Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Matthew 26:22
And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?
22. they were exceeding sorrowful ] St John (Joh 13:22) has the graphic words “then the disciples looked on one another, doubting of whom he spake.” It is this moment of intense and painful emotion which Leonardo da Vinci has interpreted by his immortal picture, so true to the spirit of this scene, so unlike the external reality of it.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 22. They were exceeding sorrowful] That is, the eleven who were innocent; and the hypocritical traitor, Judas, endeavoured to put on the appearance of sorrow. Strange! Did he not know that Christ knew the secrets of his soul! Or had his love of money so far blinded him, as to render him incapable of discerning even this, with which he had been before so well acquainted?
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
And they were exceeding sorrowful,…. Partly that Christ should be betrayed at all, into the hands of his enemies, by whom they knew he would be ill used; and partly, that so vile an action should be done, by one from among themselves; and greatly, because they knew not, nor could not conceive, who of them could be guilty of such an horrid sin:
and began everyone of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? excepting Judas, who afterwards spoke for himself. This they said, though conscious to themselves the thing had never entered into their hearts; nor had they taken any step towards it, but with their whole souls abhorred it; yet, as knowing the treachery and deceitfulness, of their hearts, which they could not trust to; and fearing lest should they be left thereunto, they might commit such a dreadful iniquity; and as desirous of being cleared by Christ from any such imputation, and even from all suspicion of anything of this kind.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Is it I, Lord? ( , ;). The negative expects the answer No and was natural for all save Judas. But he had to bluff it out by the same form of question (verse 25). The answer of Jesus,
Thou hast said ( ), means Yes.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Began to say [] . Denoting the commencement of a series of questions; one after the other (every one) saying, Is it I?
Is it I? [ ] . The form of the negative expects a negative answer. “Surely I am not the one.”
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
22. They began every one of them to say to him. I do not think that the disciples were alarmed, as persons struck with terror are wont to give themselves uneasiness without any reason; but, abhorring the crime, they are desirous to clear themselves from the suspicion of it. It is, indeed, a mark of reverence, that when indirectly blamed, they do not reply angrily to their Master, but each person constitutes himself his own judge, (as the object which we ought chiefly to aim at is, to be acquitted by his own mouth;) but, relying on a good conscience, they wish to declare frankly how far they are from meditating such a crime.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(22) They were exceeding sorrowful.St. John (Joh. 13:22) describes their perplexed and questioning glances at each other, the whisper of Peter to John, the answer of our Lord to the beloved disciple, announcing the sign by which the traitor was to be indicated. All this passed apparently as a by-play, unheard or unheeded by the other disciples. It was followed by the hands of the Master and the Traitor meeting in the dish (probably that which contained the conserve of fruit above referred to); and dipping a piece of the unleavened bread in the syrup, the One gave it to the other. The signal was, of course, understood by Peter and John, but probably not by the others.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
22. Lord, is it I? It is an interesting point that each one thought at the moment, not of his neighbour, but of himself. Perhaps, had they not been disturbed by the announcement, and a sorrow at the fact that the predicted death of their Lord was approaching in the terrible form of treachery, they might have guessed the man. To their credit they did not. Judas had already made the secret bargain, and knew by consciousness of guilt that he was the man; while the other apostles are struck with consternation to hear that a traitor is among them.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And they were deeply sorry, and began to say to him, every one, “Is it I, Lord?” ’
The seriousness with which Jesus said it struck home to all present except one, and they were all deeply sorry at the thought. Indeed such was their awareness of their own weakness that each thought it just possible that it might be himself, probably not in the full sense of which it was true of Judas, but in the sense of in some way letting Jesus down at a moment of crisis. This possibly brings out how tense they were all feeling. Peter, who at first was confident that it could not be him, no doubt did feel in the end that he had betrayed Jesus. In the Greek the question is, however, asked in a way that expects a negative answer. They were doubtful and yet self-confident, for they knew something of themselves and yet knew also that they loved Him.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Mat 26:22 . ] portrays the unfolding of one scene after another in the incident. Jesus did not answer till this question had been addressed to Him by all of them in turn.
