Luke 22

1 The time was near for the Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover. ¹

2 The chief priests and the teachers of the Law were afraid of the people, and so they were trying to find a way of putting Jesus to death secretly.

3 Then Satan entered into Judas, called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples.

4 So Judas went off and spoke with the chief priests and the officers of the Temple guard about how he could betray Jesus to them.

5 They were pleased and offered to pay him money.

6 Judas agreed to it and started looking for a good chance to hand Jesus over to them without the people knowing about it.

7 The day came during the Festival of Unleavened Bread when the lambs for the Passover meal were to be killed.

8 Jesus sent Peter and John with these instructions: "Go and get the Passover meal ready for us to eat."

9 "Where do you want us to get it ready?" they asked him.

10 He answered, "As you go into the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters,

11 and say to the owner of the house: "The Teacher says to you, Where is the room where my disciples and I will eat the Passover meal?'

12 He will show you a large furnished room upstairs, where you will get everything ready."

13 They went off and found everything just as Jesus had told them, and they prepared the Passover meal.

14 When the hour came, Jesus took his place at the table with the apostles.

15 He said to them, "I have wanted so much to eat this Passover meal with you before I suffer!

16 For I tell you, I will never eat it until it is given its full meaning in the Kingdom of God."

17 Then Jesus took a cup, gave thanks to God, and said, "Take this and share it among yourselves.

18 I tell you that from now on I will not drink this wine until the Kingdom of God comes."

19 Then he took a piece of bread, gave thanks to God, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in memory of me."

20 In the same way, he gave them the cup after the supper, saying, "This cup is God's new covenant sealed with my blood, which is poured out for you. ²

21 "But, look! The one who betrays me is here at the table with me! ³

22 The Son of Man will die as God has decided, but how terrible for that man who betrays him!"

23 Then they began to ask among themselves which one of them it could be who was going to do this.

24 An argument broke out among the disciples as to which one of them should be thought of as the greatest. ⁴

25 Jesus said to them, "The kings of the pagans have power over their people, and the rulers claim the title "Friends of the People.'

26 But this is not the way it is with you; rather, the greatest one among you must be like the youngest, and the leader must be like the servant. ⁵

27 Who is greater, the one who sits down to eat or the one who serves? The one who sits down, of course. But I am among you as one who serves. ⁶

28 "You have stayed with me all through my trials;

29 and just as my Father has given me the right to rule, so I will give you the same right.

30 You will eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom, and you will sit on thrones to rule over the twelve tribes of Israel. ⁷

31 "Simon, Simon! Listen! Satan has received permission to test all of you, to separate the good from the bad, as a farmer separates the wheat from the chaff.

32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you turn back to me, you must strengthen your brothers."

33 Peter answered, "Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you and to die with you!"

34 "I tell you, Peter," Jesus said, "the rooster will not crow tonight until you have said three times that you do not know me."

35 Then Jesus asked his disciples, "When I sent you out that time without purse, bag, or shoes, did you lack anything?" ⁸ "Not a thing," they answered.

36 "But now," Jesus said, "whoever has a purse or a bag must take it; and whoever does not have a sword must sell his coat and buy one.

37 For I tell you that the scripture which says, "He shared the fate of criminals,' must come true about me, because what was written about me is coming true." ⁹

38 The disciples said, "Look! Here are two swords, Lord!" "That is enough!" he replied.

39 Jesus left the city and went, as he usually did, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples went with him.

40 When he arrived at the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation."

41 Then he went off from them about the distance of a stone's throw and knelt down and prayed.

42 "Father," he said, "if you will, take this cup of suffering away from me. Not my will, however, but your will be done."

43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.

44 In great anguish he prayed even more fervently; his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

45 Rising from his prayer, he went back to the disciples and found them asleep, worn out by their grief.

46 He said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you will not fall into temptation."

47 Jesus was still speaking when a crowd arrived, led by Judas, one of the twelve disciples. He came up to Jesus to kiss him.

48 But Jesus said, "Judas, is it with a kiss that you betray the Son of Man?"

49 When the disciples who were with Jesus saw what was going to happen, they asked, "Shall we use our swords, Lord?"

50 And one of them struck the High Priest's slave and cut off his right ear.

51 But Jesus said, "Enough of this!" He touched the man's ear and healed him.

52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests and the officers of the Temple guard and the elders who had come there to get him, "Did you have to come with swords and clubs, as though I were an outlaw?

