Rather than a passage from the gospel of Matthew, I think this is actually a reference to the arabic expression “Maktub”, which, translated into English, is literally “it is written”, although in The Alchemist, the author maintains that his word has no direct english equivalent.

It’s basically the idea that destiny can exist even within free will. Right when Jamal met with Latika at the end he said “it was our destiny” or something along those lines, which was followed shortly by the “It is written” screen. I took it to mean that no matter what things happened during their lives, the end result was going to be the same, so it is written. Maktub.

My.Bad.

- J

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In short, “Wonderful Life,” starring the unanimously sympathetic Jimmy Stewart as the even more sympathetic George Bailey, is set up as a masterful example of a fellow who finds favor with God by means of a series of good works. This is detailed in the pre-angelic bestowal “orientation” Clarence receives as George’s deeds are recounted, telling us, the audience, how meritorious his selflessness is.

The power of prayer is affirmed in “Wonderful Life,” but the nature of the prayers themselves, you’ll no doubt recall, follow along the lines of imploring God to help George because of what a good guy he is. This is a message that continues to resonate with nearly all of us, myself included, because such teaching is supportive of our reflexive sense of personal merit as justice, which I would argue, is an outgrowth of our national obsession with self-sufficiency – “God helps those who help themselves.”

“It’s a Wonderful Life,” therefore, marvelous as it is, is more a reflection of our civil religion rather than an explication of redemption as laid out in the Bible.

“Slumdog” has no such good-guy-gets-ahead-because-he’s-nice conceit. The young man sits in the game show chair that is the site of both judgment (not to mention his interrogation!) and review of his life and he steadfastly denies a claim to good works, knowledge, or personal character — his only plea is “it is written.”

For the Christian, there is a powerful lesson: in EVERY circumstance in which our protagonist was placed, God had an overt and specific purpose, as evidenced by the memories triggered by the game show questions. At the crucial moment when circumstance, worldly support (e.g., “phone-a-friend”) failed him, his quietly confident declaration of “it is written” served as a vindication for those of us who are truly relying on God for our very sustenance.

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The latter is a much more deeply religious answer and is the answer that the film promotes.

“It is written” implies not only divine authorship of the strains of life, but presents the idea that the author of the writing is a rewarder of those who seek the author. Jamal clearly believes in God (even if he doesn’t follow Muslim practices with much vigor—he’s kind of like Lewis’ Calormene/Pigmy-in-Africa) and is certain that God is going to work all this out in such a way that a happy conclusion is necessary. He doesn’t stop to consider the breadth of his God’s writing and how if it ordains his happiness, it must also ordain the tragedies his happiness is founded upon—but he clearly believes this is more than just the soulless grinding forth of some deterministic clockwork destiny or the blind skein-weaving of Norns.

The trailer, I think, wishes to downplay the religious aspect of the film in order to Not Scare potential filmgoers.
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To a topic unrelated to Slumdog but related to your post: reacting to God’s plan.

While you are not the most happy with those who will cite God’s supremacy over his creation as a bid to comfort you in the midst of your difficulties and, perhaps, suffering, I personally find such reminders essential. When difficult circumstances arise in my life (e.g. personal tragedies, death, the brink of poverty, etc.), I do my best to remember that all these things, good and ill, play role in the greater pageant of God’s written history of all creation and that All Things Work for the Good of Those Who Believe. If repeated mindlessly, such sentiments are trite and smack of “Aw, it’ll be alright” syrupy lies. But, if I am truly anguishing over my circumstance, then all signs are pointing toward me both forgetting my place in the world and forgetting God has ordained these things to pass as they have and that he has promised me (through his Word) that all of this works for my benefit, the benefit of all other believers, and for the benefit of his name and kingdom.

And if I have forgotten or am disbelieving that such is the case, then I am perpetrating blaspheme and need to be quickly reminded what’s what.

So when I get those knowing sympathies from people reminding me that God has a plan or that All things work for good, I make active use of the reminder by preaching it to my soul—no matter whether the original advice was deeply intended or mere trite regurgitation.
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Also, you say: “Such intended reassurances make me feel, even though I know it’s not the case, that God’s plan entails him willing bad things to happen to me.”

What makes you think that God’s plan doesn’t entail him willing bad things to happen to you? God seems to will bad things to happen to the righteous all over the Bible. Take, for instance, Jesus. Or for a less robust example, Paul’s declaration that suffering is good because that is how God intends us to grow in hope and strength.

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