22:1Alt Jewish males over the age of 12 were required to go to Jerusalem for the Passover festival, which was followed by a seven-day celebration called the Festival of Unleavened Bread. For these festivals, Jews from all over the Roman Empire would converge on Jerusalem to celebrate one of the most important events in their history. To learn more about the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread, see the first note on Mark 14:1.
Life Application Study BibleLukeChapter 22
Luke 22
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 1734, 1735, 1736, 1737, 1738
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22Luke 22
1The Festival of Unteavened Bread, which is also called Passover, was approaching. 2The leading priests and teachers of religious law were plotting how to kill Jesus, but they were afraid of the people's reaction. Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus (208/Matthew 26:14-16; Mark 14:10-11) 3Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples, 4and he went to the leading priests and captains of the Temple guard to discuss the best way to betray Jesus to them. 5They were delighted, and they promised to give him money. 6So he agreed and began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus so they could arrest him when the crowds weren't around. Disciples Prepare for the Passover (209/Matthew 26:17-19; Mark 14:12-16) 7Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread arrived, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed. 8Jesus sent Peter and John ahead and said, “Go and prepare the Passover meal, so we can eat it together.” 9“Where do you want us to prepare it?” they asked him. 10He replied, 11As soon as you enter Jerusalem, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him. At the house he enters, ‘'say to the owner, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?’ '?He will take you upstairs to a large room that is already set up. That is where you should prepare our meal.” 13They went off to the city and found everything just as Jesus had said, and they prepared the Passover meal there.
Jesus and the Disciples Share the Last Supper
(211/Matthew 26:20-30; Mark 14:17-26; John 13:21-30) 14When the time came, Jesus and the apostles sat down together at the table.* 15Jesus said, “Ihave been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. 16For I tell you now that I won't eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.” 17Then he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. Then he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. 18For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come.” I ‘He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.” ?0After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—-an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out asa sacrifice for you.* 2"But here at this table, sitting among usas a friend, is the man who will betray me. 22For it has been determined that the Son of Man* must die. But what sorrow awaits the one who betrays him.” 23The disciples began to ask each other which of them would ever do sucha thing. 24Then they began to argue among themselves about who would be the greatest among 22:19-20 Some manuscripts omit 22:19b-20, which is given for you... which is Poured out as a sacrifice for you.
Event Probable Reasons ReferencesTrial before Annas Although no longer the high priest, John 18:13-23(powerful ex-high priest) he may have still wielded much powerTrial before Caiaphas To gather evidence for the full high Matthew 26:57-68(the ruling high priest) council hearing to follow Mark 14:53-65Luke 22:54, 63-65John 18:24Trial before the high Formal religious trial and condemnation Matthew 27:1council (Sanhedrin) to death Mark 15:1Luke 22:66-71Trial before Pilate All death sentences needed Roman Matthew 27:2, 11-14(highest Roman approval Mark 15:1-5authority) Luke 23:1-6John 18:28-38Trial before Herod A courteous and qguilt-sharing act by Pilate Luke 23:7-12(ruler of Galilee) because Jesus was from Galilee, Herod’sdistrictTrial before Pilate Pilate’s last effort to avoid condemning Matthew 27:15-26an obviously innocent man Mark 15:6-15Luke 23:13-25John 18:39-19:16Jesus’ trial was actually a series of hearings, carefully controlled to accomplish the deathof Jesus. The verdict was predecided, but certain “legal” procedures were necessary. A lotof effort went into condemning and crucifying an innocent man. Jesus went through an unfairtrial in our place so that we would not have to face a fair trial and receive the well-deservedpunishment for our sins.that the LORD’s Supper commemorates Christ’s death on thecross for our sins and points to the coming of his Kingdomin glory. When we partake of it, we show our deep gratitudefor Christ's work on our behalf, and our faith is strengthened.22:19 Jesus asked the disciples to eat the broken bread toremember him. He wanted them to remember his sacrifice,the basis for forgiveness of sins, and also his friendship, whichthey could continue to enjoy through the work of the Holy Spirit.Although the exact meaning of Communion has been stronglydebated throughout church history, Christians still take breadand wine in order to remember their LORD and