Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Matthew 26:49
And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.
49. Hail, master ] Rather, Rabbi.
kissed him ] The Greek verb is forcible, kissed him with fervour or repeatedly.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And forthwith he came to Jesus,…. As soon as ever he appeared, before the rest could come up; for, he went before them, as Luke says, and that not only as, their guide to direct them to the person they wanted, but he separated himself from them, that it might not be thought that he came with them, or belonged to them:
and said, hail, master; and kissed him. Just as Joab asked Amasa of his health, and took him by the beard to kiss him, and smote him under the fifth rib, 2Sa 20:9. The salutation he gave him was wishing him all health, prosperity, and happiness. The Syriac version renders it, “peace, Rabbi”; and the Persic, “peace be upon thee, Rabbi”; which was the very form of salutation the disciples of the wise men gave to their Rabbins.
“Says n Aba bar Hona, in the name of R. Jochanan, in what form is the salutation of a disciple to his master?
, “peace be upon thee, Rabbi”.”
In Mr 14:45, the word “Rabbi” is repeated, this being usual in the salutation of the Jewish doctors; and the rather used by Judas under a pretence of doing him the greater honour, and of showing the highest respect, and strongest affection for him. So this deceitful wretch still addresses him as his master, though he was now serving his most implacable enemies; and wishes him all peace and joy, when he was going to deliver him into the hands of those that sought his life; and to cover all, kissed him, as a token of his friendship and the sincerity of it. It is rightly observed by Dr. Lightfoot, that it was usual for masters to kiss their disciples, particularly their heads; but then not for disciples to kiss their masters: of the former there are many instances in the Jewish writings, but not of the latter: yet, I can hardly think that this was done out of open contempt and derision; but under a pretence of respect and love; and even as being concerned for his present case, and as condoling him under the circumstances he was now likely to be in, through an armed hand, which was just upon him; and which he, by this artifice, would have suggested he had no concern with.
n T. Hieros. Shebuot. fol. 34. 1.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Kissed him [] . The compound verb has the force of an emphatic, ostentatious salute. Meyer says embraced and kissed. The same word is used of the tender caressing of the Lord ‘s feet by the woman in the Pharisee ‘s house (Luk 7:38), of the father ‘s embrace of the returned prodigal (Luk 14:20), and of the farewell of the Ephesian elders to Paul (Act 20:37).
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
49. Hail, Rabbi. I have no doubt that Judas, as if trembling for his Master’s danger, pretended by these words to have some feeling of compassion; and, accordingly, in Mark a pathetic repetition is expressed, (213) Rabbi, Rabbi. For though he was impressed with the majesty of Christ, still the devil so fascinated his mind, that he felt assured that his treachery was concealed by a kiss, and by soothing words. This salutation, or exclamation, therefore, was a pretense of compassion. I offer the same opinion about the kiss; for though it was a very common practice among the Jews to welcome friends with a kiss, yet as Judas had left Christ but a little before, he seems now — as if he had become suddenly alarmed at his danger — to give the last kiss to his Master. Thus he excels the rest in the appearance of affection, when he appears to be deeply grieved at being separated from his Master; but how little he gained by his deception is evident from Christ’s reply.
