Matthew 20 18

Matthew 20:18 kjv

Behold, 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,

Matthew 20:18 nkjv

"Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death,

Matthew 20:18 niv

"We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death

Matthew 20:18 esv

"See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death

Matthew 20:18 nlt

"Listen," he said, "we're going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die.

Matthew 20 verses

Matthew 20 18 Meaning

Matthew 20:18 is a direct and poignant prophecy by Jesus to His disciples concerning His imminent suffering and death in Jerusalem. He announces that He, referred to as the Son of Man, will be "delivered over" – an action encompassing both betrayal and official handing over – to the chief priests and scribes. These religious authorities, leaders of the Jewish people, will then condemn Him to death. This verse is part of Jesus' third and most detailed passion prediction, revealing the specific players and the verdict that awaits Him in the holy city.

Matthew 20 18 Context

Matthew 20:18 is situated during Jesus' final journey from Galilee towards Jerusalem for Passover, His destiny. This verse forms part of His third and most explicit passion prediction to His disciples, found within the broader discourse on the nature of discipleship and the kingdom of heaven. Directly preceding it is the parable of the laborers in the vineyard (Matt 20:1-16), which illustrates God's grace and challenging conventional ideas of merit and reward, foreshadowing how Jesus' ultimate act of service would be counter-intuitive to human expectations. Immediately following this grim prophecy, the mother of James and John requests positions of honor for her sons in Jesus' kingdom (Matt 20:20-21), highlighting the disciples' continued inability to grasp the spiritual reality of Jesus' mission, particularly His path of suffering and servanthood, rather than earthly power. Historically, Jerusalem was the spiritual, political, and cultural heart of Judea, the destination where prophets were often rejected and killed (Lk 13:33-34). Passover, in particular, was a volatile time in Jerusalem due to increased Roman vigilance, setting a ripe stage for the events of Jesus' trial and crucifixion. The "chief priests and scribes" represent the powerful Jewish religious establishment – primarily the Sanhedrin – who perceived Jesus as a threat to their authority and the prevailing religious order.

Matthew 20 18 Word analysis

• "Behold" (ἰδοὺ - idou): This Greek interjection serves as an exclamation, calling for immediate and focused attention. It signals a weighty and significant pronouncement, underscoring the urgency and certainty of the following revelation. In the Gospels, it frequently introduces divine disclosure or pivotal events.

• "we are going up" (ἀναβαίνομεν - anabainomen): The Greek verb is in the present tense, emphasizing the imminence and ongoing nature of the journey. The term "up" refers geographically to Jerusalem's higher elevation, but also symbolically suggests the final, fateful ascent towards destiny and the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. It highlights Jesus' intentional movement towards the very place prophesied for His death.

• "to Jerusalem": The pre-ordained city of destiny. Jerusalem, as the religious and political center of Judaism, was the seat of the Temple and the Sanhedrin, making it the appropriate place for the climax of Jesus' earthly ministry – both His ultimate sacrifice and His triumph. It signifies the fulfillment of various Old Testament prophecies regarding the Messiah's coming to Zion.

• "and the Son of Man" (ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου - ho huios tou anthrōpou): Jesus' primary self-designation, unique to Him. This title has deep roots in Old Testament prophecy, particularly Daniel 7:13-14, where it denotes a divine, majestic, and authoritative figure, an eschatological judge and ruler. However, Jesus consistently redefines it to also encompass a path of suffering, service, and humility, especially in the Passion predictions (Mk 8:31; 9:31; 10:33). It speaks to His dual nature: true humanity yet divine authority.

• "will be delivered over" (παραδοθήσεται - paradothēsetai): This Greek passive verb implies an act initiated by someone or something beyond the subject's control, pointing to divine necessity and predestination. The term is loaded with meaning in the Passion narratives, referring both to Judas' betrayal (handing Him over) and the Jewish leaders delivering Him to Roman authorities. It emphasizes the surrender of Jesus into the hands of His accusers as part of God's sovereign plan.