Savior, JesusChrist. Do not neglect participating in the LORD’s Supper. Let itremind you of what Christ did for you.22:20 In Old Testament times, God agreed to forgive people’ssins if they would bring animals for the priests to sacrifice. Whenthis sacrificial system was inaugurated, the covenant betweenGod and his people was sealed with the bload of animals (Exodus24:8). But animal blood did not in itself remove sin (only Godcan forgive sin), and animal sacrifices had to be repeated dayafter day and year after year. Jesus instituted a “new covenant”(agreement) between God and his people. Under this new cov-enant, Jesus would die in the place of sinners. Unlike the bloodof animals, his blood (because he is God) would remove thesins of all who put their faith in him. Jesus’ sacrifice would neverhave to be repeated; it would be good for all eternity (Hebrews9:23-28). The prophets looked forward to this new covenant thatwould fulfill the old sacrificial agreement (Jeremiah 31:31-34),and John the Baptist called Jesus “the Lamb of God who takesaway the sin of the world” (John 1:29).22:21 From the accounts of Mark and John, we know that thebetrayer was Judas Iscariot. Although the other disciples wereconfused by Jesus’ words, Judas knew what Jesus meant.22:24 The most important event in human history was aboutto take place, and the disciples were still arguing about theirprestige in the Kingdom! Looking back, we see that this wasno time to worry about status. But the disciples, wrapped upin their own concerns, did not perceive what Jesus had beentrying to tell them about his approaching death and resurrection.What are your major concerns today? Twenty years from now,as you look back, will these worries look petty and inappropri-ate? Get your eyes off yourself and get ready for Christ’s cominginto human history for the second time.22:24-27 The world’s system of leadership is very different fromleadership in God’s Kingdom. Worldly leaders are often selfishand arrogant as they claw their way to the top. (Some kings in theancient world gave themselves the title “Benefactor,” friend of thepeople). But among Christians, the leader is to be the one whoserves best. There are different styles of leadership—some leadthrough public speaking, some through administering, some
them. 25Jesus told them, “In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called ‘friends of the people.’ 26But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant. 27Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves. 28You have stayed with me in my time of trial. 29And just as my Father has granted mea Kingdom, I now grant you the right 30to eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom. And you will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial (212/John 13:31-38) 31"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. 32But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.” 33Peter said, “LORD, I am ready to go to prison with you, and even to die with you.” 34But Jesus said, “Peter, let me tell you something. Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” 35Then Jesus asked them, “When sent you out to preach the Good News and you did not have money, a traveler's bag, or extra clothing, did you need anything?” “No,” they reptied. 36"But now,” he said, “take your money and a traveler’s bag. And if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one! 37For the time has come for this prophecy about me to be fulfilled: ‘He was counted among the rebels.’* Yes, everything written about me by the prophets will come true.” 38“Look, LORD,” they replied, “we have two swords among us.” “That's enough,” he said. Jesus Agonizes in the Garden (223/Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42) 39Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives. 40There he told them, “Pray that you will not give in to temptation.” 41He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42“Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” 43Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. 44He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.* 45At last he stood up again and returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief. 46“ Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation.”
Jesus Is Betrayed and Arrested
(224/Matthew 26:47-56; Mark 14:43-52; John 18:1-11) 47But even as Jesus said this, a crowd approached, led by Judas, one of his twelve disciples. Judas walked over to Jesus to greet him witha kiss. 48But Jesus said, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” 49When the other disciples saw what was about to happen, they exclaimed, “LORD, should we fight? We brought the swords!” 50And one of them struck at the high priest’s slave, slashing off his right ear. 51But Jesus said, “No more of this.” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him. 52Then Jesus spoke to the leading priests, the captains of the Temple guard, and the elders who had come for him. “Am I some dangerous revolutionary,” he asked, “that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me? 53Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there every day. But this is your moment, the time when the power of darkness reigns.”
