Luke 18:31-34 · Bible study
Luke 18:31-34 Commentary: Why the Disciples Missed Jesus' Clear Prediction
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Jesus' third passion prediction in Luke links his suffering to Old Testament prophecy, yet the Twelve could not understand. Explore why.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Jesus discloses that his impending suffering and death are the exact fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, and he will rise again, yet the disciples cannot comprehend.
- Key words: “accomplished” (τελεσθήσεται) - passive of divine fulfillment; “hidden” (κεκρυμμένον) - perfect passive participle indicating a state of concealment.
- Main debate: Why the disciples failed, due to divine concealment, human prejudice, or both.
- Theological theme: The suffering Messiah as foretold by Scripture; the necessity of divine revelation for understanding God’s ways.
- Best use: A Lenten sermon on prophecy and fulfillment, or a discipleship lesson on trusting God’s plan when it does not match expectations.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
31Then Jesus took the Twelve aside and said to them, “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything the prophets have written about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.
32He will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon.
33They will flog Him and kill Him, and on the third day He will rise again.”
34But the disciples did not understand any of these things. The meaning was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend what He was saying.
WEB World English Bible 2000
31He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all the things that are written through the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be completed.
32For he will be delivered up to the Gentiles, will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit on.
33They will scourge and kill him. On the third day, he will rise again.”
34They understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they didn’t understand the things that were said.
KJV King James Version 1769
31Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.
32For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:
33And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.
34And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
31And he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all the things that are written through the prophets shall be accomplished unto the Son of man.
32For he shall be delivered up unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and shamefully treated, and spit upon:
33and they shall scourge and kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.
34And they understood none of these things; and this saying was hid from them, and they perceived not the things that were said.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
31And having taken the twelve aside, he said unto them, `Lo, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things shall be completed--that have been written through the prophets--to the Son of Man,
32for he shall be delivered up to the nations, and shall be mocked, and insulted, and spit upon,
33and having scourged they shall put him to death, and on the third day he shall rise again.'
34And they none of these things understood, and this saying was hid from them, and they were not knowing the things said.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
31And he took the twelve to [him] and said to them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written of the Son of man by the prophets shall be accomplished;
32for he shall be delivered up to the nations, and shall be mocked, and insulted, and spit upon.
33And when they have scourged [him] they will kill him; and on the third day he will rise again.
34And they understood nothing of these things. And this word was hidden from them, and they did not know what was said.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
31Then Jesus took unto him the twelve and said to them: Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and all things shall be accomplished which were written by the prophets concerning the Son of man.
32For he shall be delivered to the Gentiles and shall be mocked and scourged and spit upon.
33And after they have scourged him, they will put him to death. And the third day he shall rise again.
34And they understood none of these things, and this word was hid from them: and they understood not the things that were said.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Luke 18:31
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that Luke 18:31-34 is Jesus' third and most detailed prediction of his passion, intentionally linking his suffering to Old Testament prophecy. Matthew Henry notes that Christ uses the fulfillment of Scripture to reconcile himself and his disciples to the coming horrors. Barnes and Gill emphasize that Jesus took the Twelve aside privately, indicating the weight of the disclosure. The details, deliverance to Gentiles, mocking, insult, spitting, scourging, death, and resurrection on the third day, correspond to specific prophetic passages like Psalm 22, Isaiah 53, and Daniel 9:26. The disciples' failure to understand is acknowledged by all: Clarke says they could not comprehend how the Messiah could suffer; Calvin attributes it to their false expectations of a triumphant kingdom; Wesley observes that their preconceived opinion blocked comprehension. Some, like the Cambridge Bible, see divine concealment at work, serving to authenticate the later apostolic witness. Despite disagreements on the exact cause, commentators agree that Jesus' words echo the prophets and that the disciples' incomprehension was complete.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Divine concealment: The phrase 'was hidden from them' (κεκρυμμένον) indicates a state of concealment; the Cambridge Bible suggests this authenticated later apostolic testimony.
- Human prejudice: Barnes, Calvin and Wesley argue that the disciples' messianic expectations of a conqueror made them unwilling or unable to accept a suffering Messiah.
- Combined view: Both divine sovereignty and human weakness operate; Calvin mentions both the disciples' 'false imagination' and the hidden purpose of God.
