIGH PRIEST

CHRYSOSTOM: Who was this “one” who cut off the ear? John says it was Peter. [1] For this was an act of fervor. Another point deserves inquiry: Why were the disciples bearing swords? That they indeed bore swords is evident from the text both here and in the other accounts. But why did Christ even permit them to have swords? For Luke affirms also that “one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear,” [2] remembering that in Luke Jesus had said to them, “When I sent you without purse, traveling bag and shoes, did you lack anything?” And when they said, “Nothing,” he said to them, “But now, he that has a purse, let him take it, and a bag, and he that has no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.” And when they said, “Here are two swords,” he said to them, “It is enough.” [3] So why did they have swords? Because he had said to them, “Let him buy a sword.” Yet this was not meant that they should arm themselves, far from it, but to indicate that he was to be betrayed. The swords had prophetic rather than military purpose. They indicated his being forcefully seized and betrayed. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 84.1. [4]

[1] Jn 18:10.

[2] Lk 22:50.

[3] Lk 22:35-38.

[4] PG 58:751; NPNF 1 10:501-2.

NO MORE OF THIS

CHRYSOSTOM: Peter is rebuked for using his sword and for his severe threat. He was resisting the servant who came indeed with hostility. He was not defending himself but doing this on behalf of his Master.

Christ however did not permit any harm to ensue. For he healed [the servant] and manifested a great miracle, enough to indicate at once both his forbearance and his power and the affection and meekness of his disciple. Peter had acted from affection. Now he acts from duty. For when he heard, “Put your sword back into its place,” he obeyed immediately. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 84.1. [1]

[1] PG 58:752; NPNF 1 10:502.

PERISHING BY THE SWORD

CHRYSOSTOM: One of his followers, in another account, asked, “Lord should we strike with our swords?” [1] But it is clear in all accounts that he rejected it and healed the man and rebuked his disciple in such a way that he might move him to acquiescence. “For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.” Then he adds, “Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” By these words he quenched their anger, appealing to holy Scripture. He prayed that the disciples might accept meekly whatever befell him when they had learned that this also is occurring according to God’s will. His response is twofold: He is able to appeal to his Father, and he is able to resist the angry passions of his supposed defenders with these words: “All who take the sword will perish by the sword.” THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 84.1. [2]

[1] Lk 22:49.

[2] PG 58:752; NPNF 1 10:502.

26:55-56 | The Disciples Fled

JESUS YIELDS VOLUNTARILY

CHRYSOSTOM: Then he also adds, “Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me.” By this he makes it clear that the seizure was of his permission. He passes over the miracles and mentions only his teaching, that he might not seem to boast.

When I taught, you did not seize me. Why now, when I hold my peace, do you come against me? I was in the temple every day, and no one seized me. Now you come to me late and at midnight with swords and staves! What need is there of these weapons? I have been around daily. Thus he was teaching them that unless he had voluntarily yielded, not even then would they have succeeded. Even then those who were holding him with their hands would not succeed in doing so if he were not willing. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 84.2. [1]

[1] PG 58:753; NPNF 1 10:502-3.

THE SCRIPTURES FULFILLED

CHRYSOSTOM: After this, he solves also the difficulty of why he willed it at this time. “All this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” [1] See how even up to the last hour and in the very act of being betrayed, he did everything he did seeking their amendment and healing, employing prophecy and argument and admonition. Those who take up coercion will perish by their coercion. To show that he is suffering voluntarily, he says, “I was daily with you teaching.” All this was to show his accord with his Father’s will and “that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.”

But why did they not lay hold on him in the temple? Because they would not have dared to do so in the temple on account of the people. This is why he continued teaching at all times and places, even to the last hour, taking away their excuse. In order to obey the prophets, he gave up even his very life. In no way did he teach contrary to the prophets.

“Then all the disciples forsook him and fled.” Up until the time he was seized, they remained. But when he had said these things to the multitudes, they fled. For from then on they could see that escape was no longer possible. So he gave himself up to them voluntarily, saying that this was done according to the Scriptures. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 84.2. [2]

[1] Chrysostom holds that Jesus recalled the fulfillment of the Scriptures in order to strengthen his disciples in that critical moment.

[2] HE DEATH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST | MATTHEW 14:1-12

THEY FLED

ORIGEN: There is now much to choose from the prophets, such as their sayings that were fulfilled when Christ said he had to suffer these things. Moveover, it is customary for scholars to collect prophetic words that were fulfilled. And in the psalm [1] you may find a number of things reflected in those who came with Judas to seize Jesus, even as you may find things said about Judas in that psalm. “Then all the disciples forsook him and fled.” Fearing the crowds and Judas at their head, they fled because they did not yet have the Spirit (“since Jesus had not yet been glorified”) [2] and the “Spirit of power and love.” If they had the Spirit, they would not be weak nor would they need anything besides divine love. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 104. [3]

[1] Ps 109:2-4, 22-25 (108:2-4, 22-25 LXX).

[2] Jn 7:39.

[3] GCS 38.2:224-25.