Matthew 20 19

Matthew 20:19 kjv

And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.

Matthew 20:19 nkjv

and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again."

Matthew 20:19 niv

and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!"

Matthew 20:19 esv

and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day."

Matthew 20:19 nlt

Then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead."

Matthew 20 verses

Matthew 20 19 Meaning

Matthew 20:19 succinctly reveals Jesus' third and most detailed prediction of His coming passion and resurrection. It foretells His betrayal, the agents of His suffering (Gentiles), the specific torments He would endure (mocking, scourging, crucifixion), and the miraculous triumph of His resurrection on the third day, establishing His victory over death and the completion of His salvific mission.

Matthew 20 19 Context

This verse occurs as Jesus and His disciples are making their final journey to Jerusalem (Matt 20:17). It is the third time Jesus explicitly foretells His suffering, death, and resurrection to His disciples, each time with increasing detail (cf. Matt 16:21, 17:22-23). Despite these clear warnings, the disciples seem preoccupied with worldly status and power, as evidenced by James and John's request for prominent seats in the kingdom immediately following this prediction (Matt 20:20-28). The immediate context underscores their spiritual obtuseness and Jesus' consistent focus on His redemptive mission as the suffering Servant, contrasting their earthly ambitions with His heavenly purpose. Historically, crucifixion was a Roman method of execution, performed by Gentile authorities, underscoring the shift in responsibility for Jesus' death from solely Jewish leaders to the wider Gentile world, fulfilling various prophecies and revealing the universal scope of salvation.

Matthew 20 19 Word analysis

• and will deliver Him (καὶ παραδώσουσιν αὐτόν, kai paradōsousin auton):

  • παραδώσουσιν (paradōsousin): "they will deliver," from paradidōmi, meaning "to give over," "to hand over," or "to betray." This word carries a heavy connotation of legal delivery into custody for trial or punishment, but also of treachery (as Judas delivered Jesus, Matt 26:15). Here, it refers to the Jewish leadership handing Jesus over to Roman authority, establishing their culpability in initiation while absolving themselves of direct execution under their law. This divinely orchestrated delivery is crucial to the redemptive narrative.

• to the Gentiles (τοῖς ἔθνεσιν, tois ethnesin):

  • ἔθνεσιν (ethnesin): "Gentiles," "nations." This is highly significant. Previous predictions did not specify who would kill Him, only that He would be "killed." Explicitly naming Gentiles reveals the specific Roman involvement in the crucifixion, a foreign, non-Jewish authority executing the Jewish Messiah. This emphasizes the comprehensive rejection and humiliation Jesus endured, as He would be put to death by those outside God's covenant people. It also subtly broadens the scope of salvation, implying that Christ's death is not just for Israel but has implications for all nations.

• to mock (εἰς τὸ ἐμπαῖξαι, eis to empaixai):

  • ἐμπαῖξαι (empaixai): "to mock," "to ridicule," "to make sport of." This goes beyond physical suffering; it's about intentional public humiliation and derision. Prophecies like Psalm 22:7 speak of this. The Roman soldiers' actions—crowning Him with thorns, dressing Him in a scarlet robe, spitting on Him—are direct fulfillments of this specific torment, intensifying the suffering from mere physical pain to profound psychological and emotional agony.

• and to scourge (καὶ μαστιγῶσαι, kai mastigōsai):

  • μαστιγῶσαι (mastigōsai): "to scourge," "to flog with whips." Scourging was a severe and often fatal Roman punishment preceding crucifixion. It involved a multi-thonged whip with bits of bone or metal designed to tear flesh. This torture rendered the victim weak and bleeding, accelerating death on the cross and increasing suffering. It fulfills passages like Isaiah 50:6, where the suffering servant gives His back to those who strike Him.