Peter Denies Knowing Jesus
(227/Matthew 26:69-75; Mark 14:66-72; John 1 8:25-27) 54So they arrested him and led him to the high priest's home. And Peter followed at a distance. $5The guards lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat around it, and Peter joined them there. 56A servant girl noticed him in the firelight and began staring at him. Finally she said, “This man was one of Jesus’ followers!” 57But Peter denied it. “Woman,” he said, “I don’t even know him!” 58After a while someone else looked at him and said, “You must be one of them!” “No, man, I’m not!” Peter retorted. 59About an hour later someone else insisted, “This must be one of them, because he is a Galilean, too.” SoBut Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. SAt that moment the LORD turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered that the LORD had said, “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” 62And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly. 63The guards in charge of Jesus began mocking and beating him. 64They blindfolded him and said, “Prophesy to us! Who hit you that time?” 65And they hurled al! sorts of terrible insults at him. The Council of Religious Leaders Condemns Jesus (228/Matthew 27:1-2; Mark 15:1) 66At daybreak all the elders of the people assembled, including the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. Jesus was led before this high council,* 67 and they said, “Tell us, are you the Messiah?” But he replied, “If I tell you, you won't believe me. 68And if I ask you a question, you won't answer. 69But from now on the Son of Man will be seated in the place of power at God's right hand.*” 70They all shouted, “So, are you claiming to be the Son of God?” And he replied, “ You say that I am.” 71“Why do we need other witnesses?” they said. “We ourselves heard him say it.”
Jesus Stands Trial before Pilate
(230/Matthew 27:11-14; Mark 15:2-5; John 18:28-37)
Textual footnotes
Life Application Notes 19 notes
22:3Satan's part in the betrayal of Jesus does not remove any of the responsibility from Judas. Disillusioned because Jesus was talking about dying rather than about setting up his Kingdom, Judas may have been trying to force Jesus’ hand and make him use his power to prove he was the Messiah. Or perhaps Judas, not understanding Jesus’ mission, no longer believed that Jesus was God’s chosen one. (For more information on Judas, see his Profile in Mark 14, p. 1655.) Whatever Judas thought, Satan assumed that Jesus’ death would end his mission and thwart God’s plan. Like Judas, he did not know that Jesus’ death and resurrection were the most important parts of God’s plan all along.
22:7,8The Passover meal included the sacrifice of a lamb because of the association with the Jews’ exodus from Egypt. When the Jews were getting ready to leave, God told them to kill a lamb and paint its blood on the doorframes of their houses. through relationships—but every Christian leader needs a servant's heart. Ask the people you lead how you can serve them better.
22:31,32Satan wanted to crush Simon Peter and the other disciples like grains of wheat. He hoped to find only chaff and blow it away. But Jesus assured Peter that his faith, although it would falter, would not be destroyed. It would be renewed, and Peter would become a powerful leader.
22:33,34Jesus told the disciples that one of them would betray him and that calamity awaited the traitor (22:22). Jesus then told Peter that he would deny that he knew Jesus. Later, however, Peter would repent and receive a commission to feed Jesus’ lambs (John 21:15). Betraying and denying—one is just about as bad as the other. But Judas and Peter had entirely different fates because one repented.
22:35-38Here Jesus reversed his earlier advice regarding how to travel (9:3). The disciples were to bring bags, money, and swords. They would be facing hatred and persecution and would need to be prepared. When Jesus said, “That's enough,” he may have meant it was not time to think of using swords. In either case, mention of a sword vividly communicated the trials they would soon face.
22:39The Mount of Olives was located just to the east of Jerusalem. Jesus went up the southwestern slope to an olive grove called Gethsemane, which means “oil press.”
22:40Jesus asked the disciples to pray that they would not fall into temptation because he knew that he would soon be leaving them. Jesus also knew that they would need extra strength to face the temptations ahead—temptations to run away or to deny their relationship with him. They were about to see Jesus die. Would they still think he was the Messiah? The disciples’ strongest temptation would undoubtedly be to think they had been deceived.