• "to the chief priests and scribes" (τοῖς ἀρχιερεῦσιν καὶ γραμματεῦσιν - tois archiereusin kai grammateusin): These two groups represent the most prominent and powerful elements of the Jewish religious leadership in Jerusalem, members of the Sanhedrin. The chief priests oversaw the Temple and religious rituals, often coming from wealthy aristocratic families (like the Sadducees). The scribes were experts in the Mosaic Law and oral traditions, frequently aligned with the Pharisees. These were the primary antagonists who sought Jesus' downfall, embodying the rejection of the Messiah by Israel's established religious elite.

• "and they will condemn him to death" (καὶ κατακρινοῦσιν αὐτὸν θανάτῳ - kai katakrinousin auton thanatō): The Greek verb katakrino means 'to pass sentence upon,' 'to judge worthy of punishment,' or 'to condemn.' This specifies the outcome of Jesus' interaction with the chief priests and scribes: a formal legal verdict. Although the Jewish Sanhedrin could condemn for blasphemy, they lacked the authority under Roman occupation to carry out capital punishment. This prediction implies their clear intention to procure His execution, necessitating His subsequent delivery to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem": This phrase highlights Jesus' divine determination and foresight regarding His mission's ultimate culmination. It signifies an intentional and necessary journey toward His sacrifice, not a haphazard or accidental occurrence.
  • "the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes": This reveals the convergence of divine foreordination ("will be delivered over") with human treachery and institutional opposition. It specifies the key agents involved in orchestrating His trial and condemnation among the Jewish religious leadership, underlining their pivotal role in fulfilling prophecy.
  • "and they will condemn him to death": This statement confirms the specific legal judgment Jesus will face. It demonstrates the Sanhedrin's intent to apply the severest penalty, setting the stage for the subsequent involvement of Roman authority needed for His actual execution.

Matthew 20 18 Bonus section

• The passive voice of "will be delivered over" (παραδοθήσεται) is crucial; it emphasizes that this handing over is not a chance event, but part of a divine plan. It implies God's orchestrating hand behind the human actions, a "divine passive."
• This verse shows the human side of the atonement story, emphasizing the agency of human actors – Judas, the chief priests, and the scribes – in fulfilling God's sovereign will, without alleviating their moral culpability.
• The progression of details in Jesus' Passion predictions (from generic suffering to specific betrayal and condemnation) suggests a progressive revelation, designed to prepare the disciples' hearts, even if their understanding remained incomplete until after the resurrection.
• The choice of Jerusalem is highly significant; it's not merely a geographical location but the place where ultimate sacrifice and redemption, according to prophecy, must occur.

Matthew 20 18 Commentary

Matthew 20:18 represents a crucial escalation in Jesus' communication with His disciples about His impending Passion. It's the most detailed of His three main predictions, adding specific details like the "chief priests and scribes" and the precise verdict of "condemn him to death." This level of foresight demonstrates Jesus' complete knowledge of His divine mission and the fulfillment of God's predetermined plan (Acts 2:23; 4:27-28). The phrase "Son of Man will be delivered over" is rich with theological significance. "Delivered over" signifies Judas' betrayal (from within the trusted circle), the Jewish leaders' action of handing Jesus to the Roman authorities (Jn 18:3), and ultimately, God's sovereign will in delivering His Son for the atonement of sins (Rom 8:32).

Despite Jesus' explicit and repeated warnings, the disciples struggle profoundly with this concept of a suffering Messiah. Their focus remains on earthly glory and kingdom hierarchy, as exemplified by James and John's request for preeminence immediately following this prediction (Matt 20:20-21). This stark contrast highlights the vast gulf between their human understanding of Messiahship and the divine reality of Christ's servanthood unto death. The condemnation by the chief priests and scribes underscores the tragic irony of the religious elite rejecting their own Messiah. Jesus' prophetic announcement here prepares the reader, even if not the disciples, for the path of suffering that lies ahead, revealing it not as an accident, but as an integral part of God's redemptive purpose for humanity.