Bible scholars are divided into two groups: a group that says that Judas partook of the Eucharist (the body and blood of Christ), and a group that says that he did not. Those who say that Judas partook of the Eucharist point to 1 Corinthians 11:27-32, in which Paul speaks with a strong condemnation of anyone who eats the bread and drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily: “For whoever eats (this) bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty.” In the body of the Lord... for this reason many sleep.” They say that this is a reference to Judas, who received Communion undeservedly and died quickly after that. But is there an accurate Biblical description that says that Judas partook of the flesh and blood? The answer is no.
John does not describe the Eucharist at the Last Supper, and we cannot infer anything from the mention of the morsel given to Judas in John 13:26. Jesus dipped in the plate with Judas in Mark 14:20. As for Matthew 26:32, it is a completely distinct description of the Eucharist. In Mark 14: 18-21 and Matthew 26: 21-25, we find that Jesus’ warning in which he predicts the betrayal of Judas (an explicit warning in Matthew) preceded the words on the bread and wine (Mark 14: 22-25; Matthew 26: 26-29). Neither of these two evangelists describes Judas’ departure from the meal (mentioned only in John 13:30), even though Judas was not among the apostles who went with Jesus to Gesemane (but he arrives late: Mark 14:43; Matthew 26:47). So there is no way to know whether Mark and Matthew had in mind that Judas left after the warning (and before the Eucharist) or after the Eucharist.
As for Luke's description, it causes a problem: in Luke, Jesus' warning predicting betrayal (22:21-23) follows the words about the bread and wine (22:17-20). One would think that Judas was there during the warning and during the Eucharist. Although Luke never mentions Judas by name during the supper. Luke also mentions Jesus saying to his disciples after mentioning the woe over his betrayal: “You are those who have remained with me in my trials, and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Luke 22). : 28 and 30). If it is possible that Judas received the Eucharist and then heard Jesus curse him, did he leave after the curse and accept the promise of the kingdom?
Bible scholars tried to solve the issue by rearranging the texts as usual. Some have suggested two meals: Judas was at the first meal when he decided to betray Jesus, but he was not at the last supper and therefore did not receive the Eucharist. Some have provided evidence of the existence of two parts of the writings of Saint Ephrem the Syrian (1) And the apostolic laws (2) Which allows the distinction between the night of washing the feet and the night of the Eucharist. Some have argued that Mark 14:10-11 (Judas going to the chief priests to agree to surrender Jesus) is an event that was mentioned out of chronological order, because it originally occurred at the end of the Last Supper, as in John 13:30. Therefore, they assume Luke’s original order that 22:25, 28-30, 21-23, 3-6, and thus Judas betrayed Jesus after the Eucharist. Some may have felt that Judas receiving the Eucharist when he had already decided to betray Jesus was scandalous and should therefore be avoided!
Father Espero Jabour believes that Judas left the Last Supper in the middle of it before starting to celebrate the Jewish Passover in particular (after eating from the bowl of bitter herbs and before the Eucharist (3) ), while Chrysostom (Sermon 1:82 on Matthew) believes that Judas (and Christ himself as well) received some of the sacraments. The liturgy of the Orthodox Church mentions that Judas ate from the heavenly bread: “Judas is the son of vipers... and likewise this wretched worshiper, having the heavenly bread in his mouth, made his greeting to the Savior.” (4) ...In short, there is no direct biblical evidence for Judas receiving the Eucharist at the Last Supper.
About the book: You asked me and I answered you
Q 54
Dr.. Adnan Trabelsi
(1) Commentary on the Diatessaron 19. 3-4
(2) Apostolic Constitutions 5. 14. 1-6
(3) Aspiro Jabour: “O Jesus,” p. 112, 1997. He is a very expert in Jewish origins.
(4) Basil the Great Mass, Holy Thursday.