22:41,42Was Jesus trying to get out of his mission? It is never wrong to express our true feelings to God. Jesus exposed his dread of the coming trials, but he also reaffirmed his commitment to do what God wanted. The cup he spoke of meant the terrible agony he knew he would endure—not only the horror of the crucifixion but, even worse, the total separation from God that he would have to experience in order to die for the world’s sins.
22:44Only Luke teils us that Jesus’ sweat resembled drops of blood. Jesus was in extreme agony, but he did not give up or give in. He went ahead with the mission for which he had come.
22:46These disciples were asleep. How tragic it is that many Christians act as though they are sound asleep when it comes to devotion to Christ and service for him. Don’t be found insensitive to or unprepared for Christ’s work.
22:47A kiss was and still is the traditional greeting among men in certain parts of the world. In this case, it was also the agreedupon signal to point out Jesus (Matthew 26:48). It is ironic that a gesture of greeting would be the means of betrayal. It was a hollow gesture because of Judas’s treachery, Have any of your religious practices become empty gestures? We still betray Christ when our acts of service or giving are insincere or carried out merely for show.
22:50We learn from the Gospel of John that the man who cut off the servant’s ear was Peter (John 18:10).
22:53The religious leaders had not arrested Jesus in the Temple for fear of a riot. Instead, they came secretly at night, under the influence of the power of darkness, Satan himself. Although it looked as if Satan was getting the upper hand, everything was proceeding according to God’s plan. It was time for Jesus to die.
22:54Jesus was immediately taken to the high priest's home, even though this was the middle of the night. The Jewish leaders were in a hurry—they wanted to complete the execution before the Sabbath and get on with the Passover celebration. This residence was a palace with outer walls enclosing a courtyard, where servants and soldiers warmed themselves around a fire.
22:55Peter's experiences in the next few hours would change his life. He would change from a halfhearted follower to a repentant disciple, and finally to the kind of person Christ could use to build his church. For more information on Peter, see his Profile in Matthew 27, p. 1603.
22:60Sin, like cancer, has a way of growing if unchecked. Notice the progression of Peter's denials: In 22:57, he denied knowing Jesus; in 22:58, he denied being one of his followers; in 22:60, he denied even knowing what they were talking about. Sin has a way of spreading. As it does, the cover-up gets bigger as well. The time to get a grip on sin and its cancerous effects is in the very beginning, before it has time to multiply its poisons in your life. Better yet, kill it before it even begins. Confess your sins or your desire to sin to the LORD, and ask his help to avoid Peter's mistakes.
22:62Peter wept bitterly, not only because he realized that he had denied his LORD, the Messiah, but also because he had turned away from a very dear friend, a person who had loved and taught him for three years. Peter had said that he would never deny Christ, despite Jesus’ prediction (Mark 14:29-31; Luke 22:33, 34). But when frightened, he went against all he had boldly promised. Unable to stand up for his LORD for even 12 hours, he had failed as a disciple and as a friend. We need to be aware of our own breaking points and not become overconfident or self-sufficient. If we fail him, we must remember that Christ can use those who recognize their failure. From this humiliating experience Peter learned much that would help him jater when he assumed leadership of the young church.
22:70Jesus in effect agreed that he was the Son of God when he simply turned the high priest’s question around by saying, “You say that I am.” And Jesus identified himself with God by using a familiar title for God found in the Old Testament: “I AM” (Exodus 3:14). The high priest recognized Jesus’ claim and could accuse him of blasphemy. For any other human this claim would have been blasphemy, but in this case it was true. Blasphemy, the sin of claiming to be God or of attacking God’s authority and majesty in any way, was punishable by death. The Jewish leaders had the evidence they wanted.
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JESUS’ TRIAL
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Antonia Fortress (later Praetorium?) Mount of Olives NS Garden of
JESUS’ TRIAL Taken from Gethsemane, Jesus first appeared before the Jewish high council, which had convened at daybreak at Caiaphas’s house. From there he went to Pilate, the Roman governor; then to Herod, tetrarch of Galilee, who was visiting in Jerusalem; and back to Pilate, who, in desperation, sentenced Jesus to die.
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