Matthew 17 22

Matthew 17:22 kjv

And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:

Matthew 17:22 nkjv

Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men,

Matthew 17:22 niv

When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.

Matthew 17:22 esv

As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men,

Matthew 17:22 nlt

After they gathered again in Galilee, Jesus told them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies.

Matthew 17 verses

Matthew 17 22 Meaning

Matthew 17:22 presents Jesus' second explicit prophecy of His impending betrayal, suffering, and death. It serves as a stark reminder of the Messiah's preordained path to the cross, contrasting the recent revelation of His glory during the Transfiguration with the necessary reality of His suffering at the hands of humanity. It emphasizes His divine foreknowledge and submission to the Father's plan.

Matthew 17 22 Context

This verse is situated immediately after the transformative experience of the Transfiguration (Mt 17:1-8) and the subsequent healing of an epileptic boy, which highlighted the disciples' struggle with faith (Mt 17:14-20). The Transfiguration unveiled Jesus' divine glory, confirming His identity as the Son of God, yet here, just moments after that zenith, He refocuses His disciples' attention on His suffering and death. This repeated prediction underscores the necessity of the Cross, presenting a stark paradox: the glorified Son of God must suffer. This truth was difficult for the disciples to comprehend, as they, along with most Jews, held expectations of a conquering Messiah who would establish an earthly kingdom. Jesus' teaching consistently corrected these mistaken beliefs, introducing the reality of a suffering Messiah. Their presence "in Galilee" suggests a private moment of instruction away from the immediate pressures of Jerusalem, allowing for intimate teaching.

Matthew 17 22 Word analysis

• And while they abode (ἀναστρεφομένων δὲ αὐτῶν, anastrephesthon de autōn): This phrase can mean "as they were moving about," "as they were returning," or "as they were dwelling." It indicates their itinerant activity in the region of Galilee. The Greek highlights an ongoing situation, emphasizing that this teaching was given during their continuous ministry in this northern region, likely in a private setting as they journeyed. It conveys a sense of intimate instruction apart from the crowds.
• in Galilee (ἐν τῇ Γαλιλαιά, en tē Galilaia): Galilee was Jesus' primary area of ministry, often considered "Galilee of the Gentiles" (Is 9:1), where His message of the Kingdom began to spread. It was a region of both Jewish and Gentile inhabitants. This setting emphasizes that Jesus' passion prophecies were given away from the religious hub of Jerusalem, where His fate would eventually be sealed.
• Jesus said unto them (ἔφη αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς, ephē autois ho Iēsous): A direct declaration from Jesus, addressed specifically to His disciples. The emphasis is on His authoritative teaching and the directness with which He delivers this profound and counter-intuitive truth to His closest followers.
• The Son of man (Ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, Ho Huios tou anthrōpou): Jesus' self-designation, deeply rooted in Dan 7:13-14, where it refers to a heavenly figure invested with divine authority and eternal dominion. Yet, Jesus' use paradoxically emphasizes both His divine, authoritative nature and His identification with suffering humanity, particularly His preordained role in undergoing rejection and death. It's a title that simultaneously speaks of glory and humility, ultimate authority and sacrificial service.
• shall be betrayed (μέλλει παραδίδοσθαι, mellei paradidosthai): Mellei indicates something "is about to happen" or "is destined to happen," conveying divine necessity. Paradidosthai (passive infinitive of paradidomi) literally means "to be delivered over" or "to be handed over." While it anticipates Judas's act of betrayal (the common translation), the term is broader, encompassing the divine orchestration whereby Jesus was "given up" by God's own will (Rom 8:32) to the hands of human authorities for crucifixion. This is not a passive surrender but an active submission within God's sovereign plan.
• into the hands of men (εἰς χεῖρας ἀνθρώπων, eis cheiras anthrōpōn): "Hands" signify agency, power, and authority. Being handed into them denotes complete control and subjugation. The phrase highlights human responsibility and the fact that ordinary people, acting under the instigation of evil, would carry out the act. It stands in contrast to divine power, emphasizing Jesus' voluntary surrender to human authorities for the ultimate purpose of atonement. It underscores the severity of His impending suffering.

Matthew 17 22 Bonus section

• This prediction, along with the first (Mt 16:21) and third (Mt 20:17-19), forms a prophetic chain in Matthew's Gospel, showing Jesus systematically preparing His disciples for His atoning death, even if they could not yet fully grasp it.
• The continued private instruction "in Galilee" for this crucial teaching indicates Jesus' focused investment in His core disciples, preparing them for their future roles as witnesses. The repeated nature of the prophecy emphasizes its importance and the disciples' spiritual dullness regarding such a critical truth.
• The theological depth of "Son of Man" combined with "betrayed into the hands of men" highlights the profound paradox of the Incarnation: the divine sovereign willingly subjected Himself to human will and sin for the redemption of humanity.

Matthew 17 22 Commentary

Matthew 17:22 serves as the pivotal second prediction of Jesus' passion, carefully placed after the glorious Transfiguration. This stark juxtaposition immediately highlights a central theme of Christ's mission: His path to glory runs directly through suffering and death. Despite having witnessed His divine glory and power, the disciples remained bewildered by these predictions, struggling to reconcile their nationalistic, triumphant Messianic expectations with the concept of a suffering Savior. This verse emphasizes Jesus' perfect foreknowledge of the events, assuring the disciples (and readers) that His ultimate sacrifice was not a tragic accident but part of a deliberate, divinely ordained plan. The phrase "delivered over into the hands of men" encapsulates not just the treachery of Judas but also the human responsibility of those who would condemn and crucify Him, all occurring within God's sovereign will to accomplish salvation.