] surely it is not I? presupposes a reply in the negative . “Cum scelus exhorreant, cupiunt ab ejus suspicione purgari; bona tamen conscientia freti, libere testari volunt, quam procul remoti sint a tanto scelere,” Calvin. The account in Joh 13:22 ff. does not exclude, but supplements that before us, particularly because it also mentions that Judas had retired before the supper was instituted.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
22 And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?
Ver. 22. And they were exceeding sorrowful ] Not joyful (as some would have been) to find out other men’s faults, and to exagitate them. Not only those that make, but that love lies, yea, or unseasonable truths in this kind, are shut out of heaven among dogs and devils,Rev 22:15Rev 22:15 .
Lord, is it I? ] He puts them all to a search, before the sacrament. Let “a man therefore examine himself,” &c., 1Co 11:28 ; who knows the error of his life? saith David, Psa 19:12 . In our hearts are volumes of corruptions, in our lives infinite erratas. Socrates would say, when he saw one drunk, or otherwise disordered, Num ego talis? Am I such a one? So would Mr Bradford, when he looked into the lewd lives of any others.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
22. ] In the accounts of Luke and John, this enquiry is made or . The real enquiry from the Lord was made by John himself, owing to a sign from Peter . This part of John’s narrative stands in the highest position for accuracy of detail, and the facts related in it are evidently the ground of the other accounts.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Mat 26:22 . seems a weak word, and the addition of the evangelist’s pet word does not make it strong. None of the accounts realistically express the effect which must have been produced. helps to bring out the situation: they began to inquire after some moments of mute astonishment. , etc., can it be I? expecting or hoping for a negative answer; yet not too sure: probably many of them were conscious of fear; even Peter might be, quite compatibly with his boldness a little later.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
every = each. One after the other.
Lord. App-98. A. Literally, “Not I, is it. Lord? “
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
22.] In the accounts of Luke and John, this enquiry is made or . The real enquiry from the Lord was made by John himself, owing to a sign from Peter. This part of Johns narrative stands in the highest position for accuracy of detail, and the facts related in it are evidently the ground of the other accounts.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Mar 14:19, Mar 14:20, Luk 22:23, Joh 13:22-25, Joh 21:17
Reciprocal: 2Co 7:8 – though I made
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
6:22
They were exceeding sorrowful. This was a sincere sorrow on the part of all except the guilty one, for he could not have any sorrow (at this time) for something that he was wanting to do.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?
[Lord, is it I?] The very occasion, namely, eating together and fellowship, partly renews the mention of the betrayer at the Paschal supper; as if he had said, “We are eating here friendly together, and yet there is one in this number who will betray me”: partly, that the disciples might be more fully acquainted with the matter itself: for at the supper in John 13, he had privately discovered the person to John only; unless perhaps Peter understood it also, who knew of John’s question to Christ, having at first put him upon it by his beckoning. The disciples ask, Is it I? partly through ignorance of the thing, partly out of a sincere and assured profession of the contrary.
Fuente: Lightfoot Commentary Gospels
Mat 26:22. Is it I, Lord? Comp, the fuller details in Joh 13:18-30. The Greek form of this question implies a denial; hence the hypocrisy of Judas in asking the question by himself, after the others. Yet every Christian may ask such a question at the Lords table.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Observe here, 1. The disciples’ sorrow, and next, the effect of that sorrow. Their sorrow was (as well it might) exceeding great. Well might innocent disciples be overwhelmed with sorrow, to hear that their Master should die; that he should die by treason; that the traitor should be one of themselves.
2. But though their sorrow was great, yet was the effect of their sorrow very good; it wrought in them a holy suspicion of themselves, and caused every one to search himself, and say, Master, is it I?
Thence learn, That it is possible for such secret wickedness to lurk in our hearts as we never suspected, which time and temptation may draw forth in such a manner as we could not believe: and therefore it is both wise and holy to suspect ourselves, and to be often saying, Lord, is it I? There is no better preservative from sin, than to be jealous over ourselves with a godly jealousy.
Observe farther, that though the disciples’ fear and sorrow made them jealous and suspicious, yet was it of themselves, not of one another, nay, not of Judas himself: every one said, Master, is it I? Not, Master, is it Judas?
Learn hence, That true sincerity and Christian charity will make us more suspicious of ourselves than of any other person whatsoever; it always hopes the best of others, and fears the worst concerning ourselves.