This is quite a controversial question with some stating that Judas partook of the Lord’s Supper (communion), and others stating that he did not partake. At first glance it may appear that Judas did partake of the Lord’s Supper, but as I’ve said on many occasions, the scriptures deserve more than a ‘first glance’. With the Lord’s help, let us try to put the events of the time of the Passover and Lord’s Supper in their proper order.

We read in Luke 22:7-8, “Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed. And he (the Lord Jesus) sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.” Now let’s read verses 13-14, “And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover. And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the TWELVE APOSTLES with him.” So, it is evident that when the Lord sat down to partake of the Passover, all twelve apostles were present. What happened next?

John 13:1-5 tells us, “Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him; Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.” The ‘supper’ that had ended was the Passover. Satan was working hard in Judas’ heart that it was time to betray the Lord. (Judas had already bargained with the chief priests to betray for the Lord for 30 pieces of silver. (Matthew 26:15-16). Even as the Lord washed the disciples’ feet, he mentioned Judas in verses 10-11, “Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For HE KNEW WHO SHOULD BETRAY HIM; therefore said he, YE ARE NOT ALL CLEAN.”

John 13:12 and 28 indicate that, after the Lord had washed their feet, they all sat back down again at the table. We read in verse 21, “When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that ONE OF YOU SHALL BETRAY ME.” The Apostles began to wonder which one it would be. No one suspected Judas would be the betrayer. We read in verses John 13:25-28, “He then lying on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.” This ‘sop’ or piece of bread, most likely dipped into wine or a sauce manifested that Judas would betray Him. Verse 30 says, “He then having received the sop WENT IMMEDIATELY OUT: and it was night.” Judas left IMMEDIATELY! I encourage you to read Mark 14:18.24 which follows the same order that Matthew gives.

Now let’s read Matthew 26:25-28, “Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said. And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”

Since John 13:28 tells us that Judas WENT IMMEDIATELY OUT after being exposed as the betrayer, we can see from the texts in Matthew and Mark that the institution of the Lord’s Supper (communion) occurred AFTER Judas left.

The confusion of Judas’ presence is because, when reading Luke, it appears that Judas is there at the institution of the Lord’s Supper. What do we make of this? Is this a discrepancy or contradiction? We say emphatically, “GOD FORBID.” God’s Word does not contradict itself. While Luke’s Gospel seeks to write of events “in order” (Luke 1:3), he sometimes changes the order of the occasions in relating them. He, as led of the Lord, does this to make a different emphasis than the other Gospels. Besides all this, it would be entirely inappropriate for Judas to partake of the loaf and the cup at this initial communion. Those who do not truly know Christ and who He is, certainly cannot remember Him by eating of the bread and drinking of the cup. Judas NEVER acknowledged the Lord Jesus as savior or Lord. He was a stranger to the true person of Christ and therefore could not participate in this worship service. How sad that Judas got so close to the Lord, but did not receive Him as the others did. (307.4)