What is clear: Jesus knowingly and willfully fulfilled prophetic Scripture in his suffering, death, and resurrection—a fact the disciples later came to understand and proclaim.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Cause of the disciples' incomprehension | All agree the disciples failed to understand Jesus' clear prediction of suffering and death. | Some (Barnes, Wesley) point to human prejudice and messianic expectations. Others (Calvin, Cambridge Bible) see a measure of divine concealment, perhaps to strengthen later witness. |
| Applicability of OT prophecies to Jesus | Jesus himself claims that the prophets wrote specifically about the Son of Man's sufferings. | Some traditions (Reformed, Anglican) read those OT passages as direct predictions of the Messiah; others (some critical scholars) see them as originally referring to Israel or the prophet, later applied typologically to Jesus by the early church. |
| Role of Gentiles in the passion | Jesus predicts delivery to Gentiles, as fulfilled in Pilate and Roman soldiers. | Some see this as highlighting the universal scope of salvation; others focus on Israel's rejection of the Messiah leading to Gentile involvement in his death. |
Historical & Cultural Context
This passage occurs on Jesus' final journey to Jerusalem for Passover, after the raising of Lazarus and the Sanhedrin's decision to kill him (John 11). Luke notes that Jesus took the Twelve aside from the larger traveling group, likely including the women who ministered to him (Luke 8:2-3). The road from Jericho to Jerusalem was a known route for Passover pilgrims; the city was swelling with worshippers. Jesus' use of 'Behold, we go up to Jerusalem' employs the present-tense verb 'go up' (ἀναβαίνομεν), creating a sense of immediate destiny, this is not a future plan but a present march toward fulfillment.
Culturally, Jewish expectation of the Messiah centered on a conquering king who would overthrow Rome and restore Israel. Suffering and death were not part of that picture; even the disciples had petitioned for positions of honor (Mark 10:35-40). Jesus' prediction that the Messiah would be 'delivered to the Gentiles' was especially shocking: Gentiles were the enemy, not partners in God's plan. Yet the prophets had spoken of the Servant who would be 'led as a lamb to the slaughter' (Isaiah 53:7, cf. Acts 8:32-33). Jesus is staking his identity on these very writings.
The Greek preposition διά ('through') in 'written through the prophets' (v.31) highlights the prophets as secondary agents; God is the ultimate author of the prophetic word (Vincent). This framing invests the entire passion with theological necessity: it is not tragic happenstance but divine purpose unfolding.
The disciples' failure is described with three parallel statements in verse 34: they understood nothing 'none of these things' (οὐδὲν τούτων); the saying 'was hidden' from them (κεκρυμμένον, perfect passive participle, a state of concealment), and they 'were not knowing' (ἐγίνωσκον, imperfect tense) the things being said. The combination suggests both human limitation and possibly divine veiling. Barnes mentions their unwillingness to believe; Calvin speaks of a 'false imagination' seizing their minds. The Cambridge Bible adds that this hiddenness later gave 'prodigious weight' to their testimony, since they could not have fabricated such a prediction.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Luke 18:31-34. The agreement among Greek manuscripts is strong; minor differences in word order do not affect meaning.
Reception History
Throughout church history, Luke 18:31-34 has been read as a key text showing Jesus' self-understanding as the suffering Messiah of prophecy. Early church fathers like Irenaeus and Augustine cited these verses to argue against those who denied the reality of Christ's suffering (docetism). In the Reformation, Calvin emphasized the disciples' dullness as a warning against allowing human expectations to cloud the plain sense of Scripture. The passage has been especially used during Holy Week to illustrate the cost of redemption and the disciples' journey from incomprehension to witness. Modern interpreters often focus on the disciples' failure as a mirror for our own blind spots when God's plans cross our hopes.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Jesus foretells his suffering as the fulfillment of Scripture. He does not speak of random tragedy but of what God had planned and promised through the prophets.
- The specific details show the full extent of his humiliation and death. From betrayal to Gentiles, to mocking, scourging and crucifixion, the cup is drained to the dregs.
- The disciples’ inability to see points to our own need for divine revelation. Even clear words can be hidden from hearts set on a different hope.
Five-point outline
- The setting: a private disclosure on the road. Jesus takes the Twelve aside for an intimate, weighty conversation.
- The claim: all OT prophecies about the Son of Man will be accomplished. The prophets wrote of him, and nothing will fail.
- The specifics: delivered to Gentiles, mocked, insulted, spit upon, scourged, killed. Each word is a picture of utter degradation.
- The hope: on the third day he will rise again. The darkest prediction carries a promise that redefines everything.
- The riddle: they understood none of these things. The saying was hidden from them, a warning that our assumptions can block us from God’s truth.
Illustration hooks
- A child who cannot understand why a parent allows a painful medical treatment, even though the parent explains the purpose clearly.
