What does Luke 22:22 mean?

The disciples are hearing a puzzling warning from Jesus: that one of them will betray Him. They are still at the table, eating. The disciples are slowly learning that this Passover is different from any other they have celebrated. This revelation shocks them to the core.

Scripture never says exactly why Judas betrays Jesus. The likeliest and simplest answer is for money (John 12:4–6). He may have been angry at Jesus for not being the conquering warlord Judas expected. Or perhaps Judas rejected the idea of a sacrificial Messiah and thought that forcing a fight on Jesus would spark the revolution. Like most things people do, Judas probably had several intertwined motives.

The spiritual situation around this betrayal is more complicated. From different angles, it appears God, Jesus, and Satan are all involved.

God chose Judas to be one of Jesus' disciples. He also chose him to be a "son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled" (John 17:12). Does that make God responsible for Judas's choice? No. It makes God responsible for putting Judas in a position where his choice, although evil, furthers God's plan. God knows who Judas is and uses that knowledge. That doesn't mean God tempts or forces Judas to sin. God places him in a situation where he can demonstrate the depth of his faith (1 Peter 1:6–7). Judas chooses to fail, as God knew he would.

Nor is Jesus responsible for Judas's actions. Jesus specifically says:

"For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This is the charge I have received from my Father" (John 10:17–18).

Jesus knows He will die and allows others to kill Him. That doesn't absolve Judas of his own contribution to Jesus' death.

Finally, Satan is not responsible for Judas's choices. John explains that at this moment, Satan enters Judas and Jesus tells him to do what he has planned to do (John 13:27). But Satan isn't changing Judas's heart, making him want to betray Christ. Satan joins in the work Judas already wants to do, perhaps strengthening his resolve, after Jesus notifies them of the proper timing for that work.

Judas is responsible for his attitudes, his rejection of Jesus, and his choice to offer Jesus to the Sanhedrin (Mark 14:10–11). He is responsible for going to the chief priests and leading a group of temple soldiers and servants to arrest Jesus. The fact that Satan is involved doesn't mitigate Judas's own culpability, nor does the fact that Judas realizes the repercussions of his actions when Jesus is condemned to crucifixion (Matthew 27:3–5).

Though our choices may be different, the role of sin in our lives is the same. God knows how we will react to our circumstances. But those influences in our lives don't relieve us of responsibility for our own actions. The more we know, the more we are guilty (John 9:41), but we cannot blame our choices on others (1 Corinthians 10:13). The "woe," or judgment, Judas receives is well-deserved, as is the judgment against us (Romans 6:23).