The Plot to Kill Jesus (Matthew 26:1–5, 14–16)

The texts below are quoted verbatim from public-domain English translations; nothing is paraphrased.

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St. John Chrysostom (c. 347–407)

Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew, Homily LXXX (on Matthew 26:14–16) Source: trans. in the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 10. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf110/npnf110.iii.LXXVI.html

On why the Evangelists do not hide that the traitor was of the Twelve:

And they do not shrink from saying, He was of the twelve; so entirely do they hide none of those things which seem to be matters of reproach.

On the willingness and the smallness of the price:

And see how great is the wickedness of Judas, in that he comes unto them of his own accord, in that he does this for money, and for such a sum of money.

On the covetousness that blinded him:

Oh madness! how did covetousness altogether blind him!

Theophylact of Ohrid (c. 1055–1107)

Explanation of the Gospel of Luke (on Luke 22:1–6) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke, trans. J. H. Newman, 1841. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On Satan entering Judas as the means the plotters sought:

Having already said that the Chief Priests sought means how they might slay Jesus without incurring any danger, he next goes on to relate the means which occurred to them, as it is said, Then entered Satan into Judas.

Titus of Bostra (d. c. 378)

Commentary on Luke (on Luke 22:3–6) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke, trans. J. H. Newman, 1841. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On how Satan found the door already open in Judas:

Satan entered into Judas not by force, but finding the door open. For forgetful of all that he had seen, Judas now turned his thoughts solely to covetousness.

On "one of the twelve":

And he adds, one of the twelve, since he made up the number, though he did not truly discharge the Apostolic office.

Origen of Alexandria (c. 185–254)

Commentary on Matthew (on Matthew 26:2, 14–16) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew, trans. J. H. Newman, 1841. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.xxvi.html

On the impersonal "shall be delivered," and the several who delivered Him up:

And He expresses it impersonally "shall be delivered," because God delivered Him up in mercy to the human race, Judas from covetousness, the Priest for envy, the Devil through fear that through His teaching the human race would be plucked out of His hand, little aware how much more that would be effected by His death, than either by His teaching or miracles.

On Judas going to sell the Redeemer of the world:

"Went," against that one high priest, who was made a Priest for ever, to many high priests, to sell for a price Him who sought to redeem the whole world.

On the thirty pieces:

"And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver," as many pieces as the Saviour had dwelt years in the world.

Blessed Augustine of Hippo (354–430)

Questions on the Gospels, Book I, 41 (on Matthew 26:15) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew, trans. J. H. Newman, 1841. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.xxvi.html

On what the price of thirty pieces signifies:

That the Lord was sold for thirty pieces of silver by Judas, denotes the unrighteous Jews, who pursuing things carnal and temporal, which belong to the five bodily senses, refuse to have Christ ... forasmuch as they did this in the sixth age of the world, their receiving five times six as the price of the Lord is thus signified

St. Jerome (c. 347–420)

Commentary on Matthew (on Matthew 26:15) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew, trans. J. H. Newman, 1841. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.xxvi.html

On Judas leaving the price to his buyers, as one selling a worthless slave:

The wretched Judas would fain replace, by the sale of his Master, that loss which he supposed he had incurred by the ointment. And he does not demand any fixed sum, lest his treachery should seem a gainful thing, but as though delivering up a worthless slave, he left it to those who bought, to determine how much they would give.

On the servant not more valuable than his Master:

but as the Hebrew text has for twenty pieces of silver, ... for it could not be that the servant should be more valuable than his Master.

St. Hilary of Poitiers (c. 310–367)

Commentary on Matthew (on Matthew 26:1–2) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew, trans. J. H. Newman, 1841. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.xxvi.html

On the Passion announced straightway after the glory:

After the discourse in which the Lord had declared that He should return in splendour, He announces to them His approaching Passion, that they might learn the close connection between the sacrament of the Cross, and the glory of eternity.

St. Leo the Great (c. 400–461)

Sermon 60 (on Matthew 26:14–16) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew, trans. J. H. Newman, 1841. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.xxvi.html

On the lust of money that cast Christ off:

He did not out of any fear forsake Christ, but through lust of money cast Him off; for in comparison of the love of money all our affections are feeble; the soul athirst for gain fears not to die for a very little; there is no trace of righteousness in that heart in which covetousness has once taken up its abode.