Was Judas at the Last Supper?

Was Judas at the Last Supper?

Overarching Principles:

  • The Bible is without errors
  • Accounts in the Bible are not necessarily chorological. The writers may choose different ways of presentation.

Differentiation:

  • The Last Supper is the Holy Communion that the Lord set up for Christians to do this in remembrance of Him. Other names for the Holy Communion are
    • Biblical and Liturgical Names
      • The Lord’s Supper
        • Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:20
        • Focuses on the meal Jesus shared with His disciples before His crucifixion.
      • The Breaking of Bread
        • Scripture: Acts 2:42, Acts 20:7
        • Emphasizes the early Christian practice of fellowship and shared meals in remembrance of Christ.
      • The Eucharist
        • From the Greek eucharistia (εὐχαριστία), meaning “thanksgiving”
        • Common in Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and some Protestant traditions
        • Emphasizes gratitude for Christ’s sacrifice.
      • Communion
        • Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:16 (“Is it not a participation [koinonia] in the body of Christ?”)
        • Highlights the believer’s intimate fellowship with Christ and other believers.
      • Names in Liturgical and Denominational Contexts
        • The Sacrament of the Altar
          • Common in Lutheran theology
          • Refers to the sacramental presence of Christ at the altar
        • The Divine Liturgy
          • Used in Eastern Orthodox and some Eastern Catholic Churches
          • Refers to the whole service centered around the Eucharist
        • The Mass
          • Used in Roman Catholic, Anglo-Catholic, and some Anglican traditions
          • From the Latin “Ite, missa est”, meaning “Go, you are sent” (the dismissal)
        • The Love Feast (Agape Meal)
          • Practiced in some early Christian and Methodist communities
          • A fellowship meal, sometimes including the Lord’s Supper
        • The Memorial
          • Common in Baptist, Pentecostal, and non-denominational churches
          • Emphasizes remembering Jesus’ death (Luke 22:19, “Do this in remembrance of me”)
        • The last supper that Jesus had before the crucifixion is the Passover meal they had in the upper room.

Scriptures for consideration of the Last Supper:

Scripture Reference Focus
Matthew 26:17–30 Institution of the Lord’s Supper
Mark 14:12–26 Lord’s Supper and betrayal foretold
Luke 22:7–38 Supper, betrayal, kingdom teachings
John 13–17 Foot washing, farewell teachings
1 Corinthians 11:23–29 Apostolic teaching on the Supper
Exodus 12:1–30 Background: Original Passover
Isaiah 53 The Suffering Servant (prophetic)

 

We will focus on the Holy Communion and not the Passover supper.

 

Matthew 26:17–30 (NASB95)

17 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?” 18 And He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is near; I am to keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.” ’ ” 19 The disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover. 20 Now when evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples. 21 As they were eating, He said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me.” 22 Being deeply grieved, they each one began to say to Him, “Surely not I, Lord?” 23 And He answered, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl is the one who will betray Me. 24 “The Son of Man is to go, just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” 25 And Judas, who was betraying Him, said, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself.” 26 While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” 27 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; 28 for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. 29 “But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.” 30 After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Note: In Matthew’s account, Jesus revealed the motives of Judas in v. 25.  Then the Lord’s Supper was established. Nowhere it showed that Judas left the room.

 

Mark 14:12–26 (NASB95)

12 On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was being sacrificed, His disciples said to Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare for You to eat the Passover?” 13 And He sent two of His disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him; 14 and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is My guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?” ’ 15 “And he himself will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; prepare for us there.” 16 The disciples went out and came to the city, and found it just as He had told them; and they prepared the Passover. 17 When it was evening He came with the twelve. 18 As they were reclining at the table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me—one who is eating with Me.” 19 They began to be grieved and to say to Him one by one, “Surely not I?” 20 And He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who dips with Me in the bowl. 21 “For the Son of Man is to go just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” 22 While they were eating, He took some bread, and after a blessing He broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is My body.” 23 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 And He said to them, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. 25 “Truly I say to you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” 26 After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

 

Note: In Mark’s account, Jesus revealed a disciple would betray Him but did not show it was Judas in v. 21.  Then the Lord’s Supper was established.  Nowhere it showed that Judas left the room.