• and to crucify (καὶ σταυρῶσαι, kai staurōsai):

  • σταυρῶσαι (staurōsai): "to crucify." This explicitly names the method of death, the most horrific and ignominious form of execution known to the Romans. It was reserved for the worst criminals and slaves. The Jewish Law states, "he who is hanged is accursed of God" (Deut 21:23), adding a layer of spiritual ignominy. The particularity of crucifixion highlights the shame and pain Jesus endured, essential for His atonement as He took on the curse for humanity (Gal 3:13).

• and on the third day (καὶ τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ, kai tē tritē hēmera):

  • τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ (tritē hēmera): "the third day." This precise time indicator is critical. It emphasizes the divinely appointed timing of Jesus' resurrection, central to the Christian faith. It's a hallmark of Christ's prophetic claims, linking His identity and work to divine power and foreknowledge. It differentiates Him from all other executed figures and validates His entire ministry.

• He will be raised up (ἐγερθήσεται, egerthēsetai):

  • ἐγερθήσεται (egerthēsetai): "He will be raised up," from egeirō, meaning "to rouse," "to awaken," "to raise from the dead." This is a passive voice, often implying divine agency ("God will raise Him"). The resurrection is the ultimate vindication of Jesus' claims, the seal of His finished work on the cross, and the cornerstone of Christian hope. Without it, the suffering and death would have been a tragic end, not a redemptive triumph.

Words-group Analysis

• "deliver Him to the Gentiles": This phrase signals the specific chain of events: Jewish leadership handing Jesus over to Roman (Gentile) authority for judgment and execution. It underlines the divine plan's comprehensive scope, including both internal (Jewish) and external (Gentile) opposition.

• "to mock and to scourge and to crucify": This triad describes the escalating, specific horrors of Jesus' passion. It's not a generic statement of suffering but a precise sequence of Roman torture, leading to a shameful and painful death. Each action underscores the extent of Christ's physical and emotional torment, necessary for Him to bear the full weight of human sin.

• "on the third day He will be raised up": This powerful culmination transforms the narrative from one of despair to one of triumphant hope. It ensures that the preceding torments are not the end but a prelude to victory. This phrase forms the theological core of Christian belief: Christ died for sins and rose again, confirming His identity as the Son of God and offering the promise of new life.

Matthew 20 19 Bonus section

This prediction is part of a pattern of three passion predictions in Matthew's Gospel, each one becoming progressively more explicit in detail (Matt 16:21 -> Matt 17:22-23 -> Matt 20:17-19). This increasing clarity, juxtaposed with the disciples' decreasing understanding and increasing self-focus (e.g., Peter's rebuke in 16:22-23, the dispute over greatness in 18:1, James and John's request in 20:20-28), highlights the spiritual dullness even among Jesus' closest followers. It emphasizes the contrast between God's sovereign plan of suffering and redemption and humanity's inherent desire for glory and power without the prerequisite of sacrifice. The detailed enumeration of the torments (mocking, scourging, crucifying) serves not merely as foresight but as theological assurance that Jesus indeed fully partook in humanity's brokenness and judgment on the cross.

Matthew 20 19 Commentary

Matthew 20:19 is profoundly significant as Jesus' most detailed and explicit foretelling of His passion. It demonstrates His absolute foreknowledge of His suffering, the perpetrators (Gentiles), and the method of His death (crucifixion), countering any notion that He was merely a victim of circumstance. The specific mention of mocking, scourging, and crucifixion underscores the immense physical and emotional anguish Jesus would endure, fulfilling ancient prophecies (e.g., Ps 22, Isa 50, Isa 53) with startling accuracy.

The disciples' continued struggle with these predictions, evidenced by their subsequent desire for earthly prominence, highlights a core challenge for believers: embracing the call to suffering and sacrifice rather than seeking self-aggrandizement. Jesus consistently prioritizes His redemptive mission—to suffer and die for humanity—over any temporal glory. The phrase "on the third day He will be raised up" serves as the foundational hope. The resurrection transforms His painful death from a tragedy into the victorious climax of God's redemptive plan, ensuring that His suffering was not in vain but secured eternal life for those who believe.