To read the texts click on the texts: Isa 50:4-9; Mt 26:14-25
The
text on the day before Maundy Thursday invites us to reflect on the initiative
taken by Judas in going to the chief priests and agreeing to betray Jesus, the
preparation for the Passover and the prediction of Judas’ betrayal.
Matthew’s
reason for the betrayal by Judas is greed. Judas wants something if he agrees
to betray Jesus and agrees to the thirty pieces of silver offered to him, a
detail mentioned only by Matthew. Unlike in Mark where the money is promised,
in Matthew Judas is paid on the spot. Some see the reference to the thirty
silver pieces as taken by Matthew from Zech 11:12-13 in which there is an
obscure reference to the wages of a shepherd, who puts money back into the
treasury. In Exod 21:32 thirty silver pieces is the price of an injured slave.
According
to Exod 12:1-20, the Passover lambs were to be killed on the afternoon of the
14th of Nisan, and the festival itself began with the ritual meal on the
evening that began the 15th of Nisan. The Festival of Unleavened Bread began on
the 15th and continued for seven days, during which no leaven should be found
in the house. By the first century, the two festivals had merged and their
names were used interchangeably. In addition, the pious practice of removing
leaven one day early, the 14th, had become common.
Preparation
for the Passover involved (1) locating an appropriate place within the city
walls of Jerusalem, the only legitimate location for eating the Passover meal;
(2) searching the room for leaven and removing any items that might contain
yeast (bread crumbs, etc.); (3) obtaining a lamb and having it ritually
slaughtered by the priests in the Temple; (4) roasting the lamb and preparing
it with the other necessary items for the meal in the place previously
arranged. While it is important to Matthew for theological reasons that the
last supper was a Passover, he narrates none of the details associated with the
Passover meal and ritual, concentrating his interest on the meal of the new
covenant to be celebrated.
While
Judas’ question to the chief priests focuses on himself and what he can gain,
the disciples question to Jesus focuses on Jesus and what he wants them to do.
After
Jesus takes his place at the table, he announces the fact of his betrayal by
one of the Twelve. This announcement leads to distress on the part of the
disciples. Each asks in turn whether he is the one. Jesus responds by
indicating that one of those who eat with him will betray him, but does not
explicitly identify Judas. Judas’ question is left till after Jesus’ response.
The
dialectic of divine sovereignty and human responsibility in the passion is
brought out strongly in Jesus’ comment that it would be better for the betrayer
if he had not been born. Jesus is fully aware of who it is that will betray
him. God is not taken by surprise in the betrayal that leads to crucifixion; it
goes according to the divine plan expressed in Scripture. But this does not
relieve the burden of human responsibility. God is fully sovereign, humanity is
fully responsible.
Judas
who is in the process of betraying Jesus asks if he is the one. Unlike the
other disciples who address Jesus as Lord, Judas addresses him as Rabbi
indicating that he is not an insider but an outsider. Jesus’ response “You said
it” is a clear affirmation that Judas is indeed the one.
There
are some, who because they find it easier, prefer to lay the blame at God’s
door for their “misfortune”. These are people who have not yet grown up. If
children blame others for the mistakes they make or refuse to accept
responsibility it can be understood, but when adults do that it is a sign of
not having grown up. While it is true that God remains sovereign, it is also
true that we as humans have total freedom and thus must accept responsibility
for our actions. We are always free to act as we see fit, but we must also
realize that our every action has consequences which we must be willing to
accept.
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