Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Matthew 20:17 - 20:19
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mat_20:17-19
17As Jesus was about to go up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, 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 and scourge and crucify Him, and on the third day He will be raised up."
Mat_20:17 "as Jesus was about to go up to Jerusalem" Mar_10:32 says He had set his face toward Jerusalem and was walking out ahead of the disciples.
Mat_20:18 "the Son of Man" See the note at Mat_8:20.
▣ "the chief priests and scribes" This was a reference to the Sanhedrin. It was made up of 70 leaders of the Jewish community in Jerusalem. The full title was "the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders," (cf. Mat_16:21). This was the final authority in religious and political matters for the Jews, although it was extremely limited in a political sense by the Roman occupation forces.
See hyperlink at Mat_16:21.
Mat_20:19 "and will hand Him over to the Gentiles to mock and scourge and crucify Him" This was a reference to Jesus' humiliation and abuse by the Roman authorities. The soldiers took out their animosity toward the exclusivism of the Jewish population by transferring it to Jesus.
This verb "hand over" (paradidômi) often refers to Jesus being given into the legal authority of a group or person for judgment.
1. to the high priests and scribes, Mat_20:18
2. to men, Mat_17:22
3. to the Gentiles (ethnç), Mat_20:19
4. to Pilate, Mat_27:2
5. for crucifixion, Mat_26:2
Because of Jesus' statement of Mat_10:24-25, believers will also be "handed over" (cf. Mat_10:17; Mat_24:9; Luk_21:12).
▣ "crucify" The horror of this form of execution was not only in its public humiliation and pain, but in its relation to Deu_21:23; according to the rabbis of Jesus' day "the curse of God" was upon those who are hung upon a tree. Jesus became "the curse" (Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 27-28; Gal_3:13; Col_2:14) for sinful mankind!
▣ "on the third day" In 1Co_15:4 Paul mentioned that this was an essential element of the gospel. However, when we look at the OT, it is difficult to find an allusion to the "three days." Some try to use Hos_6:2, but this seems extremely doubtful. Because of Mat_12:38-40 many use Jonah's time in the belly of the great fish (cf. Jon_1:17). This seems to be the most appropriate.
For the Jews of Jesus' day any part of a day was counted as a full day. Remember Jews start their day at twilight (cf. Gen_1:5). Therefore Jesus' death late Friday afternoon (3 p.m.) and burial before 6 p.m. was counted as one day. Friday at twilight until Saturday at twilight (the Sabbath) was the second day; from Saturday at twilight until sometime before sunrise on Sunday was the third day. See note at Mat_16:21.
▣ "He will be raised up" Usually the resurrection (see Special Topic at Mat_27:63) is spoken of as an act of the Father's will which showed His approval of the life, ministry, and death of Jesus. However, in Joh_10:17-18 Jesus asserted His own authority in His resurrection. Rom_8:11 says the Spirit raised Jesus. Here is a good example of all the persons of the Trinity involved in the acts of redemption.