53 I was with you in the Temple every day, and you did not try to arrest me. But this is your hour to act, when the power of darkness rules." ¹⁰

54 They arrested Jesus and took him away into the house of the High Priest; and Peter followed at a distance.

55 A fire had been lit in the center of the courtyard, and Peter joined those who were sitting around it.

56 When one of the servant women saw him sitting there at the fire, she looked straight at him and said, "This man too was with Jesus!"

57 But Peter denied it, "Woman, I don't even know him!"

58 After a little while a man noticed Peter and said, "You are one of them, too!" But Peter answered, "Man, I am not!"

59 And about an hour later another man insisted strongly, "There isn't any doubt that this man was with Jesus, because he also is a Galilean!"

60 But Peter answered, "Man, I don't know what you are talking about!" At once, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed.

61 The Lord turned around and looked straight at Peter, and Peter remembered that the Lord had said to him, "Before the rooster crows tonight, you will say three times that you do not know me."

62 Peter went out and wept bitterly.

63 The men who were guarding Jesus made fun of him and beat him.

64 They blindfolded him and asked him, "Who hit you? Guess!"

65 And they said many other insulting things to him.

66 When day came, the elders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the Law met together, and Jesus was brought before the Council.

67 "Tell us," they said, "are you the Messiah?" He answered, "If I tell you, you will not believe me;

68 and if I ask you a question, you will not answer.

69 But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right side of Almighty God."

70 They all said, "Are you, then, the Son of God?" He answered them, "You say that I am."

71 And they said, "We don't need any witnesses! We ourselves have heard what he said!"

Luke 22 Commentary

Chapter 22

The treachery of Judas. (1-6) The passover. (7-18) The Lord's supper instituted. (19,20) Christ admonishes the disciples. (21-38) Christ's agony in the garden. (39-46) Christ betrayed. (47-53) The fall of Peter. (54-62) Christ confesses himself to be the Son of God. (63-71)

Verses 1-6 Christ knew all men, and had wise and holy ends in taking Judas to be a disciple. How he who knew Christ so well, came to betray him, we are here told; Satan entered into Judas. It is hard to say whether more mischief is done to Christ's kingdom, by the power of its open enemies, or by the treachery of its pretended friends; but without the latter, its enemies could not do so much evil as they do.

Verses 7-18 Christ kept the ordinances of the law, particularly that of the passover, to teach us to observe his gospel institutions, and most of all that of the Lord's supper. Those who go upon Christ's word, need not fear disappointment. According to the orders given them, the disciples got all ready for the passover. Jesus bids this passover welcome. He desired it, though he knew his sufferings would follow, because it was in order to his Father's glory and man's redemption. He takes his leave of all passovers, signifying thereby his doing away all the ordinances of the ceremonial law, of which the passover was one of the earliest and chief. That type was laid aside, because now in the kingdom of God the substance was come.

Verses 19-20 The Lord's supper is a sign or memorial of Christ already come, who by dying delivered us; his death is in special manner set before us in that ordinance, by which we are reminded of it. The breaking of Christ's body as a sacrifice for us, is therein brought to our remembrance by the breaking of bread. Nothing can be more nourishing and satisfying to the soul, than the doctrine of Christ's making atonement for sin, and the assurance of an interest in that atonement. Therefore we do this in rememberance of what He did for us, when he died for us; and for a memorial of what we do, in joining ourselves to him in an everlasting covenant. The shedding of Christ's blood, by which the atonement was made, is represented by the wine in the cup.

Verses 21-38 How unbecoming is the worldly ambition of being the greatest, to the character of a follower of Jesus, who took upon him the form of a servant, and humbled himself to the death of the cross! In the way to eternal happiness, we must expect to be assaulted and sifted by Satan. If he cannot destroy, he will try to disgrace or distress us. Nothing more certainly forebodes a fall, in a professed follower of Christ, than self-confidence, with disregard to warnings, and contempt of danger. Unless we watch and pray always, we may be drawn in the course of the day into those sins which we were in the morning most resolved against. If believers were left to themselves, they would fall; but they are kept by the power of God, and the prayer of Christ. Our Lord gave notice of a very great change of circumstances now approaching. The disciples must not expect that their friends would be kind to them as they had been. Therefore, he that has a purse, let him take it, for he may need it. They must now expect that their enemies would be more fierce than they had been, and they would need weapons. At the time the apostles understood Christ to mean real weapons, but he spake only of the weapons of the spiritual warfare. The sword of the Spirit is the sword with which the disciples of Christ must furnish themselves.

