Matthew 26:48

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 26:47-57

The account of Jesus’ being betrayed by Judas is recorded by all the evangelists. See Mark 14:43-52; Luke 22:47-53; John 18:2-12.Matthew 26:47Judas, one of the twelve, came - This was done while Jesus was addressing his disciples.John informs us that Judas knew the place, because Jesus was in the habit of going there with his disciples. Judas had passed the time, after he left Jesus and the other disciples at the Passover, in arranging matters with the Jews, collecting the band, and preparing... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 26:46-49

Matthew 26:46-49. Rise, let us be going Namely, to meet those who are coming to arrest me, and to go along with them whithersoever they shall lead us. Behold, he is at hand that doth betray me Though they had not come within sight, our Lord perfectly knew the precise moment of their approach, and gave his disciples notice of it. And while he yet spake, Judas came Judas found Christ in the most heavenly and excellent employment when he came to apprehend him. O how happy is it when our... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Matthew 26:47-56

151. The arrest of Jesus (Matthew 26:47-56; Mark 14:43-52; Luke 22:47-53; John 18:2-11)In the strength of the victory won at Gethsemane, Jesus went to meet his enemies. Judas knew the garden, for Jesus had often met there with his apostles. In the middle of the night, Judas took a group of temple guards and Roman soldiers to seize Jesus. By working under the cover of darkness, he kept the operation hidden from any who were likely to be sympathizers with Jesus. But Jesus needed no supporters to... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Matthew 26:48

gave = had given. hold Him fast = seize Him. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Matthew 26:48

Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is he; take him.Who but Satan could have thought of such a sign as that? To betray with a kiss has come to signify the ultimate in infamy. It was as base as it was gratuitous, the need of any sign at all being contra-indicated. It was not that difficult to tell Christ from his disciples (nor is it now!). The employment of so perfidious a device was grounded in the misassumption that Christ would attempt to conceal... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Matthew 26:48

Matthew 26:48. He that betrayed him, gave them a sign— The soldiers having perhaps never seen Jesus before, and it being now night, and there being twelve persons together, probably dressed much alike, Judas found it necessary to point him out to them by some such sign as this. It was a Jewish custom, after a long absence, or at departing from each other, to make use of the ceremony of a kiss. They used it likewise as a sign of affection to their equals, and as a mark of homage and reverence to... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 26:47-56

2. The arrest of Jesus 26:47-56 (cf. Mark 14:43-52; Luke 22:47-53; John 18:2-12) read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 26:48-50

Judas needed to identify Jesus because it was dark and because, even though many people knew about Jesus, far fewer had really seen Him up close. Judas turned the symbol of friendship, a kiss, into a symbol of hypocritical betrayal with his action. His greeting was to mark Jesus, not to show affection and honor Him. Judas kissed Jesus repeatedly, loudly, and effusively (Gr. katephilesen).Jesus’ greeting, "Friend," was not intimate but gracious. Jesus’ following words could have been either a... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 26:1-75

The Betrayal. The Last Supper. Arrest of Jesus, and Trial Before the High Priest1-5. A Council is held against Jesus (Mark 14:1; Luke 22:1: cp. John 13:1).2. After two days] This fixes the date as Tuesday, if the Passover was on Thursday night; or Wednesday, if, as is more probable, it was on Friday night. Is betrayed] This clear prediction is peculiar to St. Matthew.3. And the scribes] RV omits. The palace] RV ’the court,’ i.e. the central quadrangle, the house being built round a square plot... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Matthew 26:48

(48) Whomsoever I shall kiss.—It is probable, from the known customs (1) of the Jews and (2) of the early Christians (Romans 16:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:26) that this was the usual salutation of the disciples to their Master. St. John, it may be noted, makes no mention of the sign; probably because here, as elsewhere, he seeks to give touches that others had passed over, rather than to repeat what the oral or written teaching of the Church had already made familiar. read more