Matthew 26:14–25: “Is It I, Lord?”
Introduction
In the previous section, we saw the way that a diverse group of people prepared for Jesus’ impending death: not only Jesus himself, but also the chief priests and elders of the Sanhedrin, the unnamed woman in Bethany, and Jesus’ disciples (Matt. 26:1–13). Now, we come to one more significant snapshot of an individual’s preparations for the death in the story of Judas’s betrayal of Jesus. How did things go so wrongly for Judas? How do we ensure that we do not follow in his footsteps? In this story, we see a positive example in the eleven disciples that leaves a lasting message for the church: examine your heart as you come to the table of the Lord.
Discussion Questions
1. What does the description “one of the twelve” highlight about Judas (v. 14)? How does the word “went” highlight that Judas approached the chief priests of his own, sinful volition? What possible reasons might Judas have had for seeking to betray Jesus? What information does Matthew give us about Judas’s motivations? What might we learn from Judas’s example about the utter irrationality of sin?
2. How does the disciples’ request for the will/wishes of Jesus regarding preparing for the Passover contrast with Judas’s question about the will/wishes of the chief priests (v. 17; cf. v. 15)? How does Jesus’ statement that his “time” had come contrast with Judas’s attempt to find a good “opportunity” (i.e., “good time”) to betray Jesus (v. 18; cf. v. 16). How do these phrases show the degree to which Judas had departed from the company of Jesus and the other disciples?
3. How many different ways might the disciples of Jesus have reacted to Jesus’ statement that one of them would betray him (v. 21)? What do we learn from the disciples’ “wholesome self-distrust” (Hendriksen) in their sorrowful submission before Jesus: “Is it I, Lord?” (v. 22)? How does Jesus warn his disciples against the high cost of treachery against him (vv. 23–24; see also Ps. 41:9)? How ought we to hear his warning today?
4. How do you think that Judas was able to continue his attempts at deception and treachery when face-to-face with Jesus (v. 25)? What kinds of rationalizations and justifications are you most prone to raise in your own life? How willing is your heart for the necessary work of self-examination? How does the work of self-examination lead you to seek the Lord’s examination of your life (1 Cor. 4:4)? What do you need to repent from as you prepare to come the Lord’s Table?
