Matthew 26:48 — Community Reflections

MATTHEW 26:48 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.”

Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying: the one I will kiss is the man; seize him. The sign of the kiss: the agreed signal that Judas has arranged communicates the practical necessity of identifying Jesus in the darkness of Gethsemane. The kiss — the greeting of a disciple for his rabbi — is the sign of intimate relationship turned into the instrument of betrayal.

Church Fathers on Matthew 26:48

Having said above that the Lord offered Himself of His own accord to His pursuers, the Evangelist proceeds to relate how He was seized by them.
Gloss (Glossa Ordinaria) · medieval compilation · non occ.

'One of the twelve,' by association of name, not of desert. This shews the monstrous wickedness of the man who from the dignity of the Apostleship became the traitor. To shew that it was out of envy that they seized Him, it is added, 'A great multitude sent by the Chief Priests and elders of the people.'
Remigius · 9th century

Some may say that a great multitude came, because of the great multitude of those who already believed, who, they feared, might rescue Him out of their hands; but I think there is another reason for this, and that is, that they who thought that He cast out daemons through Beelzebub, supposed that by some magic He might escape the hands of those who sought to hold Him. Even now do many fight against Jesus with spiritual weapons, to wit, with divers and shifting dogmas…
Origen · 3rd century

Read all 9 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

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