Luke 22:48 kjv
But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?
Luke 22:48 nkjv
But Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"
Luke 22:48 niv
but Jesus asked him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"
Luke 22:48 esv
but Jesus said to him, "Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?"
Luke 22:48 nlt
But Jesus said, "Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?"
Luke 22 48 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 41:9 | Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me. | Prophecy of intimate betrayal |
| Zec 11:12-13 | I told them, "If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it." So they paid me thirty pieces of silver... | Prophecy of betrayal for 30 pieces of silver |
| Mt 26:47-50 | While He was still speaking, Judas came... going at once to Jesus, he said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed Him. | Parallel account of Judas's kiss |
| Mk 14:43-45 | No sooner had He spoken than Judas ... came up. Immediately Judas went to Jesus and kissed Him. | Parallel account emphasizing immediate betrayal |
| Jn 18:2-5 | Judas, who betrayed Him, knew the place... He identified Him for them by kissing Him. | Parallel account and specific mention of kiss for identification |
| Lk 22:1-6 | Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus... Then Satan entered Judas. | Judas's initial plot to betray Jesus |
| Lk 22:21-23 | But behold, the hand of him who betrays Me is with Me on the table... the Son of Man goes as it has been determined. | Jesus's earlier prophecy of betrayal by one at table |
| Mt 27:3-5 | When Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver... Then he went away and hanged himself. | Judas's remorse and end |
| Acts 1:16-20 | "Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas..." | Apostles reflect on Judas's fulfillment of prophecy and his fate |
| Ps 55:20-21 | My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant. His talk is smoother than butter, yet war is in his heart. His words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords. | Deception by a close associate |
| Lk 9:22 | "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life." | Jesus' self-designation 'Son of Man' linked to suffering |
| Lk 18:31-33 | He took the Twelve aside and told them, "We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled." | Son of Man and prophetic fulfillment of His suffering |
| Dan 7:13-14 | There before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven... He was given authority, glory and sovereign power. | OT origin of 'Son of Man' with power and authority |
| Jn 13:21 | After He had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, "Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray Me." | Jesus' emotional distress over betrayal |
| Heb 4:15 | For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet He did not sin. | Jesus' full humanity and capacity to experience human pain |
| 2 Sam 15:10-11 | But Absalom sent secret messengers... Joab was given Absalom's command... with 200 men who had been invited. They had no idea what was happening. | Historical example of betrayal through deception (Ahithophel/Absalom) |
| 1 Thess 5:3 | While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly... and they will not escape. | Contrast of false sense of security with impending doom (Judas's false pretense of greeting) |
| Acts 2:23 | This Man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross. | God's divine plan encompassed the betrayal and crucifixion |
| Prov 27:6 | Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. | Biblical insight into deceptive 'kisses' from an enemy |
| Gal 4:14 | As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you, and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus Himself. | Example of genuine welcome/acceptance contrasting Judas's deception |
Luke 22 verses
Luke 22 48 Meaning
This verse captures the pinnacle of Judas Iscariot's betrayal of Jesus. In this deeply poignant moment, Jesus confronts Judas directly, not with anger, but with a rhetorical question that expresses profound sorrow, full awareness, and solemn indictment. Jesus highlights the ultimate irony and perversion of the act: a sacred sign of love and fellowship, a kiss, being used to identify and deliver the very 'Son of Man'—a title signifying both His suffering humanity and His divine messianic authority—into the hands of His executioners.
Luke 22 48 Context
Luke 22:48 is situated within the dramatic narrative of Jesus' arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. Following the Last Supper and the institution of the Lord's Supper (Lk 22:7-38), Jesus proceeds to the Mount of Olives to pray (Lk 22:39-46). While deeply distressed in prayer, His disciples fail to stay awake. Immediately after this intensely personal struggle, Judas Iscariot arrives with a crowd led by chief priests, temple guards, and elders (Lk 22:47), coming directly from the Sanhedrin (Lk 22:4). Judas has already plotted to betray Jesus for money (Lk 22:1-6) and identified the method—a kiss (Lk 22:47). This verse represents the direct confrontation between the Light of the World and the darkness of betrayal, signaling the beginning of Jesus' final suffering and passion, yet all unfolding within the framework of God's redemptive plan.
