John Calvin 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)

Although the apostles had been previously informed about the kind of death that awaited our Lord, yet, since they had not sufficiently profited from it, he now repeats what he had frequently said. He sees that the day of his death is near; indeed, he is already prepared to offer himself to be sacrificed. On the other hand, he sees the disciples not only afraid, but overwhelmed by blind alarm. He therefore exhorts them to steadfastness, so that they may not immediately yield to temptation.

Now there are two methods by which he strengthens them. First, by foretelling what would happen, he not only fortifies them, so that they may not give way when a calamity, which has arisen suddenly and contrary to expectation, takes them by surprise, but he also counters the offense of the cross with a proof of his Divinity, so that they may not lose courage at seeing his brief humiliation when they are convinced that he is the Son of God and therefore will be victorious over death. The second method of strengthening them is taken from his approaching resurrection.

But it will be proper to look more closely at the words. Mark states—what is omitted by the other two Evangelists—that, before our Lord explained to his disciples in private that he was going straight to the sacrifice of death, not only they, but also the rest of his followers, were sorrowful and trembling. Now, why they were seized with this fear is not easy to say, unless it was because they had already learned that they had dangerous adversaries at Jerusalem, and would therefore have wished that Christ should remain in some quiet retreat beyond the reach of danger, rather than voluntarily expose himself to such deep-seated enemies.

Although this fear was in many respects improper, yet their following Christ is a proof of considerable respect and obedience. It would indeed have been far better to hasten cheerfully and without regret wherever the Son of God chose to lead them. But commendation is due to their reverence for his person, which appears in their choosing to suppress their own feelings rather than to forsake him.

Took the twelve disciples apart in the way. It may appear surprising that he shared his secret with the twelve alone, since all needed consolation, for all had been similarly seized with fear. I believe the reason he did not announce his death publicly was so that the report might not spread too widely before the time.

Besides, since he did not expect the warning to be of immediate advantage, he considered it sufficient to entrust it to a few, who were afterwards to be his witnesses. For, just as the seed thrown into the earth does not immediately spring up, so we know that Christ said many things to the apostles which did not immediately yield fruit.

And if he had admitted all indiscriminately to this discourse, it was possible that many persons, seized with alarm, might flee and spread this report widely among the public. Thus, the death of Christ would have lost its glory, because he would have appeared to have rashly brought it on himself. Secretly, therefore, he addresses the apostles, not even selecting them as qualified to benefit from it at that moment, but, as I recently hinted, so that they might afterwards be witnesses.

Luke is more detailed on this subject than the others, for he relates not only that Christ predicted the events which were near, but also that he added the doctrine, that those things which had been written by the prophets would be accomplished in the Son of man.

It was an excellent remedy for overcoming temptation to perceive in the very shame of the cross the marks by which the Prophets had pointed out the promised Author of salvation. There can be no doubt that our Lord also pointed out from the Prophets what kind of fruit they should expect from his death. For the Prophets do not only teach that Christ must suffer, but they also add the reason: that he might reconcile the world to God.