Matthew 26:24
The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus states that while his own suffering is part of God's plan, the traitor faces a crushing personal doom. The phrase "it would have been better for that man if he had not been born" isn't just hyperbole; it's a Jewish idiom conveying absolute ruin, suggesting a fate worse than non-existence itself. This highlights that even within God's determined plan, individual choices carry immense, eternal weight.
Jesus reveals to his disciples during their Passover meal that one of them will betray him, causing them great sorrow and prompting each to ask if it's them. Jesus points to the traitor by noting he will dip his hand in the dish with him, but then declares that while his own betrayal is part of God's plan written in Scripture, a terrible fate awaits the betrayer, suggesting it would have been better for him never to have been born. After this solemn declaration, Judas himself asks if it's he, and Jesus confirms it is.
Jesus knows He's going to die, and He knows it's part of God's plan. But that doesn't let Judas off the hook. How can both be true?
Jesus declares, 'The Son of Man goes as it is written of him.' This isn't just a statement of fact; it's a profound theological claim. It means Jesus' suffering and death weren't accidents. They were foretold in Scripture, woven into God's eternal plan for salvation. This brings comfort and certainty to Jesus and His followers.
However, the very next breath is a pronouncement of doom on Judas: 'but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed!' This is critical: God's sovereign plan doesn't negate human responsibility. Judas acted out of his own greed and malice. God's foreknowledge and purpose don't force our choices; they work through them. The betrayal was written, but Judas chose to be the one to write that chapter through his wicked act. This tension is a mystery, but it's central to the Gospel story. God’s perfect plan unfolds through the imperfect, often sinful, choices of humanity.
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Jesus says it would have been better for Judas to have never been born. What does this extreme statement reveal about the gravity of his choice?
The phrase 'It would have been better for that man if he had not been born' is a stark, proverbial Jewish expression. It wasn't just hyperbole; it was meant to convey the absolute worst possible state for a person.
Think about it: Existence itself is a gift from God. Even a life filled with hardship is, in the grand scheme, a precious thing when viewed through the lens of creation and God's goodness. To say it would be better not to have existed implies a state far worse than any earthly suffering.
For Judas, this wasn't about a temporary punishment that would eventually lead to restoration. His betrayal was so profound—a deliberate choice against the very source of life and love, made with full knowledge—that his eternal destiny was sealed. It highlights the terrifying reality that our choices have eternal consequences, and some choices place us in a state of such profound separation from God that non-existence would have been preferable.
Understand the original words
ho huios tou anthrōpou · Greek Noun phrase
A Messianic title used by Jesus to refer to himself, derived from Daniel 7:13-14. It emphasizes both his humanity and his divine authority as the representative figure who will judge the world and establish God's kingdom.
ouai · Greek Interjection
An expression of intense grief, judgment, or impending disaster. It is a prophetic announcement of divine condemnation or the inevitable consequences of sinful choices.
Jesus's words highlight the immense tragedy of Judas's betrayal. While Jesus acknowledged that his suffering was foreordained by God and written in Scripture, he powerfully condemned the traitor, emphasizing that divine plan does not excuse personal wickedness.
c. 40 BC
Herod the Great Reigns
Herod's rule over Judea, though a Roman client king, was marked by political maneuvering and building projects, creating a tense religious and political climate for Jewish leaders and the populace.
c. AD 28
Jesus Begins Public Ministry
Jesus's ministry of teaching, healing, and gathering disciples gained significant attention, attracting followers and drawing the suspicion of religious authorities.
c. AD 30-33
Growing Opposition to Jesus
As Jesus's popularity and claims grew, opposition from the Sanhedrin and other religious leaders intensified, leading to plots to arrest and silence him.
Passover Week, c. AD 30-33— this verse
Jesus's Final Week in Jerusalem
Jesus entered Jerusalem triumphantly, taught in the Temple, and held the Last Supper with his disciples, anticipating his impending betrayal and crucifixion.
Passover Night, c. AD 30-33
Jesus Predicts Betrayal
During the Last Supper, Jesus announced that one of his closest followers would betray him, causing distress among the disciples and confirming Judas's resolve.
Passover Night, c. AD 30-33
Judas Betrays Jesus
Judas Iscariot, motivated by greed and other factors, led temple guards to the Garden of Gethsemane to arrest Jesus, fulfilling Jesus's prophecy.
This Old Testament passage is directly quoted by Jesus in John 13:18, showing that the betrayal by a close companion was a foreknown event written in Scripture.
Acts 1:16-20Peter explicitly references Psalm 41:9 and discusses Judas's betrayal and its consequences, echoing Jesus's pronouncement of woe and the terrible fate awaiting him.
Daniel 9:26This prophecy speaks of the Messiah being cut off, but not for himself, indicating a predetermined suffering and death for humanity's sake, which Jesus acknowledges as 'written'.
Luke 22:22This parallel account highlights that Jesus's going to his death was 'as it was determined,' reinforcing the idea that His fate was ordained, yet still holding the betrayer accountable.
Job 3:3-10The profound anguish expressed in Job's lamentation for not being stillborn or perishing at birth parallels the intensity of Jesus's statement about Judas, emphasizing the unspeakable horror of his chosen path.
calvinMatthew 26:21-25: "And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me."
- And while they were eating, he said, Verily I tell you, That one of you will betray me. 22. And they became exceedingly sorrowful, and began every one of them to say to him, Lord, is it I? 23. But he answering said, He who hath dipped his hand with me in the dish will betray me. 24. The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betra…
clarkeMatthew 26:24: "The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born."
The Son of man goeth - That is, is about to die. Going, going away, departing, etc., are frequently used in the best Greek and Latin writers, for death, or dying. The same words are often used in the Scriptures in the same sense. It had been good for that man - Can this be said of any sinner, in the common sense in which…
Jesus states that while his own suffering is part of God's plan, the traitor faces a crushing personal doom. The phrase "it would have been better for that man if he had not been born" isn't just hyperbole; it's a Jewish idiom conveying absolute ruin, suggesting a fate worse than non-existence itself. This highlights that even within God's determined plan, individual choices carry immense, eternal weight.
Jesus reveals to his disciples during their Passover meal that one of them will betray him, causing them great sorrow and prompting each to ask if it's them. Jesus points to the traitor by noting he will dip his hand in the dish with him, but then declares that while his own betrayal is part of God's plan written in Scripture, a terrible fate awaits the betrayer, suggesting it would have been better for him never to have been born. After this solemn declaration, Judas himself asks if it's he, and Jesus confirms it is.
Jesus reveals to his disciples during their Passover meal that one of them will betray him, causing them great sorrow and prompting each to ask if it's them. Jesus points to the traitor by noting he will dip his hand in the dish with him, but then declares that while his own betrayal is part of God's plan written in Scripture, a terrible fate awaits the betrayer, suggesting it would have been better for him never to have been born. After this solemn declaration, Judas himself asks if it's he, and Jesus confirms it is.
"The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”" — Jesus states that while his own suffering is part of God's plan, the traitor faces a crushing personal doom. The phrase "it would have been better for that man if he had not been born" isn't just hyp…
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