(21) Good were it for that man.--St. Mark, it will be noted, omits the fact recorded by St. Matthew, that the last "Is it I?" was uttered by the Traitor.
Verse 21. - For the Son of man goeth (ὑπάγει) - goeth, departeth from this mortal scene: the reference is, of course, to his death - even as it is written of him; as, for example, in Psalm 22 and Isaiah 41 It was foreordained by God that he was to suffer as a victim for the sins of the whole world. But this predestined purpose of God did not make the guilt any the less of those who brought the Savior to his cross. Good were it for that man if he had not been born. The Greek is καλὸν η΅ν αὐτῷ εἰ οὐκ ἐγεννήθη ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἐκεῖνος: literally, good were it for him, if that man had not been born. Better not to have lived at all than to have lived and died ill. Existence is no blessing, but a curse, to him who consciously and wilfully defeats the purpose of his existence. St. Matthew (Matthew 26:25) here introduces Judas as asking the question, "Is it I, Rabbi?" And our Lord answers him affirmatively, "Thou hast said." This was probably said in a low voice. Had it been said so as to be heard by others, such as Peter and John, they might have risen at once to inflict summary vengeance upon the apostate traitor.
14:12-21 Nothing could be less the result of human foresight than the events here related. But our Lord knows all things about us before they come to pass. If we admit him, he will dwell in our hearts. The Son of man goes, as it is written of him, as a lamb to the slaughter; but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed! God's permitting the sins of men, and bringing glory to himself out of them, does not oblige them to sin; nor will this be any excuse for their guilt, or lessen their punishment.
The son of man indeed goeth,.... Out of this world by death,
as it is written; both in the book of God's decrees, and in the Scriptures of the Old Testament;
but woe to that man by whom the son of man is betrayed! whose sin will not be excused, nor lessened by fulfilling the decrees of God, and by accomplishing the prophecies of the Bible:
good were it for that man if he had never been born; so aggravating will be his crime, so dreadful his punishment; See Gill on Matthew 26:24.
as it is written; both in the book of God's decrees, and in the Scriptures of the Old Testament;
but woe to that man by whom the son of man is betrayed! whose sin will not be excused, nor lessened by fulfilling the decrees of God, and by accomplishing the prophecies of the Bible:
good were it for that man if he had never been born; so aggravating will be his crime, so dreadful his punishment; See Gill on Matthew 26:24.