THE BETRAYER

It was as a rejected king that David crossed the brook Kidron, 2 Sam. 15. 23. He had been betrayed by Ahithophel, his companion and trusted counsellor, v. 12. It is likely that the words of Psalm 41. 9 originally referred to Ahithophel.

History repeated itself some 970 years later. The Lord Jesus crossed the Kidron, John 18. 1, having been betrayed by one of His companions, Judas Iscariot. It was of Judas that the Lord spoke when He said, “I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me”, John 13. 18. Interestingly, both traitors subsequently hung themselves, 2 Sam. 17. 23; Matt. 27. 5.

First, note the words quoted by the Lord. He spoke of Judas as one who had eaten bread with Him. Earlier, Jesus had said to His disciples, “One of you which eateth with me shall betray me”, Mark 14. 18. To accept hospitality carried great significance for a Jew; it placed the recipient under considerable obligations. The fact that Ahithophel had formerly enjoyed David’s hospitality rendered his treachery all the more base and contemptible. The same was true of Judas. The idea behind lifting the heel may be that of a horse kicking violently at its master. Certainly the expression describes the deliberate infliction of an injury.

Second, note the words omitted. The Lord did not quote the description, “mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted”. These words could not have been applied truthfully to Judas. And the Lord Jesus was never insincere. When He later addressed Judas as “friend”, Matt. 26. 50, the word employed is not the normal word used to describe a friend—such as He used, for instance, when speaking of Lazarus, John 11. 11. The word used of Judas denotes an associate or companion.

Third, note the words added. John reports not only a mention of Judas’ heel, and the scripture which was fulfilled, 13. 18. He refers also to Judas’ heart and to Satan who deposited there the idea of betraying Christ, v. 2. Finally, he alludes to Judas’ hand and to the sop which he was given to identify him, v. 26 read with Matt. 26. 23, “He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me”.