Year of the Bible
Luke 22
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Commentary on the Gospel According to St. Luke, Chapter 22:
Back in Chapter 4, Luke commented that after Jesus had resisted Satan’s temptation in the desert, the Evil One, “departed from him until an opportune time” (4:13). Now, at the Passover Feast in Jerusalem, an opportune time is coming as the chief priests of the Temple have found a way to capture Jesus without inciting a reaction from the crowds of people who had responded favorably to Jesus’ recent days of teaching in the Temple. Unlike Jesus, who resists Evil until Satan departs from him (4:13), Satan “entered into Judas,” who then accepts a plan to receive money for handing Jesus over when an opportune time, without crowds arises. Later, Jesus celebrates the Passover meal with the Twelve and possibly other followers who had sent out (vs. 35, 10:1-12). Jesus tells them that when the Kingdom of God is fulfilled, he will be celebrating this banquet with them again (vs. 16-18). Ironically, the disciples end up in back-to-back debates of who would betray Jesus and which among them is the greatest (vs. 23-26). Jesus responds by explaining the eternal reality that he indeed is inviting them to his table in the Kingdom, he is the host of the banquet; and yet, he willingly chooses to serve (vs. 27-30). Jesus reveals this ultimate service, obedient to God’s plan and enduring in agony (vs. 37, 44) while still the host, ever inviting sinners to relationship with him (vs. 31). Jesus knows that this is the time of the “power of darkness” (vs. 53), a power he will confront and defeat on the cross.
The Gospel According to St. Luke, Chapter 22:
The Conspiracy to Kill Jesus
1 Now the feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover. 2And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death; for they feared the people.
3 Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the Twelve; 4 he went away and conferred with the chief priests and captains how he might betray him to them. 5 And they were glad, and engaged to give him money. 6 So he agreed, and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of the multitude.
The Preparation of the Passover
7 Then came the day of Un leavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it.” 9 They said to him, “Where will you have us prepare it?” 10 He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him into the house which he enters, 11 and tell the householder, ‘The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I am to eat the Pass over with my disciples?’ 12 And he will show you a large upper room furnished; there make ready.” 13 And they went, and found it as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover.
Jesus Institutes the Eucharist
14 And when the hour came, he sat at 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 tell you I shall not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 And he took a chalice, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves; 18 for I tell you that from now on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And he took bread, and when he had 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 likewise the chalice after supper, saying, “This chalice which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” 21 But behold the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. 22 For the Son of man goes as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” 23 And they began to question one another, which of them it was that would do this.
The Dispute about Greatness
24 A dispute also arose among them, which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 25 And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. 26 But not so with you; rather let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. 27 For which is the greater, one who sits at table, or one who serves? Is it not the one who sits at table? But I am among you as one who serves.
28 “You are those who have continued with me in my trials; 29 as my Father appointed a kingdom for me, so do I appoint for you 30 that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Peter’s Denial Foretold
31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Sa tan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail; and when you have turned again, strengthen your brethren.” 33 And he said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” 34 He said, “I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you three times deny that you know me.”
Purse, Bag, and Sword
35 And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no purse or bag or sandals, did you lack any thing?” They said, “Nothing.” 36He said to them, “But now, let him who has a purse take it, and likewise a bag. And let him who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. 37 For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me, ‘And he was reckoned with transgressors’; for what is writ ten about me has its fulfilment.” 38 And they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” And he said to them, “It is enough.”
Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives
39 And he came out, and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him. 40 And when he came to the place he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41 And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, remove this chalice from me; nevertheless not my will, but yours, be done.” 43 And there appeared to him an an gel from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down upon the ground. 45 And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, 46 and he said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
47 While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him; 48 but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of man with a kiss?” 49 And when those who were about him saw what would follow, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” 50 And one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51 But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him. 52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests and captains of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? 53 When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”
Peter Denies Jesus
54 Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house. Peter followed at a distance; 55 and when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. 56 Then a maid, seeing him as he sat in the light and gazing at him, said, “This man also was with him.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58 And a little later some one else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” 59 And after an interval of about an hour still an other insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are saying.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter re membered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly.
The Mocking and Beating of Jesus
63 Now the men who were holding Jesus mocked him and beat him; 64 they also blindfolded him and asked him, “Prophesy!
Who is it that struck you?” 65 And they spoke many other words against him, reviling him.
Jesus before the Council
66 When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes; and they led him away to their council, and they said, 67 “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe; 68 and if I ask you, you will not answer. 69 But from now on the Son of man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” 70 And they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” 71 And they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.”
*Daily Lectio Divina Question:
The institution of the Eucharist rightly commands our attention in this chapter. Offer prayers today in thanksgiving for all this has meant to you and ask the Lord to help you grow in love of the Eucharist.