- A sports team that hears the coach’s game plan but still expects a different strategy based on their own assumptions about what “winning” looks like.
- Receiving detailed travel directions but ignoring them because you think you know a better route.
Questions your congregation is asking
- If Jesus predicted his death so clearly, why did the disciples not understand?
- How can I trust God’s plan when it includes suffering I do not understand?
- What does it mean that the disciples’ lack of understanding was “hidden” from them, was God hiding it?
Leading a Discussion
This passage shows Jesus at his most vulnerable, he knows exactly what awaits him in Jerusalem, and he shares it plainly with his closest friends. Yet they cannot see it. As you work through these questions, notice where your own expectations might keep you from hearing God’s truth.
Discussion questions
- What specific predictions does Jesus make in verses 31-33? List each one.
- How does Jesus connect his suffering to the prophets? What does this tell you about how he read the Old Testament?
- Why do you think the disciples failed to grasp what Jesus was saying? Consider the cultural expectations of the Messiah.
- In verse 34, Luke uses three parallel descriptions of the disciples’ lack of understanding. What might each one emphasize (understood none, hidden from them, did not know)?
- Have you ever had a truth from Scripture that you resisted, not because it was unclear, but because it did not fit what you wanted to believe?
- What does this passage teach us about how God’s plans often involve suffering before glory?
- How does knowing that Jesus’ suffering was the fulfillment of prophecy strengthen your confidence in his identity and purpose?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Psalms 22:1 | For the Chief Musician; set to “The Doe of the Morning.” A Psalm by David. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning? |
| Psalms 22:31 | They shall come and shall declare his righteousness to a people that shall be born, for he has done it. |
| Psalms 69:1 | For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Lilies.” By David. Save me, God, for the waters have come up to my neck! |
| Psalms 69:36 | The children also of his servants shall inherit it. Those who love his name shall dwell therein. |
| Isaiah 53:1 | Who has believed our message? To whom has Yahweh’s arm been revealed? |
| Isaiah 53:12 | Therefore I will give him a portion with the great. He will divide the plunder with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was counted with the transgressors; yet he bore the sins of many and made intercession for the transgressors. |
| Daniel 9:26 | After the sixty-two weeks the Anointed One will be cut off, and will have nothing. The people of the prince who come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end will be with a flood, and war will be even to the end. Desolations are determined. |
| Zechariah 13:7 | “Awake, sword, against my shepherd, and against the man who is close to me,” says Yahweh of Armies. “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; and I will turn my hand against the little ones. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes points out that the disciples did not understand Jesus' predictions even though the Old Testament prophets had plainly spoken of them. Their prejudice and expectation of a conquering king made them unwilling to believe that the Messiah would suffer and die. What now seems clear to us was hidden from them by their own hopes.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin argues the disciples failed to understand Jesus not because the teaching was difficult, but because their own false hope of a glorious earthly kingdom made the cross seem absurd. This stubborn expectation blinded them to the truth. He warns that misguided dreams can seize the mind and shut out light.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
Cambridge Bible Schools places the raising of Lazarus between these verses, noting the Synoptists omitted it deliberately. This miracle led the Sanhedrin, mainly through Caiaphas, to decide Jesus must die, though not during the coming Passover. Jesus then withdrew secretly to Ephraim for his final weeks of calm preparation.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill highlights that Jesus took the twelve aside privately to foretell his coming suffering, death, and resurrection, showing these events were no accident but the fulfillment of prophecy. The disciples understood none of it because they could not reconcile such humiliation with their hopes for a triumphant earthly Messiah.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB observes that Christ read the Old Testament as directly foretelling His own sufferings, contrary to evangelical interpreters who find few such prophecies. The disciples' utter failure to grasp these plain statements, the author argues, only magnified the power and credibility of their later testimony.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry’s distinctive emphasis is that Christ’s approaching suffering removes the offence of the cross by fulfilling everything the prophets wrote about the Son of Man. This exact accomplishment proves the Scriptures are God’s word and that Jesus is the promised Messiah, reconciling both Christ and His disciples to the coming ordeal.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent draws attention to the Greek preposition translated "by," which actually means "through" and marks the prophets as secondary agents. He also observes that the word "saying" refers to things being spoken to the hearers directly at that moment.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley observes that the disciples understood the literal words Jesus spoke about his suffering, but their minds were so fixed on hopes of an earthly kingdom that they could not grasp how those words fit. Their preconceived idea of the Messiah left them confused, searching in vain for some hidden, figurative meaning.