Context

This line is spoken by Jesus of Nazareth in Luke 22:47-48.

How do you go about ruining a lovely gesture like a kiss? Just ask Judas Iscariot.

By the time we get to this verse, Jesus is in hot water. The religious authorities in Jerusalem have it in for him and even one of his own followers—cough! Judas! cough!—has decided to betray him. Judas tips off the baddies to Jesus' location in the Garden of Gethsemane and then brings some soldiers along to arrest him. Judas seems pretty confident during the whole exchange though, because he walks up to Jesus and tries to offer him a gesture of friendship and love—a kiss. What?

But Jesus is not having it. He questions Judas on the bitter irony of this gesture. Judas has used a sign of connection and intimacy to betray his friend and mentor. You don't get much lower than that. We don't have to think very hard to imagine what's gonna happen to Judas. Things will not end well for him.

Where you've heard it

This verse gives us the interesting saying "kiss of death," and the idea that an act of friendship can lead to some pretty harmful things. We don't recommend trying it at home.

Additional Notable References:

• Kiss of Death was an Oscar-nominated movie in 1947.
• In Jesus Christ Superstar, Jesus mournfully sings the line, "Judas, must you betray me with a kiss?" Yes. Yes, he must.
• And our favorite allusion to deathly kisses: Harry Potter. Granted the kiss of a dementor can be warded off with a swift "Expecto Patronum" but the basic idea of a smooch that sends you to your grave is still there.

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

Sure, you might sound a little overblown addressing your betrayer as Judas, but the person who actually deserves everyone's eye rolls is that treacherous kisser! Take that, Judas!