 

Luke 22:7–38 (NASB95)

7 Then came the first day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 And Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, so that we may eat it.” 9 They said to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare it?” 10 And He said to them, “When you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house that he enters. 11 “And you shall say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?” ’ 12 “And he will show you a large, furnished upper room; prepare it there.” 13 And they left and found everything just as He had told them; and they prepared the Passover. 14 When the hour had come, He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him. 15 And He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16 for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves; 18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 20 And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood. 21 “But behold, the hand of the one betraying Me is with Mine on the table. 22 “For indeed, the Son of Man is going as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!” 23 And they began to discuss among themselves which one of them it might be who was going to do this thing. 24 And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest. 25 And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’ 26 “But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant. 27 “For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves. 28 “You are those who have stood by Me in My trials; 29 and just as My Father has granted Me a kingdom, I grant you 30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; 32 but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 33 But he said to Him, “Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!” 34 And He said, “I say to you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me.” 35 And He said to them, “When I sent you out without money belt and bag and sandals, you did not lack anything, did you?” They said, “No, nothing.” 36 And He said to them, “But now, whoever has a money belt is to take it along, likewise also a bag, and whoever has no sword is to sell his coat and buy one. 37 “For I tell you that this which is written must be fulfilled in Me, ‘And He was numbered with transgressors’; for that which refers to Me has its fulfillment.” 38 They said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” And He said to them, “It is enough.”

 

Note: In Luke’s account, Jesus established the Lord’s Supper in vv. 15-20 before revealing a disciple would betray Him in vv. 21-23.  Judas was not revealed as the traitor.  Instead, in vv. 24-27, the disciples had a dispute over who was the greatest, an account that was recorded in Mark 9:33-37; when the disciples were on the way to Capernaum.  The account of Mark 10:35-45 and Matt 20:20-28 is prompted by James and John’s request on the road to Jerusalem.

Luke’s account is not chronological:

  • His argument that it is in order can be misconstrued as chronological but records show that it is thematic or logical. Luke 1:3 (ESV) “…it seemed good to me also… to write an orderly account for you…” The Greek word for “orderly” (kathexēs) can mean logical or thematic order, not necessarily chronological.
  • Examples
    • John was said to be locked up in 3:20 before Jesus began His ministry in 4:14 or temptation in 4:1.
    • Jesus was rejected early on in His ministry in Nazareth, which did not happen until Matt 13 and Mark 6

 

John 13–17

Note: John presented the Passover meal but not the Lord’s Supper in Chapter 13.  It was during supper that Jesus washed the feet of the disciples (13:2-12); Jesus made the proclamation that not all of them were clean.  Then He revealed the betrayal of Judas in vv. 21-30.  The supper was not done until 14:31, when Jesus said, “Get up, let us go from here.”  The Lord’s Supper is not in John’s account.

 

 

1 Corinthians 11:23–29 (NASB95)

23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. 27 Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. 28 But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly.

Note: The Lord’s Supper has two portions.  One was the eating of the bread, and the other the drinking of the cup.  The eating of the bread is during the supper.  Per v. 25, the drinking of the cup is after the supper.  Luke’s account does not make this distinction.

 

In summary,

Note on Matthew: In Matthew’s account, Jesus revealed the motives of Judas in v. 25.  Then the Lord’s Supper was established. Nowhere does it show that Judas left the room.

Note on Mark: In Mark’s account, Jesus revealed that a disciple would betray Him, but did not show it was Judas in v. 21.  Then the Lord’s Supper was established.  Nowhere does it show that Judas left the room.

Note on Luke: In Luke’s account, Jesus established the Lord’s Supper in vv. 15-20 before revealing a disciple would betray Him in vv. 21-23.  Judas was not revealed as the traitor.  Instead, in vv. 24-27, the disciples had a dispute over who was the greatest, an account that was recorded in Mark 9:33-37, when the disciples were on the way to Capernaum.  The account of Mark 10:35-45 and Matt 20:20-28 is prompted by James and John’s request on the road to Jerusalem.

Note on John: John presented the Passover meal but not the Lord’s Supper in Chapter 13.  It was during supper that Jesus washed the feet of the disciples (13:2-12); Jesus made the proclamation that not all of them were clean.  Then He revealed the betrayal of Judas in vv. 21-30.  The supper was not done until 14:31, when Jesus said, “Get up, let us go from here.”  The Lord’s Supper is not in John’s account.

Note on 1Cor: The Lord’s Supper has two portions.  One was the eating of the bread, and the other the drinking of the cup.  The eating of the bread is during the supper.  Per v. 25, the drinking of the cup is after the supper.  Luke’s account does not make this distinction.

  • The accounts of Matthew and Mark are consistent with 1Cor
  • The account of John is silent on the Lord’s Supper
  • The account of Luke is very different to the others and is consistent with the way Luke wrote the other accounts, i.e. not chronological.
  • The Lord’s Supper was definitively completed after the supper and right before they left the room.
  • Judas was at the Last Supper but not the Lord’s Supper

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