They were delighted to hear this, and they promised to give him money. So Judas began to look for an opportunity to betray Jesus.
Parallel translations
- WEB They, when they heard it, were glad, and promised to give him money. He sought how he might conveniently deliver him.
- KJV And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.
- NKJV And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. So he sought how he might conveniently betray Him.
- NASB They were delighted when they heard this, and promised to give him money. And he began seeking how to betray Him at an opportune time.
- NLT They were delighted when they heard why he had come, and they promised to give him money. So he began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The priests are delighted and promise Judas money, and he looks for a chance to betray Jesus. Greed and treachery seal the deal.
Overview
The leaders welcome the unexpected help of an insider, and Judas begins watching for a convenient opportunity. Matthew records the price as thirty pieces of silver, fulfilling prophecy (Zechariah 11:12). The love of money drives Judas' betrayal, a sober warning that valuing earthly gain over Christ leads to ruin, even as God works his purpose through it.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- 1 Tim 6:10For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
- 2 Pet 2:14–15Their eyes are full of adultery; their desire for sin is never satisfied; they seduce the unstable. They are accursed children with hearts trained in greed.
- Prov 1:10–16My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them.
- Matt 26:15and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?” And they set out for him thirty pieces of silver.
- 1 Kgs 21:20When Elijah arrived, Ahab said to him, “So you have found me out, my enemy.” He replied, “I have found you out because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD.
- Hos 7:3They delight the king with their evil, and the princes with their lies.
- Jude 1:11Woe to them! They have traveled the path of Cain; they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam; they have perished in Korah’s rebellion.
- Luke 22:5–6They were delighted and agreed to give him money.
- 2 Kgs 5:26But Elisha questioned him, “Did not my spirit go with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to accept money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, menservants and maidservants?
- Prov 28:21–22To show partiality is not good, yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 14:11 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.