Matthew 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.
Matthew 26:24 in other translations
| BSB | The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed. It would be better for him if he had not been born.” |
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| WEB | The Son of Man goes even as it is written of him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for that man if he had not been born.” |
| ASV | The Son of man goeth, even as it is written of him: but woe unto that man through whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had not been born. |
| YLT | the Son of Man doth indeed go, as it hath been written concerning him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is delivered up! good it were for him if that man had not been born.' |
| DARBY | The Son of man goes indeed, according as it is written concerning him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is delivered up; it were good for that man if he had not been born. |
| BBE | The Son of man goes, even as the Writings say of him: but a curse is on that man through whom the Son of man is given up; it would have been well for that man if he had never come into the world. |
| Webster | The Son of man goeth, as it is written concerning him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man, if he had not been born. |
What does Matthew 26:24 mean?
Barnes' Notes
Goeth. Dies, or will die. The Hebrews often spoke in this manner of death, Ps 39:13, 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 41:9, with Jn 13:18. See also Dan 9:26,27, Isa 53:4-9. 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.
If it be asked how this crime of Judas could be so great, or could be a crime at all, when it was determined beforehand that the Saviour should be betrayed and die in this manner, it may be answered:
(1.) That the crime was what it was in itself, apart from any determination of God. It was a violation of all the duties he owed to God, and to the Lord Jesus; awful ingratitude, detestable covetousness, and most base treachery. As such it deserved to be punished.
(2.) The previous purpose of God did not force Judas to do this. In it he acted freely. He did just what his wicked heart prompted him to do.
(3.) A previous knowledge of a thing, or a previous purpose to permit a thing, does not alter its nature, or cause it to be a different thing from what it is.
(4.) God, who is the best judge of the nature of crime, holds all that was done in crucifying the Saviour, though it was by his determinate counsel and foreknowledge, "to be by wicked hands," "Ac 2:23". This punishment of Judas proves also that sinners cannot take shelter for their sins in the decrees of God, or plead them as an excuse. God will punish crimes for what they are in themselves. His own deep and inscrutable purposes in regard to human actions will not change the nature of those actions, or screen the sinner from the punishment which he deserves.
(a) "written of him" Ps 22:1 and following; Isa 53:1-12
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 26:17-25
Observe, the place for their eating the passover was pointed out by Christ to the disciples. He knows those hidden ones who favour his cause, and will graciously visit all who are willing to receive him. The disciples did as Jesus had appointed. Those who would have Christ's presence in the gospel passover, must do what he says. It well becomes the disciples of Christ always to be jealous over themselves, especially…
Matthew 26:24 in the original Greek
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Cross references for Matthew 26:24
- Luke 24:46
And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
- Acts 26:22-23
Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.
- Daniel 9:26
And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
- Matthew 18:7
Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
- 1 Corinthians 15:3
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
- John 17:12
While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
- Luke 22:22
And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!
- Psalms 22:1-31
To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent. But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them. …
- Mark 14:21
The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.
- Zechariah 12:10
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
- Isaiah 53:1-12
Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. …
- Matthew 26:54
But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
54,56; Ge 3:15; Ps 22:1-31; 69:1-21; Isa 50:5,6; 53:1-12; Da 9:26
Zec 12:10; 13:7; Mr 9:12; Lu 24:25,26,46; Joh 19:24,28,36,37
Ac 13:27-29; 17:2-3; 26:22,23; 28:23; 1Co 15:3; 1Pe 1:11
written.
Lu 22:22; Ac 2:23; 4:28
but.
18:7; 27:3-5; Ps 55:15,23; 109:6-19; Mr 14:21; Joh 17:12; Ac 1:16-20
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain
Context
- Matthew 26:23
And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.
- Matthew 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.
- Matthew 26:25
Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.
Matthew 26:24 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | A la verdad el Hijo del hombre va, como está escrito de él; mas ¡ay de aquel hombre por quien el Hijo del hombre es entregado! bueno le fuera al tal hombre no haber nacido. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Le fils de l’homme s’en va, selon qu’il est écrit de lui; mais malheur à cet homme par qui le fils de l’homme est livré! Il aurait été bon pour cet homme-là qu’il ne soit pas né. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Der Sohn des Menschen geht zwar dahin, wie über ihn geschrieben steht; wehe aber jenem Menschen, durch welchen der Sohn des Menschen überliefert wird! Es wäre jenem Menschen gut, wenn er nicht geboren wäre. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Filius quidem hominis vadit, sicut scriptum est de illo: væ autem homini illi, per quem Filius hominis tradetur! bonum erat ei, si natus non fuisset homo ille. |