Biblical Commentary provided by the Catholic Biblical School of Michigan, an adult faith formation apostolate. Catholic Biblical School of Michigan (cbsmich.org/join).
Revised Standard Version; Second Catholic Edition. (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2006).
Permission to use the RSV-2CE given for Bishop's Year of the Bible by Ignatius Press. Many thanks to Ignatius for this.
If you're looking for a good Catholic edition of the Bible, look no further.
1 Se acercaba la fiesta de los Ácimos,
que se llama Pascua, 2 y los
príncipes de los sacerdotes y los escribas
buscaban cómo acabar con él, pero temían
al pueblo. 3 Entró Satanás en Judas,
el llamado Iscariote, que era uno de los
doce. 4 Fue y habló con los príncipes de
los sacerdotes y los magistrados sobre el
modo de entregárselo. 5 Ellos se alegraron
y convinieron en darle dinero. 6 Él se
comprometió, y buscaba la ocasión propicia
para entregárselo a espaldas de la
gente.
7 Llegó el día de los Ácimos, en el que
había que sacrificar el cordero pascual.
8 Envió a Pedro y a Juan, diciéndoles:
–Id a prepararnos la cena de Pascua.
9 Ellos le dijeron:
–¿Dónde quieres que la preparemos?
10 Y les respondió:
–Mirad, cuando entréis en la ciudad,
os saldrá al encuentro un hombre
que lleva un cántaro de agua. Seguidle
hasta la casa en que entre, 11 y decidle
al dueño de la casa: «El Maestro te dice:
“¿Dónde está la sala donde pueda comer
la Pascua con mis discípulos?”» 12 Y él os
mostrará una habitación en el piso de
arriba, grande, ya lista. Preparadla allí.
13 Marcharon y lo encontraron todo
como les había dicho y prepararon la
Pascua.
Cuando llegó la hora, se puso a la
mesa y los apóstoles con él. 15 Y les
dijo:
–Ardientemente he deseado comer esta
Pascua con vosotros, antes de padecer, 16 porque
os digo que no la volveré a comer hasta
que tenga su cumplimiento en el Reino de
Dios.
17 Y tomando el cáliz, dio gracias y
dijo:
–Tomadlo y distribuidlo entre vosotros;
18 pues os digo que a partir de ahora
no beberé del fruto de la vid hasta que
venga el Reino de Dios.
19 Y tomando pan, dio gracias, lo
partió y se lo dio diciendo:
–Esto es mi cuerpo, que es entregado
por vosotros. Haced esto en memoria
mía.
20 Y del mismo modo el cáliz, después
de haber cenado, diciendo:
–Este cáliz es la nueva alianza en mi
sangre, que es derramada por vosotros.
21 »Pero mirad que la mano del que
me entrega está conmigo a la mesa.
22 Porque el Hijo del Hombre se va, según
está decretado; pero ¡ay de aquel
hombre por quien es entregado!
23 Y empezaron a preguntarse entre
sí quién de ellos sería el que iba a hacer
tal cosa.
24 Entonces se suscitó entre ellos una
disputa sobre quién sería considerado el
mayor. 25 Pero él les dijo:
–Los reyes de las naciones las dominan,
y los que tienen potestad sobre
ellas son llamados bienhechores. 26 Vosotros
no seáis así; al contrario: que el
mayor entre vosotros se haga como el
menor, y el que manda como el que sirve.
27 Porque ¿quién es mayor: el que está
a la mesa o el que sirve? ¿No es el que
está a la mesa? Sin embargo, yo estoy en
medio de vosotros como quien sirve.
28 »Vosotros sois los que habéis permanecido
junto a mí en mis tribulaciones.
29 Por eso yo os preparo un Reino
como mi Padre me lo preparó a mí,
30 para que comáis y bebáis a mi mesa en
mi Reino, y os sentéis sobre tronos para
juzgar a las doce tribus de Israel.
31 »Simón, Simón, mira que Satanás
os ha reclamado para cribaros como el
trigo. 32 Pero yo he rogado por ti para
que tu fe no desfallezca; y tú, cuando te
conviertas, confirma a tus hermanos.
33 Él le dijo:
–Señor, estoy dispuesto a ir contigo
hasta la cárcel y hasta la muerte.
34 Pero Jesús le respondió:
–Te aseguro, Pedro, que no cantará
hoy el gallo sin que hayas negado tres
veces haberme conocido.
35 Y les dijo:
–Cuando os envié sin bolsa ni alforjas
ni calzado, ¿acaso os faltó algo?
–Nada –le respondieron.
