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Mark 14:45

in Mark 14

Going directly to Jesus, he said, “Rabbi!” and kissed Him.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And when he was come, straightway he came to him, and saith, Rabbi; and kissed him.

KJV

And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him.

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This verse in Mark 14

Commentary

8 notes on this verse

A commentator

Bede

Catena Aurea by Aquinas · Written before 735.

(ubi sup.) With envy and with a wicked confidence, he calls Him master, and gives Him a kiss, in betraying Him. But the Lord receives the kiss of the traitor, not to teach us to deceive, but lest he should seem to avoid betrayal, and at the same time to fulfil that Psalm, Among them that are enemies unto peace, I labour for peace. (Ps. 120:5) It goes on: And they laid hands on him, and took him.

This site's exposition

cometh Judas, one of the twelve

on Mark 14:43-46

Cometh Judas, one of the twelve, immediately while Jesus yet spake, with a great multitude armed with swords and staves from the chief priests, scribes, and elders, and the token he had given them was a kiss, whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he, take him, and lead him away safely. He goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master, and kissed him, the double address and the kiss itself, the bench notes, an intimacy weaponized against the one it should have honored. They laid their hands on him and took him, the arrest completed with a friend's gesture rather than a soldier's force.

The record, by era

The Medieval Church3 voices

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Catena Aurea by Aquinas · Written before 1107.

proposed

See how in his blindness he thought to deceive Christ by the kiss, so as to be looked upon by Him as His friend. But if thou wert a friend, Judas, how didst thou come with His enemies? But wickedness is ever without foresight. And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him.

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on Mark · Written before 1107.

proposed

But look at his madness, how he thought to hide from the Lord by a kiss, hoping to be received as a friend. If you are indeed a friend, why did you come with enemies? Truly, senseless cunning!
Judas gives the kiss as a token, with poisonous guile, just as Cain offered a crafty, reprobate sacrifice.

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

And as soon as he was come,.... To the place where Jesus was: he goeth straightway to him; alone; as if he had nothing to do with the company behind, and as if he was his friend, and concerned for his safety: and saith, Master, Master; expressing great affection for him, and respect to him, by repeating this word. The Ethiopic version has it but once, and so two exemplars of Beza's; and the Vulgate Latin reads, "hail, Master", as in Mat 26:49. and kissed him; See Gill on Mat 26:49.

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Let us notice in these verses, how little our Lord's enemies understood the nature of His kingdom . We read that Judas came to take Him "with a great multitude, with swords and clubs." It was evidently expected that our Lord would be vigorously defended by His disciples, and that He would not be taken prisoner without fighting. The chief priests and scribes clung obstinately to the idea, that our Lord's kingdom was a worldly kingdom, and therefore supposed that it would be upheld by worldly means.
1 more voice on this verse

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Let us notice in these verses, how little our Lord's enemies understood the nature of His kingdom . We read that Judas came to take Him "with a great multitude, with swords and clubs." It was evidently expected that our Lord would be vigorously defended by His disciples, and that He would not be taken prisoner without fighting. The chief priests and scribes clung obstinately to the idea, that our Lord's kingdom was a worldly kingdom, and therefore supposed that it would be upheld by worldly means. They had yet to learn the solemn lesson contained in our Lord's words to Pilate, "My kingdom is not of this world." (John 18:36.) We shall do well to remember this in all our endeavors to extend the kingdom of true religion. It is not to be propagated by violence, or by an arm of flesh. "The weapons of our warfare are not carnal." "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts." (2 Cor. 10:4. Zech. 4:6.) The cause of truth does not need force to maintain it. False religions, like Mohammedanism, have often been spread by the sword. False Christianity, like that of the Roman Church, has often been enforced on men by bloody persecutions. But the real Gospel of Christ requires no such aids as these. It stands by the power of the Holy Spirit. It grows by the hidden influence of the Holy Spirit on men's hearts and consciences. There is no clearer sign of a bad cause in religion than a readiness to appeal to the sword. Let us notice, secondly, in these verses, how all things in our Lord's passion happened according to God's Word . His own address to those who took Him, exhibits this in a striking manner — "the Scripture must be fulfilled." There was no accident or chance in any part of the close of our Lord's earthly ministry. The steps in which He walked from Gethsemane to Calvary were all marked out hundreds of years before.

The words behind it

10 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

7 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Malachi 1:6“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is your fear of Me?” says the LORD of Hosts to you priests who despise My name. “But you ask, ‘How have we despised Your name?’2 worksIsaiah 1:3The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s manger, but Israel does not know; My people do not understand.”2 worksJohn 20:16Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).2 worksLuke 6:46Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ but not do what I say?2 worksMatthew 23:7–10the greetings in the marketplaces, and the title of ‘Rabbi’ by which they are addressed.2 worksMark 12:14“Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are honest and seek favor from no one. Indeed, You are impartial and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay them or not?”2 works
The other 1 cross-references, with their words ▾
John 13:13–14You call Me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, because I am.2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Malachi 1:6

    “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is your fear of Me?” says the…

    it leads to

    • Luke 6:46

      Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ but not do what I say?

    • Isaiah 1:2

      Listen, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the LORD has spoken: “I have raised children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against Me.

    • John 13:13–17

      You call Me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, because I am.

    • Exodus 20:12

      Honor your father and mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

    • 1 Peter 2:17–19

      Treat everyone with high regard: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

  • Through

    Luke 6:46

    Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ but not do what I say?

    it leads to

    • Matthew 7:21–23

      Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

    • Galatians 6:7

      Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return.

    • Malachi 1:6

      “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is your fear of Me?” says the…

Where this verse is studied

About Mark

The Judas Kiss — Gustave Doré (engraving), public domain
The Judas Kiss — Gustave Doré (engraving), public domain
Mark: the study guide →Read Mark 14 →

This page draws on Bede, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Pseudo-Jerome, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Theophylact of Ohrid, Catena Aurea by Aquinas and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Mark.

Read on in Mark 14 →