How can Matthew 26:24 deepen our understanding of God's sovereignty and human responsibility? Setting the Scene • Matthew 26 unfolds during the Passover meal. • Jesus has already predicted His death (vv. 1-2) and identified His betrayer (v. 21). • Matthew 26:24 sits at the intersection of prophecy’s fulfillment and Judas’s freely chosen treachery. Matthew 26:24 “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.” God’s Sovereignty on Display • “will go just as it is written” – Jesus anchors His destiny in Scripture’s prior decree (Isaiah 53; Psalm 41:9). • Prophecy is not guesswork; it is God’s settled plan, unfolding precisely in time (Acts 2:23; 4:27-28). • Every step to the cross is governed—no surprise, no derailment, no plan B. • Christ’s voluntary submission (“will go”) shows God’s sovereign will fulfilled through a willing Son (John 10:17-18). Human Responsibility Exposed • “woe to that man” – divine lament pronounces real accountability on Judas. • Judas is not a puppet; his betrayal springs from greed and unbelief (John 12:6; James 1:13-15). • “better…if he had not been born” underscores the seriousness of personal guilt and coming judgment (Hebrews 10:29-31). • Scripture never excuses sin because God foreknew or foretold it (Ezekiel 18:20). Bringing the Two Truths Together • God ordains the cross; Judas chooses betrayal. Both are simultaneously true (Genesis 50:20). • Sovereignty never violates human will; it works through it. • Responsibility never thwarts sovereignty; it fulfills it. • The harmony is ultimately resolved in God’s infinite wisdom (Romans 11:33-36). Why This Matters for Us • Confidence: Our lives rest in the same sovereign hands that guided Jesus to Calvary (Romans 8:28-30). • Sobriety: Our choices carry eternal weight. Foreknowledge is never permission to sin (Galatians 6:7-8). • Worship: Marvel that God used the darkest human act to bring the brightest redemption (2 Corinthians 5:21). • Urgency: Submit to Christ today; unwilling hearts share Judas’s peril (Hebrews 3:12-15). |
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