Luke Chapter 22
CONTENTS
1. The Feast of the Unleavened Bread drew near which is called the Passover. The chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Jesus, for thy feared the people. Satan entered Judas Iscariot who was numbered among the twelve apostles. So, he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Jesus to them. They were glad and agreed to give him money. So, he promised and sought opportunity to betray Jesus to them in the absence of the multitude (v. 1-6).
2. The Day of Unleavened Bread came when the Passover Lamb was to be killed, Jesus said to Peter and John, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.” They asked Him, “Where do You want us to prepare?” Jesus said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters. Then you shall say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, *Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples? *’ Then He will show you a large, furnished upper room; there make ready.” So, they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.” (v. 7-13)
3. When the hour had come, Jesus sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. Then he said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will not eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” (v.14-16)
4. Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, ‘I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you. But behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on the table. And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed.” Then they began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing (v.17-23).
5. The disciples disputed among themselves as to who among them was the greatest. Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called benefactors. But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves. But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (v.24-31)
6. The Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” But Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.” Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.” (v.32-34)
7. And Jesus said to them, “When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” Then He said to them, “But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’ For the things concerning Me have an end.” So, they said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” And He said to them, “It is enough.” (v.35-38)
8. Jesus went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples followed. He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” And He withdrew Himself from them a stone’s throw away, knelt and prayed, saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not My will, but Yours be done.” Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling to the ground. When He rose from prayer and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow. He said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.”(v.39-46)
9. Judas, having procured a band of soldiers to apprehend Jesus, went before the multitude and drew near to kiss Jesus. But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” Those around Jesus saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus answered and said, “Permit even this.” And He touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to Him, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.” (v.47-53)
10. Having arrested Jesus, they led Him and brought Him into the high priest’s house. But Peter followed at a distance. When they kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. A certain servant girl, seeing Peter as he sat by the fire, looked intently and said, “This man was also with Him.” But he denied Him, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him.” And after a little while another saw him and said, “You also are of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, “Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “I do not know what you are saying!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So, Peter went out and wept bitterly (v.54-62).
11. The men who held Jesus mocked Him and beat Him. And having blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face and asked Him, saying, “Prophesy! Who is the one who struck You?” And many other things they blasphemously spoke against Him. Early the next day, the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, came together and led Him into their council, saying, “If You are the Christ, tell us.” But He said to them, “If I tell you, you will by no means believe. And if I also ask you, you will by no means answer Me or let Me go. Hereafter he Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God.” Then they all said, “Are You then the Son of God?” So, He said to them, “You rightly say that I am.” And they said, “What further testimony do we need? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth.” (v.63-71)
COMMENTARY
1. The Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread which Jesus ate with His disciples recorded in Luke 22, was the third in the three-year ministry of the Lord Jesus (John 2:13; 5:1; 13:1; Matt.26:17-21; Mark 14:12-18). Jesus in His ministry preached in the region of Galilee, but He went up to Jerusalem to keep the Passover. The third was when He went up because the time of His sacrifice and death had come (Luke 9:44,51; 18:31-33).
2. The devil already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot to betray Jesus (John 13:2). So, he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and the captains how he might betray Him to them. The chief priests and the scribes had sought how they might kill Him. The captains were Levites, members of the temple guard, and the ones who could make the arrest.
3. The guest room in which Jesus ate the Passover with the disciples was one of those rooms made available to the thousands of pilgrims who came to Jerusalem for the feast. It was however prepared for Him by divine arrangement. For Peter and John were instructed by Jesus to enter the city and say to the master of the house, “Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?” They were showed a large furnished upper room, probably with couches for guests at the feasts to recline for the meal (v. 9-12).
4. The Passover feast was served with four courses and four cups. The bread which He blessed and broke and gave His disciples to eat was unleavened, and cup of blessing was the third cup which He took and blessed (I Cor. 10:16). The bread is His body and the grape-juice His blood in the Holy Communion Sacrament which He instituted. For He said, “Take, eat, this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” and “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” (v. 19-20; I Cor. 11:24-25)
5. Jesus knew beforehand who was going to betray Him. He said, “But behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on the table. And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!” The disciples began to question among themselves which of them it was who would do this thing. Yet Judas showed no remorse whatsoever (v. 21-23).
6. A dispute arose among the disciples as to which among them should be considered the greatest. Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called benefactors. But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.” Jesus is the Lord, yet He came to serve and not to be served? So, he who is the greatest is one who serves and not one who exercise authority and lord over others. Jesus went on further to say, “But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (v.24-30)
7. Peter was told by Jesus that the rooster would not crow that night before he denied three times that he knew Him. Earlier on, the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me strengthen your brethren.” But Peter said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.” (v.31-35). Later when Jesus was taken into custody and brought to the house of the high priest, Peter who followed behind was recognized by a servant girl and then by another as one who was among the followers of the Lord. Peter denied the Lord three times and then the rooster crowed (v. 56-62). Jesus turned and looked at Peter. Subsequently Peter went out and wept bitterly with great remorse.
