Matthew 20 17

Matthew 20 17 Cross References

h2Cross References

h2Context

Matthew 20:17 marks a crucial juncture in Jesus' journey towards Jerusalem and the culmination of His earthly ministry. It immediately follows the parable of the laborers in the vineyard (Mat 20:1-16), which illustrates God's grace and surprising generosity in His kingdom, a lesson relevant to the disciples' differing understandings of reward and position. This verse also continues the narrative thread of Jesus' "passion predictions," which begin in Matthew 16:21 and are repeated with increasing specificity. This particular prophecy, and the one that follows, represents the third and most detailed warning to His disciples regarding His suffering, death, and resurrection in Jerusalem. Historically, Jerusalem was the capital and religious center of Israel, the traditional place for pilgrimage and major feasts, and crucially, the predetermined place for the Messiah's final work, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies.

h2Word analysis

• As Jesus was going up (Ἀναβαίνων τοῦ Ἰησοῦ): The Greek verb anabainō means "to go up, ascend." This term accurately reflects Jerusalem's geographical elevation, situated on hills. Spiritually and symbolically, "going up" to Jerusalem signifies a deliberate and determined ascent towards the place of destiny and divine fulfillment, the apex of Jesus' redemptive mission. This is no casual journey but a resolute progress towards His atoning work.
• to Jerusalem (εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα - eis Hierosolyma): Jerusalem was not merely a city but the heart of Jewish faith and national identity. It was the chosen location for the temple, where prophecies would be fulfilled, and where the most significant events of salvation history were to unfold. For Jesus, it was the destined place of His final Passover, suffering, and resurrection. This journey to Jerusalem is a consistent theme throughout the Gospels in His final phase of ministry.
• he took (παραλαβὼν - paralabōn): From paralambanō, meaning "to take to oneself, receive alongside, adopt." This implies an intentional, deliberate action. Jesus didn't just walk with them; He drew them near, distinguishing them from the larger traveling company. This act underscores the solemnity and importance of the message He was about to impart.
• the twelve disciples (τοὺς δώδεκα μαθητὰς - tous dōdeka mathētas): This specific designation highlights the inner circle, the apostolic core chosen by Jesus. They were His most intimate followers, destined to be the witnesses and founders of the early church. Singling them out implies a special revelation and preparation for the events they were about to witness and subsequently preach.
• aside (κατ’ ἰδίαν - kat' idian): This phrase means "privately, separately." Jesus intentionally withdrew from the crowd, signifying that the coming revelation was not for everyone, but for His most trusted and prepared followers. This private instruction indicates the sensitive, profound, and difficult nature of the truth He was about to share, something that the general populace, and even the other disciples, might not fully grasp or accept at this stage.
• and said to them (εἶπεν αὐτοῖς - eipen autois): Simple yet authoritative. Jesus, as the master and teacher, delivers a direct message. This statement serves as an introduction to the explicit details of His passion and resurrection found in the subsequent verses (Mat 20:18-19), marking this as a prophetic disclosure of divine necessity.

h2Commentary

Matthew 20:17 is a pivotal verse, serving as the narrative bridge between parables of kingdom life and the impending reality of Jesus' atoning work. It sets the scene for the third, most explicit, and comprehensive passion prediction in Matthew's Gospel. Jesus' deliberate ascent to Jerusalem underscores His resolve and awareness of divine purpose; He was not a victim of circumstance, but a willing participant in God's redemptive plan. By taking the twelve aside, He emphasized the crucial importance and intimate nature of the truth He was about to reveal—the unavoidable path of suffering leading to His resurrection. This private instruction aimed to prepare His inner circle for the profound paradigm shift from an expected conquering Messiah to a suffering Servant, a concept that even they struggled to comprehend until after His resurrection and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This verse marks the intensifying focus on the cross, signaling that the ultimate purpose of His earthly ministry was rapidly approaching its climax in Jerusalem.

h2Bonus sectionThe disciples' continued struggle to grasp the full meaning of Jesus' passion predictions, despite their increasing clarity (as seen in Mk 10:32 and Lk 18:34), highlights the profound human tendency to filter divine truth through preconceived notions, especially concerning the Messiah's role. Even those closest to Jesus harbored strong expectations of a triumphant, political king. This spiritual "blindness" or difficulty in understanding often required the post-resurrection experience and the Spirit's illumination for full comprehension (Lk 24:25-27, 44-45; Act 1:6). Matthew's inclusion of this explicit prophecy (the third of its kind) emphasizes Jesus' full foreknowledge and deliberate journey toward His destined sacrifice, demonstrating that His death was not an accident but a divinely ordained necessity.