Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 14:11
And when they heard [it,] they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.
11. they were glad ] They shuddered not at the suggested deed of darkness. His proposal filled them with joy.
and promised ] How much he expected when he went over to them we cannot tell. But by going at all he had placed himself in their hands. He had made his venture, and was obliged to take what they offered. Thirty pieces of silver (Mat 26:15), the price of a slave (Exo 21:32), were equivalent to 120 denarii = 120×7 d. = about 3. 13 s. of our money. At this time the ordinary wages for a day’s labour was one denarius; so that the whole sum amounted to about four months’ wages of a day labourer. It is possible, however, the sum, which seems to us so small, may have been earnest-money.
conveniently ] That is without raising the hostility of the populace, and possibly after the conclusion of the Passover and the dispersion of the Galilean pilgrims to their own homes.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 11. They were glad] The joy that arises from the opportunity of murdering an innocent person must be completely infernal.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
11. And when they heard it, theywere glad, and promised to give him moneyMatthew alone recordsthe precise sum, because a remarkable and complicated prophecy, whichhe was afterwards to refer to, was fulfilled by it.
And he sought how he mightconveniently betray himor, as more fully given in Luke (Lu22:6), “And he promised, and sought opportunity to betrayHim unto them in the absence of the multitude.” That he shouldavoid an “uproar” or “riot” among the people,which probably was made an essential condition by the Jewishauthorities, was thus assented to by the traitor; into whom, saysLuke (Lu 22:3), “Satanentered,” to put him upon this hellish deed.
Mr14:12-26. PREPARATION FOR,AND LASTCELEBRATION OF, THEPASSOVERANNOUNCEMENTOF THE TRAITORINSTITUTIONOF THE SUPPER. ( =Mat 26:17-30; Luk 22:7-23;Luk 22:39; Joh 13:21-30).
See on Lu22:7-23; Lu 22:39; and see onJoh 13:10, 11; Joh13:18, 19; Joh 13:21-30.
Mr14:27-31. THEDESERTION OF JESUSBY HIS DISCIPLESAND THE FALL OFPETER, FORETOLD.( = Mat 26:31-35; Luk 22:31-38;Joh 13:36-38).
See on Lu22:31-46.
Mr14:32-42. THE AGONYIN THE GARDEN. ( =Mat 26:36-46; Luk 22:39-46).
See on Lu22:39-46.
Mr14:43-52. BETRAYAL ANDAPPREHENSION OFJESUSFLIGHTOF HIS DISCIPLES.( = Mat 26:47-56; Luk 22:47-53;Joh 18:1-12).
See on Joh18:1-12.
Mr14:53-72. JESUSARRAIGNED BEFORE THESANHEDRIM, CONDEMNEDTO DIE, ANDSHAMEFULLY ENTREATEDTHEFALL OF PETER.( = Mat 26:57-75; Luk 22:54-71;Joh 18:13-18; Joh 18:24-27).
Had we onlythe first three Gospels, we should have concluded that our Lord wasled immediately to Caiaphas, and had before the Council. But as theSanhedrim could hardly have been brought together at the dead hour ofnightby which time our Lord was in the hands of the officers sentto take Himand as it was only “as soon as it was day”that the Council met (Lu 22:66),we should have had some difficulty in knowing what was done with Himduring those intervening hours. In the Fourth Gospel, however, allthis is cleared up, and a very important addition to our informationis made (Joh 18:13; Joh 18:14;Joh 18:19-24). Let usendeavor to trace the events in the true order of succession, and inthe detail supplied by a comparison of all the four streams of text.
JesusIs Brought Privately before Annas, the Father-in-Law of Caiaphas(Joh 18:13; Joh 18:14).
Joh18:13:
Andthey led Him away to Annas first; for he was father-in-law toCaiaphas, which was the high priest that same yearThis successful Annas, as ELLICOTTremarks, was appointed high priest by Quirinus, A.D.12, and after holding the office for several years, was deposed byValerius Gratius, Pilate’s predecessor in the procuratorship of Judea[JOSEPHUS, Antiquities,18.2.1, c.]. He appears, however, to have possessed vast influence,having obtained the high priesthood, not only for his son Eleazar,and his son-in-law Caiaphas, but subsequently for four other sons,under the last of whom James, the brother of our Lord, was put todeath [Antiquities, 20.9.1]. It is thus highly probable that,besides having the title of “high priest” merely as one whohad filled the office, he to a great degree retained the powers hehad formerly exercised, and came to be regarded practically as a kindof rightful high priest.
Joh18:14:
NowCaiaphas was he which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedientthat one man should die for the people. See on Joh11:51. What passed between Annas and our Lord during thisinterval the beloved disciple reserves till he has related thebeginning of Peter’s fall. To this, then, as recorded by our ownEvangelist, let us meanwhile listen.
Peter Obtains Access within theQuadrangle of the High Priest’s Residence, and Warms Himself at theFire (Mar 14:53 Mar 14:54).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And when they heard it, they were glad,…. That such an opportunity offered, and from such a quarter, by one of his own disciples; so that it might be done more secretly and effectually, and with less blame to themselves:
and promised to give him money; any sum he should ask; and what was agreed upon were thirty pieces, or shekels of silver; and so the Ethiopic version here, instead of money, reads, “thirty pieces of silver”; [See comments on Mt 26:15].
And he sought how he might conveniently betray him; after this promise, and upon this agreement: henceforward he sought the most fitting opportunity, and the best season of betraying his master into the hands of these men, when he was alone, and the multitude absent, and there was no danger of a tumult, or a rescue;
[See comments on Mt 26:16].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
And they, when they heard it, were glad ( ). No doubt the rabbis looked on the treachery of Judas as a veritable dispensation of Providence amply justifying their plots against Jesus.
