Luke 22:47

For just as incurable wounds yield neither to severe nor soothing remedies, so the soul when once it is taken captive, and has sold itself to any particular sin, will reap no benefit from admonition. And so it was with Judas, who desisted not from His betrayal, though deterred by Christ by every manner of warning. Hence it follows, And drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. (Conc. 1. de Laz.) Now we must not depart from admonishing our brethren, albeit nothing comes of our words. For even the streams though no one drink therefrom still flow on, and him whom thou hast not persuaded to-day, peradventure thou mayest to-morrow. For the fisherman after drawing empty nets the whole day, when it was now late takes a fish. And thus our Lord, though He knew that Judas was not to be converted, yet ceased not to do such things as had reference to him. It follows, But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?

While he was still speaking, behold, a crowd, and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them, and he drew near to Jesus to kiss him. Why he kissed him, the other evangelists make clear; that is, so that by this …

Judas set a kiss as the sign for those going against Jesus, but so that they would not make a mistake because of the night, he pointed Him out not from afar. So that Jesus would not hide, for this reason they come with lanterns …

(non occ.) After first mentioning the prayer of Christ, St. Luke goes on to speak of His betrayal wherein He is betrayed by His disciple, saying, And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas.

While He was yet speaking, behold, a crowd etc. After he described the preambles to the Passion, here secondly he describes the concomitants. Now these were six, namely the apprehension of Christ, the mocking of the one apprehended, the accusation of the one mocked, the …

And while he yet spake,.... The above words to his disciples, behold a multitude.

See this explained in Mat 26:48-56. Luk 22:48 Betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? - By the “Son of man” was evidently meant “the Messiah.” Judas had had the most satisfactory evidence of that, and did not doubt it. A kiss was the sign of affection. By that slight artifice Judas thought to conceal his base purpose. Jesus with severity reproaches him for it. Every word is emphatic. “Betrayest” thou - dost thou violate all thy obligations of fidelity, and deliver thy Master up to death?

We should learn, for one thing, from these verses — that the worst and most wicked acts may be done under a show of love to Christ . We read that when the traitor Judas brought the enemies of Christ to capture Him — he betrayed Him "with a kiss." He made a pretense of affection and respect — at the very moment when he was about to deliver his Master into the hands of his deadliest enemies! Conduct like this, unhappily, is not without its parallels.

WHEN SATAN HAD BEEN ENTIRELY worsted in his conflict with Christ in the garden, the man-devil Judas came upon the scene. As the Parthian in his flight turns round to shoot the fatal arrow, so the arch-enemy aimed another shaft at the Redeemer, by employing the traitor into whom he had entered. Judas became the devil’s deputy, and a most trusty and serviceable tool he was. The Evil One had taken entire possession of the apostate’s heart, and, like the swine possessed of devils, he ran violently downwards towards destruction.

We should learn, for one thing, from these verses — that the worst and most wicked acts may be done under a show of love to Christ . We read that when the traitor Judas brought the enemies of Christ to capture Him — he betrayed Him "with a kiss." He made a pretense of affection and respect — at the very moment when he was about to deliver his Master into the hands of his deadliest enemies! Conduct like this, unhappily, is not without its parallels. The pages of history record many an instance of enormous wickedness done under the garb of religion. The name of God has too often been pressed into the service of persecution, treachery, and crime! When Jezebel would have Naboth killed, she ordered a "fast to be proclaimed," and false witnesses to accuse him of "blaspheming God and the king." (1 Kings 21:9-10.) When the Catholic church led a crusade against the Christians in southern France, they were ordered to be murdered and pillaged, as an act of service to Christ. When the Spanish Inquisition tortured and burned Christians — they justified their abominable dealings by a profession of zeal for God's truth. The false apostle Judas Iscariot has never lacked successors and imitators! There have always been men ready to betray Christ with a kiss, and willing to deliver the Gospel to its enemies under a show of respect. Conduct like this, we need not doubt, is utterly abominable in the sight of God. To injure the cause of religion under any circumstances, is a great sin — but to injure it while we pretend to show kindness — is the blackest of crimes! To betray Christ at any time, is the very height of wickedness — but to betray Him with a kiss, proves a man to have become a very child of Hell.

WHEN SATAN HAD BEEN ENTIRELY worsted in his conflict with Christ in the garden, the man-devil Judas came upon the scene. As the Parthian in his flight turns round to shoot the fatal arrow, so the arch-enemy aimed another shaft at the Redeemer, by employing the traitor into whom he had entered. Judas became the devil’s deputy, and a most trusty and serviceable tool he was. The Evil One had taken entire possession of the apostate’s heart, and, like the swine possessed of devils, he ran violently downwards towards destruction. Well had infernal malice selected the Savior’s trusted friend to be his treacherous betrayer, for thus he stabbed at the very center of his broken and bleeding heart. But, beloved, as in all things God is wiser than Satan, and the Lord of goodness outwitteth the Prince of Evil, so, in this dastardly betrayal of Christ, prophecy was fulfilled, and Christ was the more surely declared to be the promised Messiah. Was not Joseph a type? and, lo! like that envied youth, Jesus was sold by his own brethren. Was he not to be another Samson, by whose strength the gates of hell should be torn from their posts? lo! like Samson, he is bound by his countrymen, and delivered to the adversary.