Church Fathers Commentary Luke 9:44-45

"Let these words sink into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered up into the hands of men. But they understood not this saying, and it was concealed from them, that they should not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask him about this saying." — Luke 9:44-45 (ASV)

St. Cyril of Alexandria: Every work of Jesus commanded admiration from everyone, for a unique and divine light was reflected in each one. According to the Psalms, honor and majesty you will lay upon him. Although everyone indeed marveled at the things He did, He, however, addresses what follows not to everyone, but to His disciples, as it is said, But while everyone was wondering…

He had shown His glory to His disciples on the mountain and, after this, delivered a man from an evil spirit. But it was necessary for Him to undergo His passion for our salvation. His disciples might have been perplexed, thinking, “Have we then been deceived in believing Him to be God?” So that they would know what was going to happen to Him, He instructs them to store the mystery of His passion in their minds like a deposit, saying, Let these sayings sink down into your hearts.

By using the word “your,” He distinguishes them from others. For the multitude was not to know that He was about to suffer. Instead, they were to be assured that the dead would rise again, destroying death, so that they would not be offended.

Titus of Bostra: While everyone was thus wondering at the miracles, He foretells His passion. For miracles do not save; the cross is what conveys the benefit. Hence He adds, For the Son of Man shall be delivered into the hands of men.

Origen of Alexandria: But it is not clearly expressed by whom He is to be delivered. One says He is to be delivered up by Judas, another by the devil. Paul, however, says that God the Father delivered Him up for us all. Judas, who delivered Him up for money, did it treacherously; the Father, however, delivered Him up for the sake of His mercy.

Theophylact of Ohrid: Now our Lord, in condescension to their weaknesses and managing them with a kind of divine plan, did not permit them to understand what was said of the cross, as it follows: But they did not understand.

The Venerable Bede: This ignorance of the disciples proceeds not so much from slowness of understanding as from their affection for Him. For since they were still worldly and ignorant of the mystery of the cross, they could not believe that He, whom they believed to be truly God, would suffer death. And because they were accustomed to hearing Him speak figuratively, they thought He meant something else by what He said of His betrayal.

St. Cyril of Alexandria: Now someone might ask, “How were the disciples ignorant of the mystery of the cross, seeing that it was alluded to in several places by the foreshadowings in the Law?” But as Paul relates, Even to this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their hearts. It is fitting, then, for those who approach Christ to say, Open my eyes, that I may behold the wonderful things out of your law.

Theophylact of Ohrid: Mark also the reverence of the disciples in what follows: And they feared to ask him about that saying. For fear is the first step to reverence.