Church Fathers Commentary Luke 18:31-34

"And he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all the things that are written through the prophets shall be accomplished unto the Son of man. For he shall be delivered up unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and shamefully treated, and spit upon: and they shall scourge and kill him: and the third day he shall rise again. And they understood none of these things; and this saying was hid from them, and they perceived not the things that were said." — Luke 18:31-34 (ASV)

St. Gregory the Great: The Savior, foreseeing that the hearts of His disciples would be troubled by His Passion, told them long beforehand about both the suffering of His Passion and the glory of His Resurrection.

The Venerable Bede: And knowing that certain heretics would arise, saying that Christ taught things contrary to the Law and the Prophets, He already shows that the voices of the Prophets had proclaimed the fulfillment of His Passion and the glory that would follow.

St. John Chrysostom: He speaks with His disciples privately about His Passion. For it was not appropriate to announce this to the multitudes, so that they would not be troubled. But He foretold it to His disciples so that, being accustomed to it by expectation, they might be better able to bear it.

St. Cyril of Alexandria: And to convince them that He foreknew His Passion and came to it of His own accord—so that they would not say, “How has He fallen into the hands of the enemy, when He promised us salvation?”—He relates in order the events of the Passion that would follow: He will be delivered to the Gentiles, and will be mocked, scourged, and spit upon.

St. John Chrysostom: Isaiah prophesied of this when he said, I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting. The Prophet also foretold the crucifixion, saying, He has poured out his soul to death, and was numbered with the transgressors. As it is said here, And after they have scourged him, they will put him to death. But David foretold Christ’s resurrection, For you will not leave my soul in hell, and so it is added here, And on the third day he will rise again.

Isidore of Pelusium: I marvel at the folly of those who ask how Christ could have risen before the three days were over. If He had indeed risen later than He foretold, it would be a mark of weakness, but rising sooner is a sign of the highest power. For when we see a man who promised his creditor to pay a debt after three days fulfill his promise on that very day, we are so far from considering him deceitful that we admire his truthfulness. I must add, however, that He did not say He would rise again after three days, but on the third day. You have, then, the preparation day, the Sabbath until sunset, and the fact that He rose after the Sabbath was over.

St. Cyril of Alexandria: The disciples did not yet know exactly what the Prophets had foretold, but after He rose again, He opened their understanding so that they could understand the Scriptures.

The Venerable Bede: Because they desired His life above all things, they could not bear to hear of His death. And since they knew Him to be not only a spotless man but also true God, they thought He could in no way die. Whenever He said anything about His Passion in the parables they frequently heard Him speak, they believed it was spoken allegorically and referred to something else.

Hence it follows, And this saying was hidden from them, and they did not understand what was said. But the Jews, who conspired against His life, knew He was speaking about His Passion when He said, The Son of man must be lifted up. Therefore they said, We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever, and how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’?