While they were eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.”
Parallel translations
- WEB As they were eating, he said, “Most certainly I tell you that one of you will betray me.”
- KJV And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
- BSB And while they were eating, He said to them, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray Me.”
- NKJV Now as they were eating, He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.”
- NASB And as they were eating, He said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me.”
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
Jesus announces that one of them will betray Him. He shows full knowledge of the coming treachery.
Overview
In the midst of the meal Jesus solemnly reveals that a betrayer sits among them. His foreknowledge underscores that He is not taken by surprise and goes willingly to His death. The announcement also gives Judas a final, sobering opportunity to turn back, and exposes the danger of a heart unsurrendered to Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- John 13:21When Jesus had said this, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, “Most certainly I tell you that one of you will betray me.”
- Heb 4:13There is no creature that is hidden from his sight, but all things are naked and laid open before the eyes of him to whom we must give an account.
- John 6:70–71Jesus answered them, “Didn’t I choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?”
- Ps 55:12–14For it was not an enemy who insulted me, then I could have endured it. Neither was it he who hated me who raised himself up against me, then I would have hidden myself from him.
- Rev 2:23I will kill her children with Death, and all the assemblies will know that I am he who searches the minds and hearts. I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.
- Luke 22:21–23But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table.
- Matt 26:14–16Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests,
- Matt 26:2“You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 26:21 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
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