Entonces les dijo:
–Ahora, en cambio, el que tenga
bolsa, que la lleve; y lo mismo con la alforja;
y el que no tenga, que venda su túnica
y compre una espada. 37 Porque os
aseguro que debe cumplirse en mí lo
que está escrito: Y fue contado entre los
malhechores. Porque lo que se refiere a
mí llega a su fin.
38 Ellos dijeron:
–Señor, aquí hay dos espadas.
Y él les dijo:
–Ya basta.
39 Salió y como de costumbre fue al
monte de los Olivos. Le siguieron también
los discípulos. 40 Cuando llegó al lugar,
les dijo:
–Orad para no caer en tentación.
41 Y se apartó de ellos como a un tiro
de piedra y, de rodillas, oraba 42 diciendo:
–Padre, si quieres, aparta de mí este
cáliz; pero no se haga mi voluntad, sino
la tuya.
43 Se le apareció un ángel del cielo
que le confortaba. Y entrando en agonía
oraba con más intensidad. 44 Y le sobrevino
un sudor como de gotas de sangre
que caían hasta el suelo. 45 Cuando se levantó
de la oración y llegó hasta los discípulos,
los encontró adormilados por
la tristeza. 46 Y les dijo:
–¿Por qué dormís? Levantaos y orad
para no caer en tentación.
Todavía estaba hablando, cuando
de pronto llegó un tropel de gente.
El que se llamaba Judas, uno de los doce,
los precedía y se acercó a Jesús para besarle.
48 Jesús le dijo:
–Judas, ¿con un beso entregas al
Hijo del Hombre?
49 Los que estaban a su alrededor, al
ver lo que iba a suceder, dijeron:
–Señor, ¿atacamos con la espada?
50 Y uno de ellos hirió al criado del
sumo sacerdote y le cortó la oreja derecha.
51 Pero Jesús, en respuesta, dijo:
–¡Dejadlo ya! –y tocándole la oreja,
lo curó.
52 Dijo después Jesús a los que habían
venido contra él, príncipes de los sacerdotes,
oficiales del Templo y ancianos:
–¿Como contra un ladrón habéis salido
con espadas y palos? 53 Mientras estaba con vosotros todos los días en el
Templo, no alzasteis las manos contra
mí. Pero ésta es vuestra hora y el poder
de las tinieblas.
54 Después de apresarlo, se lo llevaron
y lo metieron en casa del sumo sacerdote.
Pedro le seguía de lejos. 55 Habían
encendido fuego en medio del
atrio y estaban sentados alrededor. Pedro
estaba sentado en medio de ellos.
56 Una criada, al verlo sentado a la lumbre,
fijándose en él dijo:
57 –También éste estaba con él.
Pero él lo negó:
58 –No lo conozco, mujer.
Al poco tiempo, viéndole otro dijo:
–Tú también eres de ellos.
Pero Pedro replicó:
–Hombre, no lo soy.
59 Y pasada como una hora, otro aseguró:
–Cierto, éste estaba con él, porque
también es galileo.
60 Y dijo Pedro:
–No sé, hombre, lo que dices.
Y al instante, cuando todavía estaba
hablando, cantó un gallo. 61 El Señor se
volvió y miró a Pedro. Y recordó Pedro
las palabras que el Señor le había dicho:
«Antes que cante el gallo hoy, me habrás
negado tres veces». 62 Y salió afuera
y lloró amargamente.
63 Los hombres que custodiaban a
Jesús se mofaban de él y le golpeaban.
64 Entonces, tapándole la cara, le preguntaban:
–Profetiza, ¿quién es el que te ha pegado?
65 Y decían contra él otras muchas
injurias.
66 Al hacerse de día se reunieron los
ancianos del pueblo, los príncipes de los
sacerdotes y los escribas, y le condujeron
al Sanedrín. 67 Y le dijeron:
–Si tú eres el Cristo, dínoslo.
Y les contestó:
–Si os lo digo, no me creeréis; 68 y si
hago una pregunta, no me responderéis.
69 No obstante, desde ahora estará el Hijo
del Hombre sentado a la diestra del poder
de Dios.
70 Entonces dijeron todos:
–Por tanto, ¿tú eres el Hijo de Dios?
–Vosotros lo decís: yo soy –les respondió.
71 Pero ellos dijeron:
–¿Qué necesidad tenemos ya de testimonio?
Nosotros mismos lo hemos
oído de su boca.
Pregunta de Lectio Divina del día de hoy
La institución de la Eucaristia llama nuestra atención rectamente en este capítulo. Ofrece el día de hoy oraciones en acción de gracias por todo lo que esto ha significado para tí y pídele al Señor que te ayude a crecer en amor por la Eucaristía.
La Biblia de Navarra
Permiso para usar esta versión de la primera edición de la Biblia de Navarra
para el Año de la Biblia del Obispo
dado por Ediciones Universidad de Navarra, S.A. (EUNSA).