Verses 39-46 Every description which the evangelists give of the state of mind in which our Lord entered upon this conflict, proves the tremendous nature of the assault, and the perfect foreknowledge of its terrors possessed by the meek and lowly Jesus. Here are three things not in the other evangelists. 1. When Christ was in his agony, there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. It was a part of his humiliation that he was thus strengthened by a ministering spirit. 2. Being in agony, he prayed more earnestly. Prayer, though never out of season, is in a special manner seasonable when we are in an agony. 3. In this agony his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down. This showed the travail of his soul. We should pray also to be enabled to resist unto the shedding of our blood, striving against sin, if ever called to it. When next you dwell in imagination upon the delights of some favourite sin, think of its effects as you behold them here! See its fearful effects in the garden of Gethsemane, and desire, by the help of God, deeply to hate and to forsake that enemy, to ransom sinners from whom the Redeemer prayed, agonized, and bled.

Verses 47-53 Nothing can be a greater affront or grief to the Lord Jesus, than to be betrayed by those who profess to be his followers, and say that they love him. Many instances there are, of Christ's being betrayed by those who, under the form of godliness, fight against the power of it. Jesus here gave an illustrious example of his own rule of doing good to those that hate us, as afterwards he did of praying for those that despitefully use us. Corrupt nature warps our conduct to extremes; we should seek for the Lord's direction before we act in difficult circumstances. Christ was willing to wait for his triumphs till his warfare was accomplished, and we must be so too. But the hour and the power of darkness were short, and such the triumphs of the wicked always will be.

Verses 54-62 Peter's fall was his denying that he knew Christ, and was his disciple; disowning him because of distress and danger. He that has once told a lie, is strongly tempted to persist: the beginning of that sin, like strife, is as the letting forth of water. The Lord turned and looked upon Peter. 1. It was a convincing look. Jesus turned and looked upon him, as if he should say, Dost thou not know me, Peter? 2. It was a chiding look. Let us think with what a rebuking countenance Christ may justly look upon us when we have sinned. 3. It was an expostulating look. Thou who wast the most forward to confess me to be the Son of God, and didst solemnly promise thou wouldest never disown me! 4. It was a compassionate look. Peter, how art thou fallen and undone if I do not help thee! 5. It was a directing look, to go and bethink himself. 6. It was a significant look; it signified the conveying of grace to Peter's heart, to enable him to repent. The grace of God works in and by the word of God, brings that to mind, and sets that home upon the conscience, and so gives the soul the happy turn. Christ looked upon the chief priests, and made no impression upon them as he did on Peter. It was not the mere look from Christ, but the Divine grace with it, that restored Peter.

Verses 63-71 Those that condemned Jesus for a blasphemer, were the vilest blasphemers. He referred them to his second coming, for the full proof of his being the Christ, to their confusion, since they would not admit the proof of it to their conviction. He owns himself to be the Son of God, though he knew he should suffer for it. Upon this they ground his condemnation. Their eyes being blinded, they rush on. Let us meditate on this amazing transaction, and consider Him who endured such contradiction of sinners against himself.

Cross References

• 1. 22.1Exodus 12.1-27.
• 2. 22.20Jeremiah 31.31-34.
• 3. 22.21Psalms 41.9.
• 4. 22.24Matthew 18.1;Mark 9.34;Luke 9.46.
• 5. 22.26Matthew 23.11;Mark 9.35.+O+N22.25, 26Matthew 20.25-27;Mark 10.42-44.
• 6. 22.27John 13.12-15.
• 7. 22.30Matthew 19.28.
• 8. 22.35Matthew 10.9, 10;Mark 6.8, 9;Luke 9.3; 10.4.
• 9. 22.37Isaiah 53.12.
• 10. 22.53Luke 19.47; 21.37.

Footnotes

• [a]. [Some manuscripts do not have the words of Jesus after] This is my body [in verse 19, and all of verse 20.]
• [b]. That is enough; [or] Enough of this.
• [c]. [Some manuscripts do not have verses 43-44.]