Church Fathers Commentary Matthew 17:22-23

"And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be delivered up into the hands of men; and they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised up. And they were exceeding sorry." — Matthew 17:22-23 (ASV)

Remigius of Auxerre: The Lord often foretold to His disciples the mysteries of His passion, so that when these events happened, they would be easier for them to bear because they had been known in advance.

Origen of Alexandria: This seems so similar to a warning He had given earlier that one might easily say the Lord was now repeating what He had said before. Yet this is not the case; He had not said before that He must be betrayed, but now we hear not only that He must be betrayed, but that He must be betrayed into the hands of men. Indeed, the Son of Man was delivered up by God the Father, according to the Apostle (Romans 8:32), but different powers handed Him over into the hands of men.

St. Jerome: In this way, He always mixes the joyful with the sorrowful; if it grieves them that He is to be put to death, they ought to be gladdened when they hear, And shall rise again, the third day.

St. John Chrysostom: For He is not speaking of a long time to remain in death when He says that He will rise again on the third day.

Origen of Alexandria: At this announcement from the Lord, the disciples became very sorrowful. They were not paying attention to what He said, And shall rise again the third day, nor were they considering what kind of person He must be for whom the span of three days was enough to destroy death.

St. Jerome: Their great sorrow came not from a lack of faith, but from their love for their Master, because they could not bear to hear of any harm or indignity happening to Him.