28 But no one at the table knew for what reason He said this to him. 29 For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him, “Buy those things we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. 30 Having received the piece of bread, he then went out immediately. And it was night.
13:28
But no one at the table knew for what reason He said this to him.
None of the disciples understood the reason Jesus said, “What you are going to do, do quickly“ to Judas. Some of them threw out the possibility that maybe the traitor was one of them—”Surely not I, Lord?” They assumed that Judas was simply assigned a task by Jesus.
13:29
For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him,
Judas was the treasurer of the group of apostles. He had a special role to fulfill among the apostles.
“Buy those things we need for the feast,”
The apostles speculated that one option for sending Judas out was to buy food for the feast.
or that he should give something to the poor.
Another option among the apostles for Jesus dismissing Judas was that he went out to give something to the poor. It was the normal practice on the eve of the Passover to give gifts to the poor.
13:30
Having received the piece of bread, he then went out immediately.
Judas separated himself from the cause of Christ from this point forward. He ate from Jesus’ gracious hand to go out and immediately betray the Lord.
And it was night.
Judas went into the dark with a dark heart. He slithered into the night to do dark things. He immediately moved out to confer with the authorities to betray Jesus.
PRINCIPLE:
Some people pretend to be Christians
APPLICATION:
Fakers can deceive some but not people with perspicuity. Jesus was not deceived. He made Himself susceptible to the machinations of man, but that does not mean He was naive. Christians, however, can easily be deceived by religion, by religious fakers. It is amazing how many deceivers there are in evangelical ranks today. In seminaries we have teachers who seek status by coming up with something academically novel. Preachers claim powers for themselves that they do not have—such as that only they possess this special revelation.
It takes biblical moxie to discern what is true. The more we acquaint ourselves with the Word of God, the less susceptible to error we become. God has given certain people biblical discernment. We need to hear more from this kind of giftedness.
