Bible Study series: Mark 14:10-11. Judas plots. God plans and oversees.
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Scripture: Mark 14:10-11
10 Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, departed for the chief priests, so that he could hand him over. 11 On hearing him, they were glad and promised to give him money. Then he sought out the best time to hand him over. (Mark 14:10-11)
10-11:
This is more setting up of the scene by Mark. So what could motivate Judas, other than money? His name “Iscariot” probably means that he was from Iscariot, that is, not from Galilee. And he saw, as Peter did when he rebuked Jesus and Jesus had to put the lead apostle in his place (Matt. 16:23-23), that the Lord was a threat to Israel and its long history. This may indicate that he belonged to the Zealot movement, which means they were zealous for the law and independence from Rome. If so, then he could now perceive that Jesus was not going to be a conquering hero. So Judas betrayed him out of big letdown.
One scholar speculated that Judas may have tried to broker a meeting with the temple establishment in a misguided attempt to reach a settlement between Jesus and the establishment. Maybe Jesus could work some miracles to overthrow Rome. The problem is that the passages about Judas all over the four Gospels cannot support this speculation.
Next, Luke says Satan entered his heart (22:3). For a charismatic like Luke, that was motive enough. Evidently Judas was not filled with the Spirit, because demonic possession and the Spirit cannot live in the same person. But an evil spirit can deceive and harass a believer’s mind. Never underestimate how Satan can toy with a follower’s mind. The evil spirit being can work his evil magic on any one of us.
The Jerusalem establishment will suffer judgment for carrying out this plot. This is irony. They think they are right and are following God, but they are deceived and have been wandering off the path for many years. They were actually wrong. See below, for further comments on irony.
“money”: Matthew 26:15 says, “thirty pieces of silver.” It was at this time thirty denarii, a month’s wages, if the man worked throughout the month. It was a considerable amount.
Also, “hand over” could be translated as “betray.”
GrowApp for Mark 14:10-11
1. Study Eph. 4:32. Have you ever been betrayed? How has God lead you to forgive and release the other person.
RELATED
10. Eyewitness Testimony in Mark’s Gospel
2. Church Fathers and Mark’s Gospel
2. Archaeology and the Synoptic Gospels
14. Similarities among John’s Gospel and the Synoptic Gospels
1. The Historical Reliability of the Gospels: Introduction to Series
SOURCES
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