Albert Barnes Commentary Matthew 20:18-19

"Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests and scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him unto the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify: and the third day he shall be raised up." — Matthew 20:18-19 (ASV)

Behold, we go up to Jerusalem. Jesus assured them that what they feared would come to pass. But He had in some measure prepared their minds for this state of suffering by the promises which He had made to them (Matthew 19:27–30; Matthew 20:1–16). In all their sufferings they might be assured that eternal rewards were before them.

Shall be betrayed. See Matthew 17:22.

Chief Priests and Scribes. The high priest and the learned men who composed the Sanhedrin, or great council of the nation. He was thus betrayed by Judas (Matthew 26:15). He was delivered to the chief priests and scribes (Matthew 26:57).

And they shall condemn Him to death. They did not have power to inflict death, as that was taken away by the Romans; but they had the power of expressing an opinion and of delivering Him to the Romans to be put to death. This they did (Matthew 26:66; Matthew 27:2).

Shall deliver Him to the Gentiles. That is, because they do not have the right of inflicting capital punishment, they will deliver Him to those who have it—the Roman authority. The Gentiles here mean Pontius Pilate and the Roman soldiers. See Matthew 27:2, 27-30.

To mock. See the comments on Matthew 2:16.

To scourge. That is, to whip. This was done with thongs, or a whip made for that purpose, and this punishment was commonly inflicted upon criminals before crucifixion. See the comments on Matthew 10:17.

To crucify Him. That is, to put Him to death on a cross, the common punishment of slaves. See Matthew 27:35.

The third day He shall rise again. For the evidence that this was fulfilled, see Matthew 28:1 and following. Mark and Luke say that He shall be spit upon. Spitting on another has always been considered an expression of the deepest contempt.

Luke says (Luke 18:31), All things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. Among other things, he says He shall be spitefully entreated; that is, treated with spite or malice, malice implying contempt.

These sufferings of our Savior, and this treatment, and His death, had been predicted in many places (Daniel 9:26–27).