Matthew 20:17-19 Meaning: Why He Took Them Aside
17As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them,
18“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death,
19and will hand him over to the Gentiles to mock, to scourge, and to crucify; and the third day he will be raised up.”
17And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,
18Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,
19And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.
17And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples apart, and on the way he said unto them,
18Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests and scribes; and they shall condemn him to death,
19and shall deliver him unto the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify: and the third day he shall be raised up.
17And Jesus going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples by themselves in the way, and said to them,
18`Lo, we go up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man shall be delivered to the chief priests and scribes,
19and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the nations to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify, and the third day he will rise again.'
17And Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples with [him] apart in the way, and said to them,
18Behold we go up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man will be delivered up to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death;
19and they will deliver him up to the nations to mock and to scourge and to crucify, and the third day he shall rise again.
Meaning in one sentence
Jesus privately foretells his suffering, death, and resurrection to prepare the twelve disciples for what is coming. Matthew 20:17-19 explained.
Context
Matthew places this scene on the road to Jerusalem, the final journey toward Passover. Jesus has already predicted his death twice. Now he pulls the twelve disciples away from the crowd and speaks to them alone. He wants them to understand what no one else can yet hear. The chapter began with a parable about God's unexpected generosity. It will end with a mother asking for seats of honor. Right in the middle, Jesus tells his closest friends the hardest truth: he is going up to Jerusalem to be betrayed, condemned, mocked, scourged, and crucified. He also tells them the third day he will rise. He is not caught off guard. He is leading the way.
Key Words
Three Greek words carry the weight of this passage. The first is anabainō, “going up.” It is the same word used when someone climbs a hill or ascends to the temple. Jesus is not just walking to Jerusalem. He is rising toward the place where he will be offered. The word suggests purpose and direction, not drift. The second word is paradothēsetai, “will be delivered.” The verb is passive. Jesus is handed over, first by Judas, then by the priests, then by Pilate. But the passive also hints at a deeper hand. He is delivered up according to the Father's plan, not by accident. The third word is egerthēsetai, “will be raised.” Again passive. God the Father will raise him. The same power that brings the dead to life is already at work. Jesus does not leave his disciples with death as the final word. He leaves them with a promise that only God can keep.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians from every tradition recognize these verses as a turning point. Jesus is not a victim caught by surprise. He walks toward suffering with open eyes. Catholic readings often see this as Jesus instituting his apostles into the mystery of his sacrifice. Protestant commentators emphasize the substitutionary meaning: the Son of Man is delivered up for sinners. Orthodox tradition highlights Christ's voluntary descent into death and his victory over it on the third day. What unites them is the conviction that Jesus tells the truth about what is coming, and he does not let death have the final word.
A common misunderstanding
Many readers assume that when Jesus told the disciples about his death, they understood what he meant. In fact, the Gospel of Luke says plainly:
Jesus spoke the truth, but his closest friends could not grasp it until after the resurrection.“They understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they didn’t understand the things that were said.”
— Luke 18:34 (WEB)
Living This Out
Jesus took his disciples aside because they needed to hear this away from the crowd. They were not ready for public discussion. They were barely ready to hear it at all. This week, consider what hard truth you might be avoiding. Jesus does not force it on you in public. He invites you apart, into quiet, and speaks plainly. He does not promise ease, but he promises the third day. Whatever you are walking toward, you do not walk alone. The one who was raised walks ahead of you.
Main takeaway: Jesus took his disciples aside to tell them plainly that he would suffer, die, and rise, so they could trust his path when all seemed lost.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Jesus told his friends something hard: people would hurt him. But he also said he would come back to life. Jesus wanted them to know the good news even when things looked bad.
For ages 9, 12
Jesus took his disciples apart from the crowd to tell them a secret. He was going to Jerusalem to be arrested and killed. But he also said he would rise again on the third day. The disciples did not understand at the time, but later they remembered. It teaches us that Jesus knows what is coming, and he is honest with us, and the resurrection is always the end of the story.
Questions People Ask
Why did Jesus take the twelve disciples aside for this prediction?
He wanted to speak to them privately, away from the crowd. The road to Jerusalem was crowded with Passover travelers. Jesus had something hard to share, and his disciples needed to hear it without distraction. He was preparing them, not the public, for what was about to happen.
What does “Son of Man” mean in this passage?
It is the title Jesus most often used for himself. It connects him to the prophesied figure in Daniel who receives authority and an everlasting kingdom. At the same time, it emphasizes his full humanity. In these verses, Jesus shows that the Son of Man must suffer and die, which surprised many who expected a conquering Messiah.
Why did Jesus predict his death three separate times?
This is the third recorded prediction. Each time Jesus added more detail. The repetition shows how important it was for the disciples to understand. Adam Clarke notes that this was a subject of utmost importance, and they needed to be prepared for such an awful event.
Did the disciples understand what Jesus was telling them?
No. Luke 18:34 says that they understood none of these things and the meaning was hidden from them. They were still thinking in terms of an earthly kingdom. Only after the resurrection did the predictions make sense.
Who are the “Gentiles” in verse 19?
They are the Roman authorities and soldiers. The chief priests condemned Jesus under Jewish law, but only the Roman governor could carry out a death sentence. The Gentiles would mock, scourge, and crucify him. This fulfilled Jesus’ words and showed that his sacrifice was for all nations, not just Israel.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study