27-30. after the sop Satan entered into him--Very solemn are these
brief hints of the successive steps by which Judas reached the climax of
his guilt. "The devil had already put it into his heart to betray his
Lord." Yet who can tell what struggles he went through ere he brought
himself to carry that suggestion into effect? Even after this, however,
his compunctions were not at an end. With the thirty pieces of silver
already in his possession, he seems still to have quailed--and can we
wonder? When Jesus stooped to wash his feet, it may be the last struggle
was reaching its crisis. But that word of the Psalm, about "one that ate
of his bread who would lift up his heel against Him"
(Ps 41:9)
probably all but turned the dread scale, and the still more explicit
announcement, that one of those sitting with Him at the table should
betray Him, would beget the thought, "I am detected; it is now too late
to draw back." At that moment the sop is given; offer of friendship is
once more made--and how affectingly! But already "Satan has entered
into him," and though the Saviour's act might seem enough to recall
him even yet, hell is now in his bosom, and he says within himself,
"The die is cast; now let me go through with it"; fear, begone!" (See
on
Mt 12:43).
Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly--that is, Why
linger here? Thy presence is a restraint, and thy work stands still;
thou hast the wages of iniquity, go work for it!
JFB.
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