Ways Of Betrayal

Exinde quaerabat opportunitatem ut eum traderet eis. Hunc locum manifestius Lucas evangelista disseruit dicens: Et quaerebat opportunitatem ut traderet illum sine turbis. Hoc enim fuit opportunitas Judae quam quaerebat, ut traderet magistrum, quod fuit timor sacerdotum ne tumultus fieret in populo. Ipsum ergo meditabantur simul venditor et emptores, ne impediretur fraudulentia factio eorum per impetum populi, ne per vim eriperetur Jesus de manibus eorum. Multi ergo hodie Judae scelus, quod Dominum ac magistrum Deumque suum pecunia vendiderit, velut immane et nefarium exhorrent, nec tamen cavent. Nam cum pro muneribus falum contra quemlibet testimonium dicunt, profecto quia veritatem pro pecunia negant, Deum pecunia vendunt. Ipse enim dixit: Ego sum veritas. Cum societetam fraternitatis aliqua discordiae peste commaculant, Deum produnt, quia Deus charitas est. Qui ergo charitatis et veritatis jura spernunt, Deum utique, qui est charitas et veritas, produnt: maxime cum non infirmitate vel ignorantia peccant, sed in similitudine Judae quaerunt opportunitatem qualiter arbitris absentibus mendacio veritatem, virtutem, crimine mutent. Rabanus Maurus, Commentariorum In Matthaeum, Liber VIII Source: Migne PL 107.1102d-1103a

From then he sought an opportunity to betray Him to them... 1 This passage the Evangelist Luke gives more openly, saying: 'And he sought an opportunity to betray Him apart from the crowds.' 2 For this was the opportunity that Judas sought, so that he might betray his teacher, because the priests feared there would be a tumult among the people. Therefore seller and buyer were thinking on the same things, that their deceit not be impededed by the obstacle of the people, and they be unable to seize Jesus by the strength of their own hands. And the crime of Judas happens often today, because to sell the Lord and Teacher and God for money is a monstrous wickedness which men should abhor, yet they will not be admonished. For when they tell lies about anyone for gifts, without doubt they deny the truth for money, and so they sell God for money. For He Himself said: 'I am the truth.' 3 When someone defiles the harmony of a brotherhood with the pest of discord, he betrays God, because God is love. 4 Therefore they who spurn the law of love and truth, they betray God, who is love and truth, especially when it is not because of weakness or ignorance that they sin, but as a likeness of Judas they seek an opportunity, that in the absence of judges they might change truth for a lie, virtue for wickedness. Rabanus Maurus, Commentary On The Gospel of Saint Matthew, Book 8 1 Mt 26.16 2 Lk 22.6 3 Jn 14.6 4 1 Jn 4.16