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Matthew 26:5
But they said, Not on the feastday, lest there be an uproar among the people.

Mark 14:2
But they said, Not on the feastday, lest there be an uproar of the people.

and began to look for an opportunity
Judas actively sought a chance to betray Jesus, indicating premeditation and intent. This search for an opportunity suggests a calculated approach, as Judas needed to find a time when Jesus was away from the protective presence of the crowds. The religious leaders were wary of arresting Jesus publicly due to His popularity and the potential for public unrest (Luke 22:2). Judas's actions reflect the cunning and deceit often associated with betrayal, reminiscent of the serpent's subtlety inGenesis 3.

to betray Jesus to them
The betrayal of Jesus is central to the Passion narrative, leading to His arrest, trial, and crucifixion. Judas's betrayal is a stark contrast to the loyalty expected of a disciple. This act is a fulfillment ofZechariah 11:12-13, where the prophet speaks of thirty pieces of silver, the price for which Judas agreed to betray Jesus (Matthew 26:15). Theologically, Judas's betrayal is part of God's sovereign plan for redemption, as Jesus's death and resurrection are necessary for the salvation of humanity.

in the absence of a crowd
Judas sought to betray Jesus when He was isolated, away from the protective presence of the masses who followed Him. This detail underscores the fear of the religious leaders regarding Jesus's influence and the potential for public disorder. The absence of a crowd ensured a quieter arrest, minimizing the risk of a riot. This setting aligns with the events in the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus is ultimately arrested at night, away from the public eye (Luke 22:47-53). The secrecy of the betrayal highlights the darkness of the act, both literally and metaphorically, as it occurs under the cover of night.

“Judas consented” (Luke 22:6) shows a deliberate, conscious decision.

• Scripture presents no hint of coercion; Judas’s will aligns with the chief priests’ plot (Matthew 26:14–16).

• His consent fulfills Jesus’ earlier words: “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil” (John 6:70–71).

• Though Satan entered Judas (Luke 22:3), personal responsibility remains—mirroring the pattern of Pharaoh hardening his heart even as God hardened it (Exodus 8:15, 32; 9:12).

• Judas moves from hidden discontent (John 12:4–6) to unambiguous treachery, illustratingJames 1:14–15: desire, once conceived, gives birth to sin.

After consenting, Judas “began to look for an opportunity.”

• Sin rarely stays static; it searches for openings (Genesis 4:7).

• Judas’s watchfulness contrasts with Jesus’ call for watchful prayer (Luke 21:36).

• His new focus overrides prior loyalty, echoing Demas who loved this present world (2 Timothy 4:10).

•Mark 14:11 parallels this verse: Judas “started looking for a good time to hand Him over.” The ongoing verb stresses persistence: every moment is evaluated for betrayal potential.

The goal is explicit—“to betray Jesus to them.”

• Betray means handing over someone in trust (Psalm 41:9: “Even my close friend… has lifted up his heel against me”).

• Old Testament prophecy foretold Messiah’s betrayal for silver (Zechariah 11:12–13; cf.Matthew 27:3–10).

• Jesus acknowledges it during the Last Supper: “The hand of My betrayer is with Mine on the table” (Luke 22:21).

• This treachery advances the divine plan:Acts 2:23 affirms Jesus was delivered up by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge, yet lawless men were accountable.

Judas seeks to act “in the absence of a crowd.”

• Chief priests feared public reaction (Luke 22:2;Mark 14:1–2) because many considered Jesus a prophet (Luke 20:19).

• Darkness suits the deed: arrest happens at night in Gethsemane (John 18:3), matching Jesus’ words: “This is your hour—when darkness reigns” (Luke 22:53).

• The secrecy heightens cowardice and injustice, paralleling Nicodemus’s initial nighttime visit (John 3:1–2) but with sinister motives.

•Proverbs 4:19 observes, “The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.”

Luke 22:6 unveils Judas’s settled choice, his active search for timing, his specific aim of handing Jesus over, and the preference for secrecy to avoid the crowd. Each step magnifies human responsibility within God’s sovereign plan, warning believers that unchecked desire can mature into deliberate opposition to the Lord.

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