The Son of Man is going as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whose hand the Son of Man will be betrayed. It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”
In this saying, the mysteries of divine providence and human responsibility are brought together. Jesus affirms that His suffering and death had been written beforehand, according to God’s saving plan. Yet at the same time He emphasizes that this does not justify the betrayer: each person is free in his choice and responsible for his deeds. God’s plan is fulfilled regardless of everything, but when a person chooses the path of acting with evil, he becomes accountable for his sin, even if his deed, apart from his intention, contributes to the greatest plan of salvation. “Woe to that man” is not only a verdict, but also a painful lament spoken from Christ’s lips. He does not utter a curse, but mourns the extent of a person’s spiritual ruin. The words “It would have been better for him if he had not been born” show the gravest consequence of sin: eternal separation from God. In this saying, Christ’s love and justice are interwoven, revealing that a person can perish even at the very center of the divine plan if he chooses evil in his heart. This is a warning for all times: God’s will is done, but each one decides for himself whether to serve God faithfully or, with a closed heart, to cooperate with evil.