Charles Ellicott Commentary Matthew 20:17

"And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples apart, and on the way he said unto them," — Matthew 20:17 (ASV)

And Jesus going up to Jerusalem—The narrative is not continuous. In the interval between Matthew 20:16–17, we can likely place our Lord’s stay beyond the Jordan (John 10:40), the raising of Lazarus, and the short sojourn in the city called Ephraim (John 11:54). This seems to have been followed by a return to Perea, after which the journey to Jerusalem begins.

The account in Mark adds some significant facts. “Jesus went (literally, was going—implying continuance) before them.” It was as though the burden of the work He was entering into pressed heavily on His soul, and the shadow of the cross had fallen on Him. He felt something of the conflict that would reach its full intensity in Gethsemane. Therefore, He needed solitude to prepare Himself for the sacrifice by communing with His Father. Instead of journeying with the disciples and having close fellowship with them, He went on silently in advance.

This departure from His usual custom, and perhaps the look and manner that accompanied it, deeply troubled the disciples. As Mark notes, “They were amazed, and as they followed, they were afraid.” It was apparently to explain what had perplexed them that He took the Twelve apart from the others who followed (likely including the Seventy and the company of devout women from Luke 8:2) and told them of the nearness of His passion.