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Explanation for:
Matthew
26
:
49
And forthwith coming to Jesus, he said: Hail, Rabbi. And he kissed him.
13
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Ephraem the Syrian","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88b589fc3e99eb7bb1839_Ephraem%20the%20Syrian.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"When Judas delivered the Lord to the Romans through a deceitful kiss, he also entrusted them with the responsibility of executing judgment upon Him. He withdrew the Spirit that He had breathed into Judas, as He did not wish for the voracious wolf to remain among His flock. For it is stated, ‘What he had was taken from him’ (cf. Matthew 13:12)."},{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Wretched Judas, deserving no sympathy! By the same disbelief that led him to betray his Master and Savior, he perceived the miracles performed by the Lord not as acts of divine authority but as tricks of sorcery. Moreover, having possibly heard of His glorious transformation on the mountain, he feared that a similar transfiguration might help Him evade the grip of the authorities. This prompted him to provide a signal, so that they would recognize the one he intended to kiss.\\n\\nIt was both disgraceful and deceitful to address Him as Master, to kiss the very One he was betraying. Yet, there remains a trace of disciple-like respect in Judas as he delivers Him to His adversaries, not openly but rather through a symbol—a kiss. This echoes the sign that God provided to Cain to spare him from being slain by those who encountered him."},{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"An utter lack of shame and an astonishing audacity! To refer to Him as teacher while simultaneously delivering the kiss that signifies his betrayal. Despite this, he clings to a fragment of a disciple’s respect for his Master, as he turns Him over to His adversaries not in an overt manner, but via a kiss laden with conditions. This is reminiscent of the mark that God placed upon Cain to protect him from being slain by anyone who might encounter him - Gen. 4:15."},{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"He submitted to being captured despite having already demonstrated His might. John the Evangelist informs us that even at this moment, Christ sought to warn Judas, asking, \\"Judas, do you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?\\" (Luke 22:48). Is it not shameful to betray in such a manner? Yet, because He did not prevent him from doing so, He accepted the kiss and willingly allowed Himself to be betrayed. The adversaries seized Him on the very night of the Passover celebration, filled with anger and rage. They would have been powerless had He not granted them this opportunity. However, this does not absolve Judas of a severe fate; instead, it subjects him to an even harsher judgment. Witnessing such a profound display of power, humility, condescension, and gentleness from his Lord, he behaved with the ferocity of a wild beast.\\n\\nBut the priests come armed with swords and clubs (Matthew 26:47). It is noted that Judas, one of the twelve disciples, stands among them without a hint of shame. The betrayer indicated a sign, saying, \\"Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him.\\" What appalling treachery Judas embraced within his soul! With what gaze did he regard the Master? With what lips did he deliver a kiss? Oh, wretched soul! What was his intention? What audacity did he display? The sign of betrayal he provided was a kiss, under the assumption that the Master’s gentleness would prevail. Yet, he sought to bring shame upon Him, stripping Him of any defense for having betrayed such a gentle Lord. But you may ask, what was the reason for the sign? It was because Jesus had often evaded capture when they sought to take Him (Luke 4:30)."},{"author-name":"Hilarius of Poitiers","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88cb92f12b3278598f946_Hilarius%20of%20Poitiers.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Throughout these events, various aspects of Christ's affliction come to light. The significance of Judas’ kiss serves as a lesson for us to love our adversaries and those who may oppose us. Indeed, God does not turn away from that kiss."},{"author-name":"Cyrill of Jerusalem","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88a9af397fcf9d613728f_Cyrill%20of%20Jerusalem.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Let us seek to uncover the manifestations of Christ's suffering, for our gathering is not merely to engage in theoretical interpretations of the Scriptures, but to deepen our conviction in our faith. You are familiar with the accounts of Jesus' arrival and His walking upon the waters, as it is recorded, “Thy ways are in the sea” (Psalm 76:20). Furthermore, you have heard testimonies of His numerous healings. Thus, I commence this discussion at the point where the suffering initiated. Judas, that deceiver, approached Him, feigning friendship while plotting treachery. The Psalmist reflects on this: “My friends and my sincere ones have come near to me, and have stood by me” (Psalm 37:12). In another psalm, it is said, “their words are more softened than oil, and such are arrows” (Psalm 54:22). With a greeting of “Hail, Master!” he betrays the Lord to the point of death, unashamed of the One who had given him guidance, who questioned him, saying, “Judas, do you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” (Luke 22:48). It is as if He was reminding him, “Remember, Judas means confession; you agreed to this condition, so confess it without hesitation.” “O God, be not silent in my praise; for the mouth of the sinner and the mouth of the flatterer is opened against me, and they speak against me with a flattering tongue, and hateful words have overcome me” (Psalm 108:1-3). You have also heard that some of the bishops were present and that He was taken prisoner at the city's gates; recall the psalm that refers to that specific time and place, which speaks of how they returned “at evening” (Psalm 58:7) and how they barked like dogs and roamed the city (Psalm 58:15)."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"In the Gospel of Luke, when Judas approached Jesus to greet Him with a kiss, Jesus addressed him, asking, \\"Judas, do you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?\\" In this moment, Jesus graciously revealed the true intention behind the kiss, admonishing Judas for turning an act of affection into an act of treachery. Despite this, He did not resist but willingly accepted the kiss, permitting Himself to be seized. In this interaction, despite witnessing His strength, compassion, and humanity, Judas chose to remain more malevolent than any creature."