Conveniently (). This was the whole point of the offer of Judas. He claimed that he knew enough of the habits of Jesus to enable them to catch him “in the absence of the multitude” (Lu 22:6) without waiting for the passover to be over, when the crowds would leave. For discussion of the motives of Judas, see on Mt 26:15. Mark merely notes the promise of “money” while Matthew mentions “thirty pieces of silver” (Zec 11:12), the price of a slave.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Money. See on Mt 26:15. He sought [] . Imperfect tense. He kept seeking : busied himself continuously from that time.
Conveniently [] . Might find a good opportunity [] .
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And when they heard it, they were glad,” (hoi de akosantes ercharisan) “Then when they heard it, they were caused to be glad,” the “they” refers to the administrative priests of Jewery who helped form the murder plot against Jesus, Mat 26:3-6.
2) “And promised to give him money.” (kai epenngeilanto auto argurion dounai) “And they promised, contracted to give him (Judas) money, (silver money),” to secure his aid in the plot, Mat 26:15. The amount was thirty pieces of silver, as prophesied Zec 11:11-13; Mat 27:9-10.
3) ”And he sought how he might conveniently betray Him.” (kai ezetei pos auton eukairos paradoi) “And he sought how he might opportunely betray Jesus,” while the people slept at night, Joh 3:19-20; Mat 26:16. Thereafter, six days before the Passover feast, Judas watched for the right moment to betray Jesus to the Jewish leaders, in such a manner so as to avoid a public scene or riot, so he did it at night, Joh 12:1-11; Luk 22:5-6; Luk 22:21; Luk 22:23; Luk 22:47-48.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(11) They were glad, and promised to give him money.It may be noted (1) that the mention of the priests being glad is in common with St. Luke, and (2) that St. Mark does not name the specific sum which was promised as the price of blood.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘And they, when they heard it, were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently hand him over.’
Mark gives a brief summary of what the situation was. Matthew provides more detail. Matthew points out that obtaining money was always part of his intention and that he negotiated a price, thirty pieces of silver, the price of a slave. The price was probably a deliberate indication of the contempt the chief priests had for Jesus for they may well have had Zec 11:13 in mind. But Mark’s connecting here of the giving of money with the handing over of Jesus is sufficient to show that he also equally considered that this was unquestionably one of the incentives that spurred Judas on.
‘They were glad.’ Judas offered them the opportunity to arrest Jesus when He was alone with His disciples. This ‘delighted their hearts’. It had seemingly solved their problem. They would have been less glad had they known what would result in the long run.
‘And promised to give him money.’ The whole purpose of Mark’s comment is that Judas was acting mercenarily. He was bribed. Even if Matthew had not said so we would have gathered that this was part of Judas’ purpose.
‘He sought how he might conveniently hand Him over.’ From then on Judas was plotting in his mind how he could deliver Jesus to them. Note the constant use of the verb ‘deliver, hand over’ just as Jesus had prophesied (Mar 9:31; Mar 10:33). Judas was unintentionally fulfilling Jesus’ prophecy.
What did Judas provide that made the chief priests so pleased? Firstly information as to Jesus’ whereabouts at a time when He could be arrested safely at night away from the crowds (Luk 22:6). Secondly guidance to the spot (Joh 18:2). And thirdly the kiss that would identify Jesus at night to those who had come to arrest Him so that they did not mistakenly arrest the wrong person (Mar 14:45). It was all carefully planned. The detail is against the idea that Judas’ was simply seeking to spur Jesus into Messianic action. In his mood at that time he wanted to make absolutely sure that He was taken.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
11 And when they heard it , they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.
Ver. 11. See Trapp on “ Mat 26:15 “ See Trapp on “ Mat 26:16 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Mar 14:11 . , they rejoiced ; when one of the twelve companions of Jesus unexpectedly turned up ready to deliver his Master into their hands. A most vivid feature omitted by Mt. in his summarising way. Well might they rejoice, as but for this windfall they might have been totally at a loss how to compass their end. , they promised to pay, did not actually pay on the spot, as Mt.’s statement implies ( , Mar 14:15 ). , cf. , Mar 14:1 , in reference to the Sanhedrists. They were seeking means of getting rid of Jesus; Judas was now on the outlook for a chance of betraying Him into their hands. here and in 2Ti 4:1 , the adjective and verb in Mar 6:21 ; Mar 6:31 , the noun in Mat 26:16 .
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
were glad = rejoiced.
sought = kept seeking; i.e. busied himself continuously. This is the sense of the Imperf. Tense here.
betray = deliver up.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Mar 14:11. , they were glad) They felt joy, and they testified it.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
they were: Hos 7:3, Luk 22:5
and promised: 1Ki 21:20, 2Ki 5:26, Pro 1:10-16, Pro 28:21, Pro 28:22, Mat 26:15, 1Ti 6:10, 2Pe 2:14, 2Pe 2:15, Jud 1:11
he sought: Luk 22:5, Luk 22:6
Reciprocal: 1Sa 23:23 – take knowledge Est 5:14 – the thing Pro 17:23 – General Zec 11:12 – So Mat 26:16 – he Mat 27:3 – Judas Luk 22:3 – entered Luk 22:4 – went Rom 1:32 – have pleasure in them 2Th 2:12 – but
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1. By the transaction for money at the expense of the freedom of Jesus, the traitor hoped to “recover” what he thought was lost by the act of the woman.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Verse 11
Conveniently; secretly, at night, when he was alone, so that he should not be rescued by the populace.