Matthew Chapter 26, Verse 24
From BibleWiki
24: ο μεν υιος του ανθρωπου υπαγει καθως γεγραπται περι αυτου ουαι δε τω ανθρωπω εκεινω δι ου ο υιος του ανθρωπου παραδιδοται καλον ην αυτω ει ουκ εγεννηθη ο ανθρωπος εκεινος
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.
24: The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him. But woe to
that man by whom the Son of man shall be betrayed. It were better for
him, if that man had not been born.
The Son of man goeth. That is, the Messiah; the Christ. See Barnes "Mt 8:20.
Goeth. Dies, or will die. The Hebrews often spoke in this manner of death, Ps 3913, Gen 15:2.
As it is written of him. That is, as it is written or prophesied of him in the Old Testament. Compare Ps 419, with Jn 13:18. See also Dan 9:26, Dan 9:27, Isa 53:4ff.
Luke Lk 22:22 says, "as it was determined." In the Greek, as it was marked out by a boundary; that is, in the Divine purpose. It was the previous intention of God to give him up to die for sin, or it could not have been certainly predicted. It is also declared to have been by his "determinate counsel and foreknowledge," Acts 2:23.
Woe unto that man, etc. The crime is great and awful, and he will be punished accordingly. He states the greatness of his misery in the phrase following.
It had been good, etc. That is, it would have been better for him if he had not been born; or it would be better now for him if he was to be as if he had not been born, or if he was annihilated. This was a proverbial mode of speaking among the Jews in frequent use. In relation to Judas it proves the following things:
(1.) that the crime which he was about to commit was exceedingly great;
(2.) that the misery or punishment due to it would certainly come upon him;
(3.) that he would certainly deserve that misery, or it would not be threatened or inflicted; and,
(4.) that his punishment would be eternal. If there should be any period when the sufferings of Judas should end, and he be restored and raised to heaven, the blessings of that happiness without end would infinitely overbalance all the sufferings he will endure in a limited time; and consequently it would not be true that it would be better for him not to have been born. Existence to him would be a blessing. It follows that, in relation to one wicked man, the sufferings of hell will be eternal. If of one, then it is equally certain and proper that all the wicked will perish for ever.
