Church Fathers Commentary Matthew 20:17-19

"And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples apart, and on the way he said unto them, 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 20:17-19 (ASV)

St. John Chrysostom: Leaving Galilee, the Lord did not go up immediately to Jerusalem. He first performed miracles, refuted the Pharisees, and taught the disciples about the perfection of life and its reward. Then, as He was about to go up to Jerusalem, He again speaks to them about His passion.¹

Origen of Alexandria: Judas was still among the twelve. Perhaps he was still worthy to hear in private, along with the rest, the things which his Master would suffer.

Pseudo-Chrysostom: The salvation of humanity rests entirely on Christ's death, and there is nothing for which we are more bound to give thanks to God than for His death. He imparted the mystery of His death to His disciples for this reason: the more precious the treasure, the more it is entrusted to worthy vessels.

If the others had heard of Christ's passion, the men might have been troubled because of their weak faith, and the women because of their tender nature, as such matters commonly move them to tears.

St. John Chrysostom: He had indeed spoken of it to many, but obscurely, as when He said, Destroy this temple (John 2:19), and again, There shall no sign be given it but the sign of Jonas the Prophet (Matthew 12:39). But now He imparted it clearly to His disciples.

Pseudo-Chrysostom: The word “Behold” is used for emphasis, bidding them to store the memory of this moment in their hearts. He says, “We go up,” as if to say, “You see that I go to My death of My own free will.”

Therefore, when you see Me hanging on the cross, do not think that I am merely human. For although the ability to die is human, the willingness to die is more than human.

Origen of Alexandria: Meditating on this, we ought to know that often, even when a certain trial must be undergone, we should offer ourselves to it. But since it was said above, When they persecute you in one city, flee to another (Matthew 10:23), it is for the wise in Christ to judge when the time requires them to flee and when to go and meet dangers.

St. Jerome: He had often told His disciples about His passion. But because it might have slipped from their memory on account of the many things they had heard in the meantime, now, as He is going to Jerusalem with His disciples, He strengthens them against the trial so that they will not be scandalized when the persecution and shame of the Cross arrives.

Pseudo-Chrysostom: For when sorrow comes at a time we are expecting it, it is lighter than it would have been if it had taken us by surprise.

St. John Chrysostom: He also forewarns them so that they would learn that He comes to His passion knowingly and willingly. At first He had foretold only His death, but now that they are more disciplined, He reveals even more, such as, They shall deliver him to the Gentiles.

Rabanus Maurus: For Judas delivered the Lord to the Jews, and they delivered Him to the Gentiles—that is, to Pilate and the Roman power. For this reason, the Lord refused to be prosperous in this world, choosing instead to suffer affliction.

He did this to show us, who have yielded to pleasures, through what great bitterness we must return, from which follows the phrase, To mock, and to scourge, and to crucify.

St. Augustine of Hippo: In His Passion we see what we ought to endure for the truth, and in His resurrection what we ought to hope for in eternity. Hence it is said, And shall rise again the third day.²

St. John Chrysostom: This was added so that when they saw the sufferings, they would also look for the resurrection.

St. Augustine of Hippo: For one death, namely, that of the Savior in the body, brought us salvation from two deaths—of both soul and body. And His one resurrection gained for us two resurrections. This two-for-one ratio arises from the number three, for one and two make three.³

Origen of Alexandria: There is no mention that the disciples said or did anything upon hearing of the sufferings that would come upon Christ. Remembering what the Lord had said to Peter, they were afraid of receiving a similar or worse rebuke themselves.

And yet there are scribes who, supposing they know the divine writings, condemn Jesus to death, scourge Him with their tongues, and crucify Him by seeking to take away His doctrine. But He, vanishing for a time, rises again to appear to those who accepted His word that it could happen this way.

1. Hom., lxv
2. City of God, xviii, 49
3. de Trin., iv, 3