Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 26:16

16 And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

Mark saith, Ch. 14.10. And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief Priests to betray him unto them. And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him Money, and he sought how he might conveniently betray him. Luke hath this yet more fully, Luke 22.3. Then entred Satan into Judas▪ surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. And he went his way, and communed with the chief Priests, and Captains, how he might betray him unto them, and they were glad, and Covenanted to give him Money. And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them, in the absence of the Multitude. While they were busie in Council, viz. (the Chief Priests, and Scribes, and Elders) how they might surprize Christ, without making a Tumult Iudas Surnamed Iscariot, one of the Twelve Disciples of our Lord, instigated by the Devil, who possibly did take advantage of Iudas his discontent that the Ointment was not sold, and he had not the Money to put into the Bag, or that Christ checked him so openly before the Disciples, goes to the Council and offereth them to betray him unto them, without making any noise in the City. This being what they desired, and were consulting how to effect, they were glad of such an offer, and agreed with him for a Sum of Money: No Evangelist but Matthew, in this place mentioneth the particular Sum; which was Thirty Pieces of Silver. Interpreters do very probably think that these thirty pieces were Thirty Staters or Sh[illegible: 1 letter]kels of the Sanctuary, which being but of the value of two Shillings six pence apiece amounted but to 3. l. 15. s. o. in our Money, which was the Sum appointed by the Law, Exod. 21.32. to be paid for a Servant, gored to Death by the Beast of another, the poorest and meanest price of any Persons Life, [illegible: 1 letter] Iudas left it to them and they set the meanest price imaginable. There are other opinions about the value of these pieces of Silver, but this is the most probable, especially considering the mean opinion these Men had of Christ, and their design and interest to depreciate him as much as might be, and that the Priests were the great Men in this Council, who most probably agreed with him for such pieces of Money as were mo[illegible: 1 letter]t in use amongst the Iews; It may be a just matter of Admiration, that they should make so Cheap a Bargain with him▪ considering that they doubtless (had he insisted upon it) would have given him more, but there was a Prophesy to be fulfilled, which we find, Zech. 11. v. 12. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of Silver. And the Lord said to me, cast it to the Potter. A good[illegible: 1 letter]y price that I was prized at of them. I shall have occasion when I come to Ch. 27.9. to discourse that Text further. The price was set by the Council of Heaven, which had determined this Degree of our Lords Humiliation, that as he took upon him the form of a Servant, so his Life should be valued at the rate of an ordinary Servants Life. Tho therefore Iudas was covetous enough to have asked more, and it is like the malice of those Councellors, would have edged them to have given more, yet it was thus ordered by the Divine Council. Christ must be sold Cheap, that he might be the more dear to the Souls of the redeemed ones; for thirty pieces of Silver he Covenanted with them, and they promised it to him; whether it was now paid, or when he had done his work, appeareth not. From that time (saith Matthew) he sought how he might conveniently betray him. Luke expounds this [non-Latin text not transcribed] without Tumult, Ch. 22.6. He was now fixedly resolved upon his Villany, his Lust wanted but opportunity, which soon after offered it self.