(213) “ Il y a une repetition comme d’un homme parlant de grande affection;” — “there is a repetition, as if by a man who spoke from strong feeling.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(49) Hail, master.Better, Rabbi, both St. Matthew and St. Mark (Mar. 14:45) giving the Hebrew word. The Greek word for hail is somewhat more familiar than the English has come to be for us. It was, we may believe, the disciples usual greeting.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
49. Forthwith he came to Jesus and kissed him As, in Mat 26:46, Jesus said, “Let us be going,” he turned his firm face to his foes, yet unseen, and walked forth to meet them. His disciples first the three, and then the eight start as we may suppose from their slumbers, and follow him along in irregular train. Thus, as Jesus alone leads the little band of his peaceful followers, Judas leads the hostile multitude of assailants. They two singly meet the Divine victim and the diabolical betrayer face to face. The traitor, prostituting the purest signal of love to the purpose of death, accomplishes the greatest masterpiece of treachery known to the universe. The Saviour calmly accepts the kiss; and surely, amid all the mockeries he suffered, this kiss was the most repulsive. Well did the German writer, Pfenninger, (quoted by Stier,) remark: “Wouldst thou know what Satan can do and God can suffer what the basest of mankind can commit and the best of mankind can bear? behold the lips of Judas who kisses, and the cheek of Jesus who receives the kiss!” Hail, Master The same lips that gave the false kiss preceded it with this false salutation. It was doubtless uttered with a loud voice. It proclaimed to the soldiery, “I have found the man I betray.” It proclaimed to our Lord, “You have found the man who betrays you.” The question at the supper-table, “Master, is it I?” now changes to the affirmation, “Master, it is I!”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And immediately he came to Jesus, and said, “Hail, Rabbi,” and kissed him.’
As Judas arrived on the scene he went immediately to Jesus and kissed him. There was no hesitation. And he said to Him, ‘Hail, Rabbi’. In Matthew the title Rabbi is reserved for Judas’ lips, probably in order to indicate that he was still of the old Israel. His disciples called Him ‘Lord’. The aim behind his apparent peaceable approach was probably in order to disarm Jesus and His disciples until it was too late. But he knew very well that he was marking Jesus down for death.
‘Kissed Him.’ The word is intensive and signifies kissed effusively. This may have in mind Pro 27:6, ‘’the kisses of an enemy are profuse’. But it clearly sickened Matthew. His point was that Judas was not just betraying Jesus. He was enjoying it. This is all the more effective in that none of the narratives speak adversely against Judas other than by a statement of the facts.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Mat 26:49 . ] is not to be taken with (Fritzsche), but with : immediately , as soon as he had given them this signal, he stepped up , etc. No sooner said than done.
] embraced and kissed Him , kissed Him most endearingly. Xen. Mem . ii. 6. 33: , ; Tob 7:6 ; Sir 29:5 ; 3Ma 5:49 ; Test. XII. patr . p. 730. It is not the case, as de Wette imagines (see Luk 7:38 ; Luk 7:45 ; Act 20:37 ), that in the New Testament (and the LXX.) the compound has lost the force here ascribed to it; but it is to be insisted on in our present passage as much as in classical Greek. The signal, as arranged, was to be simply a kiss ; the signal actually given was kissing accompanied with embraces , which was entirely in keeping with the excitement of Judas, and the desire he felt that there should be no mistake as to the person intended.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.
Ver. 49. Hail, Master, and kissed him ] But love is not always in a kiss, saith Philo the Jew; nor in crying Rabbi, Rabbi, as the traitor here did,Mar 14:45Mar 14:45 , out of a seeming pity of his Master’s misery. There are those who think that he would have carried his treachery so cunningly, as if he had had no hand in it; and therefore kissed him as a friend, and so would still have been taken. (Aretius.)
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
49. ] see above on Mat 26:47 . The purpose of the kiss, supposing it to have taken place after Joh 4:1-54 ; Joh 5:1-47 ; Joh 6:1-71 ; Joh 7:1-53 ; Joh 8:1-59 , (and it is surely out of the question to suppose it to have taken place before, contrary to the plain meaning of Joh 18:4 ,) has been doubted. Yet I think on a review of what had happened, it is very intelligible not perhaps as some have supposed, to shew that Jesus could be approached with safety but at all events as the sign agreed on with the Roman soldiers, who probably did not personally know Him, and who besides would have had their orders from the city, to take Him whom Judas should kiss. Thus the kiss would be necessary in the course of their military duty, as their authorization, notwithstanding the previous declaration by Jesus of Himself.