Luke 22 48 Word analysis
- But Jesus said to him: This opening phrase marks a stark contrast and direct confrontation. "But Jesus" implies a divergence from the expected action or typical response. It highlights Jesus' initiative in addressing the betrayer, demonstrating His sovereignty and full awareness rather than being a passive victim. His speaking is not a reaction of shock, but a deliberate statement.
- 'Judas': The direct address by name is piercing. It's a personal recognition from the one being betrayed to the betrayer, emphasizing the profound intimacy that has now been violated. It's an indictment of his specific choice and action, leaving no room for misunderstanding the identity of the traitor.
- 'are you betraying': The Greek word here is paradidōmi (παραδίδωμι). It means "to hand over," "to deliver up," "to surrender," or "to betray." In the context of the New Testament, it is frequently used to describe Judas "delivering" Jesus into the hands of His enemies and also for God "delivering" Jesus for our sins (e.g., Rom 8:32). It is a rhetorical question in this context, functioning as a lament and an accusation. It underscores Jesus' omniscience—He knows what Judas is doing and the intent behind it—and brings into sharp focus the treachery of Judas's act, using an active participle to highlight the ongoing nature of the betrayal at that very moment.
- 'the Son of Man': This is Jesus' favored self-designation, used over 80 times in the Gospels. It carries dual significance. On one hand, it refers to His humanity and identification with suffering mankind, foreshadowed in Old Testament prophecy (e.g., the suffering servant of Isa 53). On the other hand, stemming from Dan 7:13-14, it also designates His divine, messianic authority, cosmic glory, and judicial role. By using this title here, Jesus implies that Judas is not merely betraying a human teacher or friend, but the divinely appointed, eschatological King and Judge. The betrayal thus carries cosmic and eternal ramifications.
- 'with a kiss?': The Greek word is philēma (φίλημα), meaning "a kiss," typically a symbol of affection, friendship, respect, or peace (e.g., "holy kiss" in Rom 16:16). To use this sacred sign of intimacy as a signal for betrayal is the ultimate act of hypocrisy and perversion. It transforms a gesture of loyalty into an instrument of deceit and death, highlighting the shocking depth of Judas's depravity and spiritual blindness.
- "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?": This entire rhetorical question is steeped in dramatic irony and profound sorrow. Jesus, with perfect foreknowledge, acknowledges the vile nature of the act. The "kiss" serves as a grotesque inversion of what it should represent, embodying ultimate spiritual darkness and the corrupting power of sin, which distorts goodness for evil ends. The phrase encapsulates the chilling reality of intimate betrayal directed at the embodiment of purity and truth, serving as a powerful theological statement about sin, foreknowledge, and ultimate redemption through suffering.
Luke 22 48 Bonus section
This verse starkly portrays Jesus' unwavering composure and spiritual authority even in the face of profound personal agony. He does not lash out in anger or desperation, but maintains His dignity and mission. The question posed by Jesus implies not just a rhetorical challenge but also a final, poignant plea, or an attempt to penetrate Judas's hardened heart, even at this last moment. The "kiss" of Judas remains a potent symbol throughout Christian tradition for hypocrisy and spiritual treason, warning against those who feign closeness or piety while harboring malicious intent against Christ or His people. This moment underscores the cost of discipleship and the reality of apostasy, showing that intimacy with Jesus, without true spiritual transformation, can become a vehicle for destruction.
Luke 22 48 Commentary
Luke 22:48 reveals the profound emotional and spiritual agony Jesus endured as He faced betrayal not by a stranger, but by one of His own inner circle. Jesus' direct address to "Judas" stripped away any pretense, confronting the traitor with the stark reality of his actions. The question "are you betraying... with a kiss?" is a heart-wrenching lament more than a question seeking information, for Jesus already knew (Jn 6:64). It emphasizes the depth of the hypocrisy: turning the universal sign of love and trust, the kiss, into a signal for treachery. By referring to Himself as the "Son of Man," Jesus reminded Judas and implicitly, all who would hear, of His true identity and divine purpose, which this act of betrayal, paradoxically, would help fulfill according to God's deliberate plan. The verse thus stands as a timeless testament to human depravity yet also to Christ's divine knowledge, enduring suffering, and ultimate sovereignty over all circumstances, even the darkest of betrayals.