Compare Judas' betrayal in Luke 22:21 with Old Testament examples of betrayal. Luke 22:21—The Traitor at the Table “ But behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Mine on the table.” Patterns of Betrayal in the Old Testament • Genesis 37—Joseph’s brothers sell him to Midianite traders. • Judges 16—Delilah trades Samson’s secret for silver. • 2 Samuel 15–17—Ahithophel abandons King David to counsel Absalom (see Psalm 41:9; 55:12-14). • Numbers 16—Korah and company rise up against Moses. Joseph’s Brothers—Betrayal from Blood Kin • Motivated by envy of the favored son (Genesis 37:4-11). • Accept twenty shekels of silver (37:28). • Fake loyalty by presenting Joseph’s torn robe to Jacob (37:31-33). • God later uses the evil act for good, preserving life (50:20). Delilah—Betrayal for Silver • Philistine rulers promise “eleven hundred pieces of silver each” (Judges 16:5). • Three times she presses Samson for his secret; the fourth time he yields (16:15-17). • She delivers him to his enemies once he sleeps on her lap (16:19-21). Ahithophel—Betrayal of a Friend-King • “Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.” (Psalm 41:9). • Joins Absalom’s rebellion, offering deadly counsel against David (2 Samuel 17:1-3). • His plan thwarted by God through Hushai (17:14). • Ends his life in despair when his counsel is rejected (17:23). Comparative Insights • Proximity: All betrayals come from those within the circle—family, friend, or confidant—mirroring Judas who shared the Passover table with Jesus. • Payment: Judas receives thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:15); Joseph’s brothers and Delilah likewise profit financially. • Prophetic Foreshadowing: David’s lament in Psalm 41:9 anticipates the Messiah’s experience (John 13:18). • Divine Sovereignty: Each betrayal, though wicked, advances God’s redemptive plan—Joseph’s for Israel’s survival, Samson’s for Philistine judgment, David’s for Messianic lineage preservation, and Judas’s culminating in the atoning cross. • Outcome for the Betrayer: Guilt and death chase the traitor—Ahithophel hangs himself (2 Samuel 17:23); Judas does the same (Matthew 27:5). What These Parallels Teach Believers Today • Sin may masquerade as loyalty until tested by opportunity. • Motives rooted in greed, ambition, or wounded pride remain fertile soil for betrayal. • God’s purposes prevail even through human treachery; He turns what is meant for evil into the accomplishment of His saving will (Romans 8:28). • Vigilance of heart is essential: “Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:12) |
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