Luke 22:5

And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

22:1-6 Christ knew all men, and had wise and holy ends in taking Judas to be a disciple. How he who knew Christ so well, came to betray him, we are here told; Satan entered into Judas. It is hard to say whether more mischief is done to Christ's kingdom, by the power of its open enemies, or by the treachery of its pretended friends; but without the latter, its enemies could not do so much evil as they do.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Chief priests and captains - See the notes at Matthew 26:14. See the account of the bargain which Judas made with them explained in the Matthew 26:14-16 notes, and Mark 14:10-11 notes.

Absence of the multitude - The multitude, "the people," were then favorable to Jesus. He had preached in the temple, and many of them believed that he was the Messiah. It was a hazardous thing, therefore, to take him by force, and in their presence, as they might rise and rescue him. Hence, they sought to take him when "he" was away from the multitude; and as Judas knew of a place where he could be found "alone," they were glad of the opportunity of so easily securing him.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

5. money—"thirty pieces of silver" (Mt 26:15); thirty shekels, the fine payable for man- or maid-servant accidentally killed (Ex 21:32), and equal to between four and five pounds of our money—"a goodly price that I was priced at of them" (Zec 11:13). (See on [1719]Joh 19:16.)

Matthew Poole's Commentary

See Poole on "Luke 22:3"

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And they were glad,.... For nothing could be more opportune and agreeable to them, than that one of his disciples should meet them at this juncture, and offer to put him into their hands in the most private manner;

and covenanted to give him money. The Ethiopic version read, "thirty pieces of silver"; which was the sum they agreed to give him, and he accepted of; see Matthew 26:15.

Geneva Study Bible

And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Luke 22:5. ἐχάρησαν, they were glad, emphatically; and how piously they would remark on the providential character of this unexpected means of getting out of the difficulty as to the πῶς!

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

5. they were glad] This spontaneous offer—and that too from one of Christ’s immediate followers—seemed to solve all their difficulties.

covenanted] Or, ‘agreed;’ in St Mark, ‘promised’ In Matthew 26:15 it is said that they ‘paid’ or ‘weighed’ him the money, with a reference to Zechariah 11:12-13 (LXX.). This was perhaps done at a second meeting when the actual plan was ripened.

to give him money] The proposal came from the wretched man himself (Matthew 26:15). The paltry sum given (which is mentioned by St Matthew only)-30 shekels, about £3. 16s., the price given for the meanest slave—shews that this sum was either regarded as earnest money, or more probably that the Priests felt themselves quite able to carry out their plot, though less conveniently, without any aid from Judas. On one side of these shekels would be stamped the olive-branch, the emblem of peace; on the obverse the censer, the type of prayer, with the inscription, “Jerusalem the Holy”!

Bengel's Gnomen

Luke 22:5. Ἐχάρησαν, they were glad) as at a thing which they had desired, though not expected.—συνέθεντο) they covenanted.

Luke 22:5