Matthew 26:50 kjv
And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus and took him.
Matthew 26:50 nkjv
But Jesus said to him, "Friend, why have you come?" Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him.
Matthew 26:50 niv
Jesus replied, "Do what you came for, friend." Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.
Matthew 26:50 esv
Jesus said to him, "Friend, do what you came to do." Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him.
Matthew 26:50 nlt
Jesus said, "My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for." Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him.
Matthew 26 50 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 41:9 | Even my closest friend, whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me. | Betrayal by a trusted friend |
| Psa 55:12-14 | If an enemy were insulting me... but it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend... | Pain of betrayal by a companion |
| Isa 53:7 | He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter... | Messiah's quiet submission to suffering |
| Matt 26:21 | While they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” | Jesus' foreknowledge of betrayal |
| Matt 26:24-25 | “The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him... Then Judas... asked, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “You have said it.” | Scriptural fulfillment and Judas's direct confirmation |
| Matt 26:47-49 | While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived... And immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And kissed him. | The signal of betrayal preceding the arrest |
| Matt 26:54 | “But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” | Necessity of fulfilling prophecy through suffering |
| Mk 14:43-46 | Just as he was speaking, Judas arrived... They seized Jesus and arrested him. | Parallel account of Judas's arrival and the arrest |
| Lk 22:47-48 | While he was still speaking a crowd came up... Judas... went to Jesus to kiss him. But Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” | Parallel account of betrayal; highlights the kiss |
| Lk 22:53 | “Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour—when darkness reigns.” | The hour appointed for Jesus' suffering and the power of darkness |
| Jn 13:21 | After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” | Jesus' distress over the impending betrayal |
| Jn 18:2-5 | Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place... Then Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. | Jesus' full knowledge and initiative in His arrest |
| Jn 18:6 | When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. | Jesus' divine authority even in His arrest |
| 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. | Divine plan in Jesus' crucifixion and betrayal |
| Acts 4:27-28 | Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus... They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. | God's sovereignty overriding human actions |
| Rom 8:28 | And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. | God's ultimate good purpose through suffering and evil |
| Rom 8:32 | He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? | God the Father's willing sacrifice of Jesus |
| Php 2:8 | And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! | Jesus' obedience in suffering unto death |
| 1 Pet 2:23 | When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats, but entrusted himself to him who judges justly. | Jesus' non-retaliation and trust in God amidst suffering |
| Rev 13:8 | All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world. | Jesus' sacrifice planned from eternity past |
Matthew 26 verses
Matthew 26 50 Meaning
Matt 26:50 depicts the climactic moment of Jesus' arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. It shows Jesus’ sovereign foreknowledge and calm acceptance of His preordained suffering, even as He addresses His betrayer, Judas, with a seemingly benign yet deeply ironic term, "Friend." His command, "do what you have come for," serves as a direct authorization for the crowd to proceed, demonstrating His willing surrender to God’s divine plan, rather than being merely apprehended against His will. This moment marks the critical transition into the Passion narrative, fulfilling prophetic scriptures concerning the Messiah's suffering and sacrifice.
Matthew 26 50 Context
Matt 26:50 is located in the Garden of Gethsemane, immediately after Jesus' intense prayer expressing submission to His Father's will and the disciples' inability to stay awake. It follows Judas' prearranged signal—a kiss—to identify Jesus to the large crowd and armed detachment sent to arrest Him. The surrounding chapter detail Jesus' preparation for His Passion, including the Last Supper, the institution of communion, the prediction of His betrayal by Judas, and Peter's denial. The verse sets in motion the series of events leading directly to Jesus' trial, crucifixion, and resurrection, demonstrating Jesus' sovereign control over His suffering and death as the ultimate fulfillment of God's redemptive plan.
Matthew 26 50 Word analysis
- And Jesus said to him: This highlights Jesus' active, authoritative speech, directly addressing Judas. It underscores Jesus' full awareness and intentionality in this moment.
