While
they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered up into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and the third day he will be raised up.” They were exceedingly sorry.
Matthew 17:22-23
Matthew 17 [20.] He said to them, “Because of your unbelief. For most certainly I tell you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. But this kind doesn’t go out except by prayer and fasting.”
Matthew 17 [22.] While they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered up into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and the third day he will be raised up.” They were exceedingly sorry.
Matthew 17 [24.] When they had come to Capernaum, those who collected the didrachma coins came to Peter, and said, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the didrachma?” He said, “Yes.”
When he came into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth receive toll or tribute? From their children, or from strangers?”
Meaning:
After the transfiguration and the healing of the epileptic boy (Matthew 17:14-18), Jesus and his disciples stayed for a while in Galilee. Their journey would soon lead south to Jerusalem. Here, for the second time, Jesus tells them plainly what will happen to him there. He had first said it at Caesarea Philippi, right after Peter’s confession (Matthew 16:21). Mark records this second announcement too (Mark 9:30-31).
- “While they were staying in Galilee”
Galilee was where Jesus had done most of his teaching and miracles, among crowds who were amazed at him. Mark says that at this time “He didn’t want anyone to know it. For he was teaching his disciples” (Mark 9:30-31). Jesus was spending time alone with the twelve, preparing them for what was coming. He did not want them to be taken by surprise.
- “The Son of Man is about to be delivered up into the hands of men”
The words “delivered up” look forward to several hands. Judas would hand Jesus over to the chief priests; they would hand him over to Pilate; Pilate would hand him over to be crucified. Behind all of these stood God’s own purpose. Peter later preached that Jesus was “delivered up by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God” (Acts 2:23). Paul wrote that God “didn’t spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all” (Romans 8:32). There is a striking contrast: the Son of Man, whom Daniel saw receiving glory and an everlasting kingdom (Daniel 7:13-14), is handed over into the hands of ordinary men.
- “and they will kill him, and the third day he will be raised up”
Jesus speaks of his death without hesitation. He knew what lay ahead and walked toward it willingly. Yet once again he joins his death to his resurrection. The third day had been foreshadowed in Scripture: “On the third day he will raise us up, and we will live before him” (Hosea 6:2). Later, on the road to Jerusalem, Jesus gave a third and fuller announcement, adding that he would be mocked, scourged and handed over to the Gentiles (Mark 10:33-34).
- “They were exceedingly sorry”
This time the disciples did not argue, as Peter had done before (Matthew 16:22-23). They were deeply saddened. Their sorrow shows that they understood that Jesus was going to die, but they did not grasp the promise of resurrection. Mark tells us, “they didn’t understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him” (Mark 9:32). Their grief was real, but it was not the end of the story. Jesus later promised them, “Therefore you now have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you” (John 16:22).
The Significance of Matthew 17:22-23
- Jesus went to the cross knowingly
Jesus was not trapped by events. He foretold his death and walked toward it out of love and obedience to the Father. His suffering was for us.
- Hold on to the whole message
The disciples heard “they will kill him” and missed “he will be raised up.” Believers can also focus on sorrow and forget the promise. The cross is always followed by the resurrection.
- Sorrow turned to joy
Grief over loss is real, and Jesus does not dismiss it. But for those who belong to him, sorrow is not the last word.
Cross-References:
Mark 9:31: “The Son of Man is being handed over to the hands of men, and they will kill him;” Mark’s parallel.
Mark 9:32: “But they didn’t understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.” The disciples’ response.
Acts 2:23: “delivered up by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God,” God’s purpose in the cross.
John 16:22: “Therefore you now have sorrow, but I will see you again,” Sorrow turned into joy.
Conclusion: In Galilee, Jesus again told his disciples that he would be delivered into the hands of men, killed and raised on the third day. The disciples were filled with sorrow, understanding his death but not yet his resurrection. Jesus went to the cross knowingly and for our sake, and his promise of resurrection turns sorrow into joy.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible