The Last Supper
Then one of the Twelve, the one called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests Matthew 26:14 · Berean Standard Bible
Right after that beautiful moment, one of Jesus' own twelve disciples — Judas Iscariot — goes to the chief priests to betray Him.
The contrast could not be sharper. One person pours out everything for Jesus; another goes to sell Him out.
The narrator shifts from beauty to betrayal, showing us the darkness within Jesus' closest circle.
From an act of extravagant love to an act of cold betrayal — the worst part is that Judas was not an outsider. He was one of the Twelve.
Judas Iscariot, identified as one of the Twelve (heis ton dodeka), initiates contact with the chief priests to arrange Jesus' betrayal.
The placement of Judas' betrayal immediately after the anointing creates a stark literary contrast between extravagant devotion and calculated treachery within Jesus' inner circle.
The narrator introduces Judas' decisive turn toward betrayal.
The juxtaposition is devastating: a woman pours out precious perfume in love, and immediately after, one of Jesus' own chosen Twelve goes to sell Him.
12By pouring this perfume on Me, she has prepared My body for burial.
13Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached in all the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”
14Then one of the Twelve, the one called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests
15and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?” And they set out for him thirty pieces of silver.
16So from then on Judas looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus.
Read all of Matthew 26 — Bread broken. Wine poured. A betrayal predicted. The longest night in history begins around a table.
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