Now the feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was drawing near, 2 and the chief priests and the scribes were seeking a way to put him to death, for they were afraid of the people. 3 Then Satan entered into Judas, the one surnamed Iscariot, who was counted among the Twelve, 4 and he went to the chief priests and temple guards to discuss a plan for handing him over to them. 5 They were pleased and agreed to pay him money. 6 He accepted their offer and sought a favorable opportunity to hand him over to them in the absence of a crowd.
Unleavened bread was eaten with the Passover meal based on the instructions to Moses from God when the Israelites hastily prepared to leave Egypt (Exodus 12:8). Jesus was going to celebrate the Exodus of God’s chosen people from slavery, and he was also going to his own Exodus (Lk. 9:31). As Jesus predicted, the chief priests and the Scribes rejected him, and plotted to kill him (Lk. 9:22). The religious leaders had failed in their attempts to put Jesus to death. The chief priests and the scribes continued to plot to kill Jesus despite their fear of the people who held Jesus in high regard.
Satan tempted Judas, one of the twelve disciples chosen by Jesus, and Judas went to the chief priests and the temple guards and made a deal to hand Jesus over to them for money. Judas actively sought an opportune moment to betray Jesus when he was not surrounded by a crowd. It was not only Judas’ love of money that allowed Satan to enter his heart (1 Tim. 6:10). He did not truly believe even though he was so close to Jesus. The opportune moment for the devil had arrived (Lk. 4:13). Jesus was victorious when tempted by the devil in the desert. He would again be victorious when tempted this time to abandon his Father’s will (Lk. 22:42).
Loving Father, during this season of Lent, help us to renew ourselves spiritually through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Grant us the grace to hear and ponder your word more deeply as we reflect on the events leading to Jesus' ultimate sacrifice. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
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