- 'Friend': (Greek: Hetaire, Ἑταῖρε) This word, hetairos, translates to "companion," "associate," or "fellow." It is distinct from philos (φίλος), which denotes a deep, affectionate friendship. In Matthew, Jesus uses hetaire only three times (Matt 20:13, 22:12, and here). In all instances, it is used in situations of veiled rebuke, judgment, or distance: to the grumbling laborer, the man without a wedding garment, and now to Judas, the betrayer. It reveals Jesus' recognition of Judas' position as an associate, yet with a hint of sorrow or reproach over the betrayal, exposing the true nature of their relationship at this point, one that lacked the faithfulness of true friendship.
- 'do what you have come for.': (Greek: eph' ho parei, ἐφ᾿ ὃ πάρει) Literally, "for what you are present" or "that for which you are here." This is not a question but a firm, decisive command and an allowance. It signifies Jesus’ complete foreknowledge and His active, willing participation in His arrest, not as a victim, but as one purposefully entering the next phase of God’s redemptive plan. It emphasizes His sovereignty over the unfolding events.
- Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized him.: (Greek: proselthontes...epebalon tas cheiras epi ton Iesoun kai ekratesan)
- Then they came: Implies an immediate, unhesitating action by the crowd and guards following Jesus' directive.
- laid hands on Jesus: epebalon tas cheiras. This is a standard phrase used in antiquity for seizing someone, often with an intention to arrest, injure, or kill. Here, it denotes physical apprehension and hostility, initiated by Judas' signal.
- and seized him: ekratesan. From krateō, meaning "to grasp," "to lay hold of," "to arrest," or "to overpower." It signifies that the arrest was effective and decisive, confirming Jesus' capture and marking the physical start of His Passion. This action contrasts sharply with Jesus' divine control demonstrated moments before (cf. Jn 18:6).
- 'Friend, do what you have come for.': This phrase reveals Jesus' unique perspective on the betrayal. He doesn't beg or accuse but allows Judas to complete his dark mission, implicitly acknowledging its necessity for the fulfillment of Scripture and God's plan. It’s a moment of profound cosmic tension, where human wickedness aligns unwittingly with divine purpose.
- 'They came and laid hands on Jesus and seized him.': This entire phrase indicates the immediate and brutal reality of the arrest, signifying the overwhelming force deployed against Jesus, as foretold by the prophets. Despite the physical overwhelming of Jesus by force, it happens only when He gives the explicit permission to do so.
Matthew 26 50 Bonus section
- The "kiss" from Judas (Matt 26:49) as the pre-arranged signal for betrayal is often regarded as one of the most cynical acts in history, transforming a universal sign of affection and respect into a symbol of deceit and treachery.
- The overwhelming force used in the arrest—a large crowd with swords and clubs (Matt 26:47), indicating a perceived threat, possibly suggesting Jesus' influence or previous gatherings that seemed threatening to the authorities.
- Though Matthew does not explicitly state it as John 18:6, Jesus' prior display of divine authority in the garden, such as healing the ear of the high priest's servant (Lk 22:50-51) or causing His captors to fall backward (Jn 18:6), further underscores that His arrest was a deliberate surrender, not an overpowering. He chose to be seized.
Matthew 26 50 Commentary
Matthew 26:50 is a powerful testament to Jesus’ divine sovereignty and perfect submission to God's will. Rather than resisting or expressing anger at Judas’ betrayal, Jesus calmly acknowledges his purpose. The use of "Friend" (hetaire) for Judas is particularly striking; it subtly conveys reproof without explicit condemnation, highlighting the tragic irony of a companion turning traitor, yet operating within God's sovereign plan. Jesus’ declaration, "do what you have come for," serves as the divine permission for the arrest to proceed, marking the moment when Jesus actively, willingly steps into the clutches of His suffering and death, fulfilling ancient prophecies and inaugurating the core of Christian redemption. This moment demonstrates His selfless obedience unto death, contrasting sharply with human treachery.