. is hardly as in my earlier editions, another word for . It may well have its common and proper meaning, ‘Kissed him eagerly,’ with ostentation, as a studied and prearranged sign. See Ellicott, Lectures on the Life of our Lord, p. 331 note: and comp. Xenophon, Mem. ii. 6. 33, cited by Meyer, , .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Mat 26:49 . , kissed Him heartily. In late Greek there was a tendency to use compounds with the force of the simple verb, and this has been supposed, to be a case in point (De Wette). But coming after , Mat 26:48 , the compound verb is plainly used with intention. It occurs again in Luk 7:38 ; Luk 7:45 ; Luk 15:20 , obviously with intensive force. What a tremendous contrast between the woman in Simon’s house (Luk 7 ) and Judas! Both kissed Jesus fervently: with strong emotion; yet the one could have died for Him, the other betrays Him to death. Did Jesus remember the woman at that moment?
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Hail = Greek. Chaire. An Aramaic salutation, like the Greek “Peace”. Occ only here; Mat 27:29; Mat 28:9; Mar 15:18. Luk 1:28. Joh 19:3. 2Jn 1:10-11.
kissed Him = ostentatiously embraced Him.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
49. ] see above on Mat 26:47. The purpose of the kiss, supposing it to have taken place after Joh 4:1-54; Joh 5:1-47; Joh 6:1-71; Joh 7:1-53; Joh 8:1-59, (and it is surely out of the question to suppose it to have taken place before, contrary to the plain meaning of Joh 18:4,) has been doubted. Yet I think on a review of what had happened, it is very intelligible-not perhaps as some have supposed, to shew that Jesus could be approached with safety-but at all events as the sign agreed on with the Roman soldiers, who probably did not personally know Him, and who besides would have had their orders from the city, to take Him whom Judas should kiss. Thus the kiss would be necessary in the course of their military duty, as their authorization,-notwithstanding the previous declaration by Jesus of Himself.
. is hardly as in my earlier editions, another word for . It may well have its common and proper meaning, Kissed him eagerly, with ostentation, as a studied and prearranged sign. See Ellicott, Lectures on the Life of our Lord, p. 331 note: and comp. Xenophon, Mem. ii. 6. 33, cited by Meyer, , .
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Mat 26:49. , kissed Him repeatedly, Lat. deosculatus est) He kissed Him more than once in opposition to what He had said in the preceding verse, and did so as if from kindly feeling. He violated the inviolable countenance of Jesus with the utmost temerity.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Hail: Mat 27:29, Mat 27:30, Mar 15:18, Joh 19:3
kissed him: [Strong’s G2705], he kissed him affectionately, eagerly, or repeatedly, from [Strong’s G2596], intensive, and [Strong’s G5368], to kiss, still pretending the most affectionate attachment to our Lord. Gen 27:26, 1Sa 10:1, 2Sa 20:9, Pro 27:6, Mar 14:45, Mar 14:46, Luk 7:45, 1Th 5:26
Reciprocal: Jdg 14:20 – his friend Pro 18:24 – that hath Jer 9:8 – one Mic 7:6 – a man’s Mat 2:8 – that Mat 22:16 – Master Mat 23:8 – one Mat 26:18 – The Master Luk 7:40 – Master Luk 20:21 – Master Rom 12:9 – love
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.
[Kissed him.] It was not unusual for a master to kiss his disciple; but for a disciple to kiss his master was more rare. Whether therefore Judas did this under pretence of respect, or out of open contempt and derision, let it be inquired.
Fuente: Lightfoot Commentary Gospels
Mat 26:49. And straightway. Joh 18:5, indicates that Judas appeared at first as if not directly belonging to the crowd, but soon moved in advance of them, as they fell back. He was probably excited as well as dissembling.
Hail, Rabbi. A deceitful address.
Kissed him. A stronger word than that used in the last verse (so in Marks account). Meyer: The sign was the simple kissing; but the performance was more emphatic, a caressing, corresponding with the purpose of Judas to make sure, and with the excitement of his feelings.