Church Fathers Commentary Mark 14:10-11

"And Judas Iscariot, he that was one of the twelve, went away unto the chief priests, that he might deliver him unto them. And they, when they heard it, were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently deliver him [unto them]." — Mark 14:10-11 (ASV)

The Venerable Bede: The unhappy Judas wishes to compensate with the price of his Master for the loss he thought he had incurred from the pouring out of the ointment.

The text says: And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the Chief Priests to betray Him to them.

St. John Chrysostom: Why do you tell me of his country? I wish I could also have been ignorant of his existence. But there was another disciple called Judas the Zealot, the brother of James, and to prevent confusion between the two, the evangelist separates one from the other. He does not call him “Judas the traitor,” so that he might teach us to avoid slander and accusing others.

However, in saying he was “one of the twelve,” he highlights the detestable guilt of the traitor. For there were seventy other disciples; these, however, were not as intimate with Him, nor were they admitted to such close fellowship. But these twelve were approved by Him—they were the royal band, from which the wicked traitor emerged. ¹

Pseudo-Jerome: He was one of the twelve in number, not in merit; one in body, not in soul. He went to the chief priests after he went out and Satan entered into him. Every living thing unites with what is like itself.

The Venerable Bede: The words “he went out” show that he was not invited by the chief priests or compelled by any necessity, but undertook this plan from the spontaneous wickedness of his own mind.

Theophylact of Ohrid: The phrase “to betray him to them” means to inform them of a time when He would be alone. They were afraid to seize Him while He was teaching, for fear of the people.

Pseudo-Jerome: And he promises to betray Him, just as his master the devil said before, All this power I will give thee (Luke 4:6).

The text continues, And when they heard it they were glad, and promised to give him money. They promise him money and lose their lives, and he also loses his life on receiving the money.

St. John Chrysostom: Oh, the madness—yes, the avarice of the traitor! For his covetousness produced all this evil. Covetousness holds onto the souls it has captured; it confines them in every way once it has bound them, making them forget all things and driving their minds to madness.

Judas, taken captive by this madness of avarice, forgets the conversation, the table of Christ, his own discipleship, and Christ's warnings and persuasion.

For the text continues, And he sought how he might conveniently betray Him.

Pseudo-Jerome: No opportunity for treachery can be found that will escape vengeance, either in this life or the next.

The Venerable Bede: Many today shudder at the crime of Judas—selling his Master, his Lord, and his God for money—as a monstrous and horrible wickedness. However, they do not take heed, for when they trample on the rights of charity and truth for the sake of gain, they are traitors to God, who is Charity and Truth.

1. ostom, de Prod. Jud., Homily 1