Mark 14:11

Mar 14:11. Ἐχάρησαν, they were glad) They felt joy, and they testified it.

Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament — English translation (T&T Clark, Edinburgh, 1860) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Mar 14:11 . ἐχάρησαν , they rejoiced ; when one of the twelve companions of Jesus unexpectedly turned up ready to deliver his Master into their hands. A most vivid feature omitted by Mt. in his summarising way. Well might they rejoice, as but for this windfall they might have been totally at a loss how to compass their end. ἐπηγγείλαντο , they promised to pay, did not actually pay on the spot, as Mt.’s statement implies ( ἔστησαν , Mar 14:15 ). ἐζήτει , cf. ἐζήτουν , Mar 14:1 , in reference to the Sanhedrists. They were seeking means of getting rid of Jesus; Judas was now on the outlook for a chance of betraying Him into their hands. εὐκαίρως here and in 2Ti 4:1 , the adjective and verb in Mar 6:21 ; Mar 6:31 , the noun in Mat 26:16 .

The Expositor's Greek Testament, edited by W. Robertson Nicoll (1897–1910) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Verse 11. They were glad] The joy that arises from the opportunity of murdering an innocent person must be completely infernal.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(11) They were glad, and promised to give him money.—It may be noted (1) that the mention of the priests being “glad” is in common with St. Luke, and (2) that St. Mark does not name the specific sum which was promised as the price of blood.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

11. they were glad] They shuddered not at the suggested deed of darkness. His proposal filled them with joy.

and promised] How much he expected when he went over to them we cannot tell. But by going at all he had placed himself in their hands. He had made his venture, and was obliged to take what they offered. Thirty pieces of silver (Mat_26:15), the price of a slave (Exo_21:32), were equivalent to 120 denarii = 120x7½d. = about £3. 13s. of our money. At this time the ordinary wages for a day’s labour was one denarius; so that the whole sum amounted to about four months’ wages of a day labourer. It is possible, however, the sum, which seems to us so small, may have been earnest-money.

conveniently] That is without raising the hostility of the populace, and possibly after the conclusion of the Passover and the dispersion of the Galilean pilgrims to their own homes.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And when they heard it, they were glad,.... That such an opportunity offered, and from such a quarter, by one of his own disciples; so that it might be done more secretly and effectually, and with less blame to themselves:

and promised to give him money; any sum he should ask; and what was agreed upon were thirty pieces, or shekels of silver; and so the Ethiopic version here, instead of money, reads, "thirty pieces of silver"; See Gill on Mat 26:15.

And he sought how he might conveniently betray him; after this promise, and upon this agreement: henceforward he sought the most fitting opportunity, and the best season of betraying his master into the hands of these men, when he was alone, and the multitude absent, and there was no danger of a tumult, or a rescue; See Gill on Mat 26:16.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

11 And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.

Ver. 11. {See Trapp on "Mat 26:15"} {See Trapp on "Mat 26:16"}

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And they, when they heard it, were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought (ezhtei)he was seeking; he made it his business to arrange how the infamous plot might be managed how he might conveniently deliver him unto them (pwv eukairwv auto); literally, how at a convenient season he might betray him. And they, when they heard it, were glad; glad, because they saw the prospect of the accomplishment of their wishes; glad, because it was "one of the twelve" who covenanted to betray him. They promised to give him money. St. Matthew (Mat_26:15) tells us the amount, namely, thirty pieces of silver, according to the prophecy of Zechariah, (Zec_11:12) to which St. Matthew evidently refers. These pieces of silver were shekels of the sanctuary, worth about three shillings each. This would make the whole amount about 10s. of our money; less than half the value of the precious ointment with which Mary had anointed him. Some commentators, however, think that this was only an installment of what they promised him if he completed his treasonable design. How he might conveniently deliver him unto them. St. Luke (Luk_22:6) explains this by saying, "in the absence of the multitude;" that is, when the people were not about him, and when he was in private with his disciples. And so he betrayed him at night, when he was alone with his disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

11. ἐχάρησαν. The offer freed them from a grave difficulty. Now they could act before the Feast began. They would not have ventured to make such a proposal to a disciple of Jesus. That one of His most intimate associates should volunteer to betray Him was an amazing advantage. Moreover it was evidence that the influence of Jesus was on the wane, ὅτι καὶ ὑπὸ τῶν μαθητῶν ἤρξατο μισεῖσθαι (Euthym.).

ἐπηγγείλαντο. So also Lk. (συνέθεντο), while Mt. says that Judas was paid there and then thirty pieces of silver. Such discrepancies are of no moment. In order to identify the coins paid to Judas with the treasure brought by the Magi, the Narrative of Judas of Arimathaea (ii.) makes them pieces of gold. Thirty shekels would be about 120 denarii, which would buy what £10 or £12 would buy now. It is not improbable that the priests would be willing to pay in advance so moderate a sum for so great a service, and it is probable that Judas would insist on at least a substantial instalment. Hastings’ D.B. art. “Money,” p. 428.

ἐζήτει. He began to seek. Hitherto it had been the hierarchy who were casting about for a good opportunity (Mar 11:18, Mar 12:12, Mar 14:1). Now it is Judas who has to do so; they have secured a competent agent. What follows shows how he was baffled until after the Supper; the arrangements were carefully kept secret.

It is remarkable how objectively Mk, and indeed all the Evangelists, treat the conduct of Judas. He was an intimate disciple, one of the Twelve, and he betrayed his Friend and Master to His implacable enemies for money and with a kiss. There is no need to say anything more. Probably money was only one of the motives. Judas saw that Jesus had failed, and he hastened to make terms with the victorious side. It is possible that there were selfish elements in his reasons for attaching himself to Jesus, and that these had gone on increasing, to the extinction of nobler motives, as the prospect of personal advancement grew less. That the motives for the betrayal were in any respect good is not credible.

Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges (Cambridge University Press, 1896; 21 vols, various authors incl. Carr, Maclear, Plummer, Farrar, Lumby, Moule, M. R. James, Simcox) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

11.] Compact of Judas with the chief priests to betray Him. Mat 26:14-16. Luk 22:3-6. The only matters requiring notice are,—the elliptical ἀκούσαντες,—‘hearing the proposal,’—and ἐπηγγείλαντο, implying, as does συνέθεντο in Luke, that the money was not paid now, either as full wages or as earnest-money,—but promised; and paid (most probably) when the Lord was brought before the Sanhedrim, which was what Judas undertook to do. The ὁ before εἷς untranslatable in English: ‘that one of the twelve’ is too strongly demonstrative: and yet ὁ is demonstrative, and expresses much.

Henry Alford, The Greek Testament (1849–1861) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

11. ἀργύριον—money. Mt. mentions the amount as τριάκοντα ἀργύρια, thirty shekels, or twenty dollars. For curious parallels to this price, see Exo 21:32, Zec 11:12, cf. Mat 27:9. εὐκαίρως—opportunely. Lk. states more exactly how he sought to deliver him up, viz. ἄτερ ὄχλου, in the absence of the multitude.

παραδοῖ is substituted for παραδῷ in this verse, on the same authority as in v. 10.

PREPARATION FOR THE PASSOVER

International Critical Commentary — older volumes (1896–1929), various authors — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Money. See on Mt 26:15. He sought [εζητει] . Imperfect tense. He kept seeking : busied himself continuously from that time.

Conveniently [ευκαιρως] . Might find a good opportunity [καιρος] .

Marvin R. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament (1887–1900) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.