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"“Rejoice” or \\"Greetings, Rabbi,\\" and he kissed Him. This gesture, which typically signifies affection and camaraderie, was instead employed by Judas as an act of treachery. In Judas, this reflects either cunning—a wish to disguise his sinister intentions from Jesus until the final moment—or profound wickedness, using a benevolent act to inflict grave harm. Alternatively, it may indicate a lack of understanding regarding the true significance of his actions."},{"author-name":"Philaret (Gumilevski)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c896f4b6fd32caa244b5d7_Philaret%20(Gumilevski).png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Licking as an expression of camaraderie and affection has long been a customary gesture. This practice can be traced back through scripture (Gen. 29:11, 13; Gen. 33:4; Luke 7:45; Acts 20:27; Rom. 16:16). Judas and the Sanhedrin believed that Jesus Christ might vanish as He had done on previous occasions (Luke 4:30; John 8:59), unless they took steps to capture Him by surprise; the spiritually blind individuals failed to recognize His divine authority. Furthermore, they assumed the guards would not identify Jesus among His followers after dark. Thus, what was merely a conventional sign of friendship became the means by which Judas betrayed his Master to those who sought to harm Him."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"As Jesus approached, the traitor greeted Him, saying, “Hail, O Lord! Hail, Master,” and he embraced Him with a kiss. What righteous figure could receive the kiss of a betrayer with such composure? Yet You, the embodiment of Heavenly Kindness, respond with sorrowful love, asking the traitor, “My friend, what brings you here...?”"},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"From Judas’s subsequent actions and the inquiry posed to him by Jesus, we can infer that he aimed to distance himself from the group, approach Jesus with the customary greeting of a kiss, and then return to the apostles, intending to hide his treachery. However, he was not successful. As he quickly neared Jesus and exclaimed in confusion, “Rabbi, Rabbi,” Jesus gently responded, “Friend, what have you come to do?” Not knowing how to reply, Judas awkwardly said, “Rejoice, Rabbi,” and kissed Him. To expose Judas’s inability to disguise his disloyalty, Jesus remarked, “Judas, do you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” At that moment, the guards came forward, and Jesus inquired, “Whom do you seek?” Although the group was unclear about whom they were searching for, there were leaders among them (members of the Sanhedrin) who had come to observe Judas’s performance of his covert assignment, possibly suspecting he might deceive them. When questioned by Jesus, they responded, “Jesus of Nazareth” (John 18:4-5). It is hard to believe that the elders accompanying the group did not recognize Jesus; rather, it is likely that they feigned ignorance, eager to see what His reaction would be in such circumstances. Judas, the traitor, unable to join the apostles due to the revelation of his betrayal, remained with the group. “I am He whom you seek,” Jesus proclaimed loudly to the elders and everyone with them. The guards were warned to be vigilant, as they had been instructed that the one they sought could only be apprehended by guile, considering His followers might protect Him and conceal Him. The guards were astonished when Jesus addressed them, “It is I whom you have been ordered to take; take me, then!” The unexpected nature of this declaration and the authority with which Jesus spoke had a profound impact on the guards—they stumbled back and fell to the ground. This tremendous power compelled even the avaricious merchants to silently submit to Jesus and vacate the temple without resistance. It also quelled the furious Pharisees, who had picked up stones to strike Him; their hands fell limp, and the stones cascaded to the ground. Furthermore, the crowd that came armed with swords and daggers to capture a notorious criminal was similarly struck by that divine authority, causing them to retreat and collapse in fear.\\n\\nAt this time, the other eight apostles began to gather around Jesus. The guards, recovering from their shock, either approached Jesus or attempted to prevent His disciples from escaping and seize them all. Jesus then asked them once more, “Whom do you seek?” Upon reiterating their answer, “Jesus of Nazareth,” He clarified, “I have told you that it is I; therefore, if you seek Me, let these go.” In recording these words of Jesus, the Evangelist John notes that on this very night, as Jesus prayed for His disciples, asking the Heavenly Father to keep them safe, He stated, “Of those whom You have given Me, I have not lost one.” These words were indeed fulfilled: the guards released the apostles and approached Jesus."},{"author-name":"Ivanov A.V.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88db13197efab881aa332_Ivanov%20A.V..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"When Judas identified his Master to the guards with a predetermined kiss, Jesus gently addressed him, asking, “Friend, have you come for this?” He further inquired, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” This exchange represented the final appeal of Jesus to the disloyal disciple. By referring to Judas as a friend, Jesus sought to guide him toward repentance and to highlight the gravity of his actions. Jesus asked, “Judas, if you approach me as a friend, why do you present guards armed with weapons to arrest me, someone whom you consider a friend? Conversely, if you have come as an adversary, what is the purpose of this affectionate kiss? Why do you choose a sign of love and camaraderie as your instrument of betrayal?” Judas clearly aimed to obscure his treachery from both Jesus and the other disciples, and after greeting Jesus with “Hail, Rabbi,” he intended to step aside, possibly wishing to appear as though the guards had not been sent by him, but had instead come upon them by coincidence. However, Jesus exposed Judas' treachery to the disciples. By naming Himself the Son of Man, a title held in the highest esteem as the name of the Messiah among the Jewish people, Jesus aimed to reveal the enormity of Judas' sin. For Judas, who had been His follower for over three years, had witnessed His most significant miracles and listened to His profound teachings, should have been left without doubt that Jesus’ claim to be the Messiah was indeed true."},{"author-name":"Lopuchin A.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c891400ee1341634d2276d_Lopuchin%20A.P..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"For the third time, Satan instilled him with diabolical boldness, and Judas, with his foul mouth, delivered the deceitful kiss."}]}
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