What is the meaning of Luke 22:5? They were delighted • The “they” are the chief priests and temple officers who, just two verses earlier (Luke 22:2), were “plotting how to put Jesus to death.” Judas’ unexpected visit is the answer to their scheming, so genuine pleasure sweeps across the room (Mark 14:11). • Their reaction exposes hearts already hardened against the Lord. Rather than rejoicing in the arrival of their promised Messiah, they rejoice in an opportunity to silence Him—echoing Psalm 2:2 and foreshadowing Acts 4:25-28, where believers recall how “the kings of the earth took their stand” against the Lord and His Anointed. • This delight also highlights the contrast Luke has been building: crowds gladly hear Jesus (Luke 19:47-48), while leaders gladly conspire to kill Him. and agreed • Agreement comes quickly; Luke presents it as unanimous. What fear (Luke 22:2) had kept them from arresting Jesus during the crowded daytime, Judas’ inside information now resolves (John 11:57). • Their unified consent fulfills the pattern of opposition Jesus foretold: “The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes” (Luke 18:31-32). • The scene reminds us that wicked alliances can form smoothly when truth and righteousness are absent—just as Herod and Pilate “became friends” during Jesus’ trial (Luke 23:12). to give him money • Matthew specifies the amount: “thirty pieces of silver” (Matthew 26:15), the very sum Zechariah received before throwing it to the potter (Zechariah 11:12-13), a prophecy Peter later applies to Judas (Acts 1:16-18). • Money exposes motives. Judas, already characterized as a thief who pilfered from the money bag (John 12:4-6), now sells the Savior of the world. In doing so he illustrates 1 Timothy 6:10: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” • The leaders’ willingness to fund betrayal underscores how far they will go to eliminate Jesus. Ironically, they assign the price of an injured slave (Exodus 21:32) to the One whose death will purchase eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:12). summary Luke 22:5 reveals more than a transaction; it peels back the curtain on human hearts. Religious leaders delight in evil, reach swift consensus, and part with money—showing that when God’s truth is rejected, pleasure, unity, and resources quickly align against Him. Yet even this dark conspiracy unfolds within God’s sovereign plan, moving steadily toward the cross where Jesus will willingly lay down His life for sinners. |
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