Luke 21:37

The Judas' Plot (21:37-22:6).

As far as Luke is concerned the first stage in Jesus' final hours is the entry of Satan into Judas Iscariot, the Apostle. ‘Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve.' These words bring a chill to the heart. How has Satan managed to find a foothold in such sacred territory, into the very heart of Jesus' work, among ‘the Twelve'? And the simple answer is Mammon. For when it came down to the final analysis, eleven of them loved Jesus with all their hearts, and one loved Mammon more than he loved Jesus. As Jesus has already made clear Mammon kept many men from Jesus (Luke 12:13; Luke 16:19; Luke 18:23). It even bore heavy responsibility with regard to the failure of the Pharisees (Luke 16:14). And now it was penetrating into the very inner circle of Jesus' followers. Eleven could say, ‘silver and gold have I none, but what I have I give you ---' (Acts 3:6). But Judas cast all that aside and went to the chief priests with his hands wide open, seeking silver and gold. And thereby he lost all that he had.

So Judas, moved by Satan who had entered into him, plotted to betray Jesus in return for money. Like the Pharisees (Luke 16:14; Luke 20:47), and unlike the poor widow who had given her all to God (Luke 21:1), he had chosen Mammon rather than God. The constant teaching of Jesus on the subject had somehow passed him by. The glitter of silver was too much for him. Disillusionment may have made him decide to cease being a disciple, but it was silver that made him betray Him.

It was a necessary lesson for the young church to learn, that they must ever be on the watch lest Satan be granted a foothold in this way. And Mammon would, in fact, be the means by which in the Middle Ages the whole church was nearly destroyed. It took a Reformation that shook the world to deliver it from itself. In the same way many a person's faith and usefulness today is destroyed by Mammon.

Analysis of 21:37-22:6.

a Every day He was teaching in the temple, and every night He went out, and lodged in the mount that is called Olivet, and all the people came early in the morning to Him in the temple, to hear Him (Luke 21:37).

b Now the feast of unleavened bread drew near, which is called the Passover, and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might put Him to death, for they feared the people (Luke 22:1).

c And Satan entered into Judas who was called Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve (Luke 22:3).

b And he went away, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might deliver Him to them, and they were glad, and covenanted to give him money (Luke 22:4).

a And he consented, and sought opportunity to deliver Him to them in the absence of the crowd (Luke 22:6).

Note that in ‘a' Jesus is constantly surrounded by the crowd from early morning to night, and in the parallel Judas promises to deliver Him to His enemies in a place where there is no crowd. In ‘b' the Jewish leaders were seeking ways to put Jesus to death, but were afraid of the people, and in the parallel Judas communes with the Jewish leaders as to how to hand Him over at a time when the people will not know. Centrally in ‘c' we have described the presence and activity of Satan who is the mastermind behind it all.