Mark 14:21 (WEB)
For the Son of Man goes as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for that man if he had not been born.”
Catechism · 1
“Do this in remembrance of me." and likewise the cup after supper, saying, "This cup which is poured out for you is the New Covenant in my blood."” — Catechism footnote: Lk 22:7-20; Cf. Mt 26:17-29; Mk 14:12-25; 1 Cor 11:23-26.
Fathers and councils · 17
Irenaeus of Lyons
“Besides, the Lord also declared regarding him, “Woe to the man by whom the Son of man shall be betrayed;” and, “It were better for him if he had never been born;” and he was called the “son of perdition” by Him.” — editor's note: Mark xiv. 21.
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John Damascene
“Although, then, the Lord said, Good were it for that man that he had never been born, He said it in condemnation not of His own creation but of the evil which His own creation had acquired by his own choice and through his own heedlessness.” — editor's note: St. Mark xiv. 21.
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Augustine of Hippo
“In what we have now presented for consideration here, the other three evangelists, who also record such matters, offer nothing calculated to raise any question of serious difficulty.” — editor's note: Mark xiv. 17–21; Luke xxii. 14–23; John xiii. 21–27.
Read the whole comment“Mark, too, is at one with him here as regards both the words themselves and the order of narration.” — editor's note: Mark xiv. 19–21.
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Basil the Great
“Yes; and it is written, the Son of Man was ordained to be betrayed, but woe unto that man by whom He was betrayed.” — editor's note: cf. Mark xiv. 21.
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Catena Aurea on Mark
- BedeCatena Aurea on Mark
The Lord Who had foretold His Passion, prophesied also of the traitor, in order to give him room for repentance, that understanding that his thoughts were known, he might repent. Wherefore it is said, “And in the…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Mark
Where it is evident that He did not proclaim him openly to all, lest He should make him the more shameless; at the same time He did not altogether keep it silent, lest thinking that he was not discovered, he should…
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on Mark
But how could they eat reclining, when the law ordered that standing and upright they should eat the Passover? It is probable that they had first fulfilled the legal Passover, and had reclined, when He began to give…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Mark
The evening of the day points out the evening of the world; for the last, who are the first to receive the penny of eternal life, come about the eleventh hour. All the disciples then are touched by the Lord; so that…
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on Mark
But the other disciples began to be saddened on account of the word of the Lord; for although they were free from this passion, yet they trust Him Who knows all hearts, rather than themselves. It goes on: “And he…
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on Mark
That is, Judas, who when the others were sad and held back their hands, puts forth his hand with his Master into the dish. And because He had before said, One of you shall betray me, and yet the traitor perseveres in…
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Again, He says, “One out of the twelve”, as it were, separate from them, for the wolf carries away from the flock the sheep which he has taken, and the sheep which quits the fold lies open to the bite of the wolf.…
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on Mark
The word here used, “goeth”, shews that the death of Christ was not forced, but voluntary.
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Mark
But because many do good, in the way that Judas did, without its profiting them, there follows: “Woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.”
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on Mark
Woe, too, to that man, today and forever, who comes to the Lord’s table with an evil intent. For he, after the example of Judas, betrays the Lord, not indeed to Jewish sinners, but to his own sinning members. It goes…
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That is, hidden in his mother’s inmost womb, for it is better for a man not to exist than to exist for torments.
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on Mark
For as respects the end for which he was designed, it would have been better for him to have been born, if he had not been the betrayer, for God created him for good works; but after he had fallen into such dreadful…
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Cross-references · 11
Cited together with
Cited together in Against Heresies II.20.
Cited together in Against Heresies II.20.
Cited together in Against Heresies II.20.
Cited together in Against Heresies II.20.
Cited together in Against Heresies II.20.
Cited together in Against Heresies II.20.
Cited together in Against Heresies II.20.
Cited together in Against Heresies II.20.
Cited together in Against Heresies II.20.
Parallel passages
Matthew 12:8 and Mark 14:21 share the same wording (6 words).
Matthew 26:24 and Mark 14:21 share the same wording (30 words).