Yet because the Lord Jesus had prayed for him, Peter could remained and did not depart from among the disciples. After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to Peter and the rest (Acts 10:40-41). On the day of Pentecost, Peter with the 120 odd disciples had the gift of the Holy Spirit granted upon them according to the promise of the Lord Jesus. Thenceforth, being filled by the Holy Spirit and strengthen with power and fulness of faith, Peter became a pillar in the apostolic church (Gal. 2:9). He spoke the word of truth courageously and witnessed the resurrection of the Lord Jesus before the Jews and the Sanhedrin. He healed the eight-year bedridden and paralyzed man Aeneas at Lydda and performed a miracle to restore the dead widow Dorcas to life at Joppa. He preached to the centurion of the Italian cohort Cornelius at Caesarea, who received the gift of the Holy Spirit as Peter was speaking and whom the apostle baptized in the name of the Lord (Acts 1:13-14; 2:14-40; 4:5-21; 5:27-37; 9:32-10:48).
8. Verses Luke 22:35-38 record Jesus predicting the coming conflict. For when He sent the disciples out to preach without money bag, knapsack and sandals, they lacked nothing (Luke 9:3; 10:4). Their needs were met through generous people. However, the situation had changed. Jesus said to them, “But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors,’ For the things concerning Me have an end.” Jesus quoted from Isaiah 53:12 which describes a righteous one who suffers as a criminal. Jesus knew that His death on the cross would fulfill Isaiah’s prediction. The disciples would meet with hunger and rejections then on, when they go among the people to preach the gospel.
9. Coming out, Jesus went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples followed Him. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He knelt and prayed, after telling them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” Jesus prayed, saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me, nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” An angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling to the ground. When He rose from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow. Then He said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation” (v. 39-46).
The author of Hebrews wrote of Jesus’ prayer: “who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obeyed Him.” (Heb. 5:7-9) The prayer of Jesus Christ at Gethsemane resulted in Him being strengthened and perfected so that He accomplished the death on the cross and became the propitiation for sins by His blood (Rom. 3:23-25; 5:6-10).
10. Judas Iscariot having earlier gone out from among the disciples as they ate the Passover with Jesus Christ in the guest room at Jerusalem, procured a band of soldiers and came to Gethsemane to apprehend the Lord. As Judas drew near to kiss Him, Jesus said, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” The disciples said to Jesus, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” One of the disciples struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus answered and said, “Permit even this.” And He touched his ear and healed him (v. 47-48).
Then Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to Him, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”
Judas betrayed the Lord Jesus Christ because he had permitted the devil to enter his heart, being covetous and dishonest in his deeds and in his thoughts (John 12:4-6; 13:2). For thirty ieces of silver, Judas sold his master Jesus Christ to the chief priests and elders (Matt. 26:14-16). He drew near to the Lord and kissed Him, but the kiss was a sign of betrayal so that the soldiers could know who was the One whom they had come to arrest.
11. The men who held Jesus mocked Him and beat Him. And having blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face, and asked Him, saying, “Prophesy! Who is the one who struck You?” And many other things they blasphemously spoke against Him. Early the next day, the elders, chief priests and scribes came together and led Him into the council, saying, “If You are the Christ, tell us.” But He said to them, “If I tell you, you will by no means believe. And if I also ask you, you will by no means answer Me or let Me go. Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God.” Then they all said, “Are You then the Son of God?” So, He said to them, “You rightly say that I am.” And they said, “What further testimony do we need? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth.” (v. 66-71)
TEACHINGS
1. In our service to the Lord Jesus Christ and the ministry of the gospel to the world, seek and pray that we may be guided to do the work which He had prepared beforehand. The Lord told Peter and John to go into Jerusalem and prepare for the feast of the Passover which He will eat with the disciples. There the master of the house would show them the guest room prepared for them, in which He would eat the Passover and Unleavened Bread. The apostles found in the city the guest room prepared and furnished, when they went (v.12; Acts 8:26-39; 10:9-20, 24-29, 34-48; 13:2-12).
2. Put to death the desire of the flesh, love of money and pride of life by the Holy Spirit who lives in us. For the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and pride of life are not of God but of the world. They work against the Holy Spirit. Judas had the lust for money and was untruthful in heart. Hence Satan had place to work in Judas and to put the thought to betray the Lord Jesus into him. Believers should crucify the flesh with its passions and desires. Should walk not by the flesh but by the Spirit (Gal. 5:16-18, 24). Then shall they please Him and have peace and life (Rom. 8:6-8, 13).
3. Humbly serve the Lord Jesus Christ with the gifts He has bestowed on us, not seeking our own pleasure and personal glory. Imitate the example of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, who came to serve and not to be served, and to give His life as a ransom for many (Acts 20:19; I Per.5:5; Matt. 20:28).
The Lord Jesus answered the disciples, who disputed among themselves as to who among them was the greatest, that he is one who serves just as He served, and not the one who lord over others. He said that the disciples had continued with him in His trials. To them He has bestowed a kingdom just as His Father bestowed one upon Him that they eat and drink at His table in His kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
4. Be conscious of our imperfections and weaknesses. Seek mercy and come to the throne of God confidently to get grace to help from the High Priest Jesus Christ. Just as Peter denied the Lord Jesus three times even though he said that he was ready to go with Him both to prison and to death, we fall short of the glory of God and are unbecoming of believers for whom He has sanctified and justified by His blood. Our deeds often make us unworthy of the love of Christ. Yet if we are remorseful over our transgressions and weaknesses, and seek His forgiveness and mercy, Jesus is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. But if we say that we have no sin, we make God a liar and His word is not in us (Heb. 4:14-16; I John 1:8-10).
