Matthew 26:50

50 Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”[a]Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.

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Matthew 26:50 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
50 And Jesus said unto him,Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
50 Jesus said to him, "Friend, do what you came to do." Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him.
New Living Translation (NLT)
50 Jesus said, “My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for.” Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him.
The Message Bible (MSG)
50 Jesus said, "Friend, why this charade?"
American Standard Version (ASV)
50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, [do] that for which thou art come. Then they came and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
50 Jesus said to him, "Friend, why are you here?" Then some men came forward, took hold of Jesus, and arrested him.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
50 "Friend," Jesus asked him, "why have you come?" Then they came up, took hold of Jesus, and arrested Him.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
50 Jesus replied, "Friend, do what you came to do." Then the men stepped forward. They grabbed Jesus and arrested him.

Matthew 26:50 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 26:50

And Jesus said unto him, friend
Not in an ironical and sarcastic way, but because he pretended to be his friend, by saluting and kissing him, in the manner he had done; or rather, because Christ had always used him as his friend, his familiar friend, who had been of his councils, and had ate at his table; and therefore this carried in it something very cutting, had Judas had any conscience, or sense of gratitude:

wherefore art thou come?
The Ethiopic version reads, "my friend, art thou not come?" that is, art thou come as my friend? is thy coming as a friend, or as an enemy? if as a friend, what means this company with swords and staves? if as an enemy, why this salutation and kiss? or what is thine end in coming at this time of night? what is thy business here? thou hast left my company, and my disciples, what dost thou do here? The Syriac version reads it, "to that"; and the Arabic, "to this art thou come?" to kiss me, and by a kiss to deliver me into the hands of my enemies? to which agrees what is said in Luke, "Judas, betrayest thou the son of man with a kiss?" ( Luke 22:48 ) . This he said, to let him know he knew him, and therefore he calls him by name; and that he knew his design in kissing him, and that what he was doing was against light and knowledge; he, at the same time, knowing that he was the son of man, the true Messiah.

Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him;
that is, the multitude, the Roman band, the captains and officers of the Jews, when Judas had given the sign; though not till Christ had given them a specimen of his power, in striking them to the ground; to let them know, that Judas could never have put him into their hands, nor could they have laid hold on him, had he not thought fit to surrender himself to them. The seizing and apprehending him is related by Luke and John as after the following circumstance; though the Ethiopic version here reads, "they lift up their hands, and did not lay hold on the Lord Jesus".

Matthew 26:50 In-Context

48 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.”
49 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.
50 Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.
51 With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
52 “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.

Cross References 1

  • 1. Matthew 20:13; Matthew 22:12

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or "“Why have you come, friend?”"
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