Luke 18:32-33
For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus doesn't just say he'll be mistreated; he specifies two distinct kinds of suffering: being "mocked" (treated as a joke or an object of ridicule) and "spitefully entreated" (loaded with deliberate insults and abuse). This detailed foresight reveals Jesus' deliberate embrace of even the most degrading and humiliating aspects of his Passion, not just the physical pain.
Jesus is heading towards Jerusalem with his disciples, and he pulls the twelve aside to tell them plainly what awaits him there. He reveals that all the prophecies about the Son of Man's suffering will now come true, specifically predicting his betrayal, mistreatment by the Gentiles, and eventual death, followed by his resurrection. Despite his clear warnings, the disciples are confused and afraid, unable to grasp the meaning behind his words.
Jesus walks toward Jerusalem with open eyes, not by surprise, but by divine plan. He knows exactly what awaits Him.
Jesus' announcement in Luke 18:31-32 isn't a hesitant prediction; it's a deliberate unveiling of His destiny. He explicitly states, "we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished." This verse highlights Jesus' profound foreknowledge and willing submission to the suffering foretold in Scripture. He wasn't a victim of circumstance, but the sovereign Son of God, purposefully embracing His mission of redemption.
The words 'mocked,' 'shamefully treated,' and 'spit upon' paint a grim picture. Why this specific language?
The description of Jesus' suffering goes beyond mere physical pain; it emphasizes profound humiliation and public degradation. 'Mocked' (Greek: empaizetai) suggests being made an object of jeering and sport. 'Shamefully treated' (Greek: hybriazetai) implies deliberate insult and abuse. And 'spit upon' is an act of extreme contempt and dishonor, a visceral rejection. These terms capture the intense personal indignity Jesus endured, highlighting the depth of His humiliation as He was handed over to the Gentiles, who carried out these scornful acts.
Jesus told them plainly, yet the disciples were amazed and afraid. How could this be?
The narrative notes that as Jesus spoke these prophecies, 'they were amazed' and 'afraid.' This reveals a critical disconnect. Despite Jesus' clear explanation and the disciples' prior exposure to His teachings, they struggled to grasp the reality of His suffering. Their expectations were likely focused on a triumphant Messiah, making the foretold humiliation and death a profound shock. It shows that even with divine revelation, human preconceptions and fears can cloud understanding, a challenge we still face today when God's plan seems to contradict our hopes.
Understand the original words
paradothēsetai · Greek Verb
The act of being given over to others, often used in the Gospels to refer to Jesus being handed over to His enemies or to authorities for judgment. It carries overtones of divine providence, as Jesus was 'delivered up' according to the predetermined plan of God.
ethnesin · Greek Noun
A term referring to non-Jewish nations, representing the world outside the covenant of Israel. In the context of the Passion, it highlights the universal nature of the rejection of Christ.
tē tritē hēmera · Greek Adverbial Phrase
A historical and theological marker pointing to the transition from the old covenant to the new. It signifies the completion of the period of humiliation and the commencement of the age of resurrection and vindication.
Jesus deliberately and calmly walks towards His planned suffering and death, even detailing the humiliation He will endure at the hands of both Jewish leaders and Roman Gentiles. This foreknowledge, rooted in ancient prophecies, highlights His divine authority and willing sacrifice.
c. 700-600 BC
Prophetic Foretelling of Suffering Servant
Isaiah and other prophets describe a future 'suffering servant' who will be "pierced for our transgressions" and "crushed for our iniquities," foreshadowing the Messiah's sacrificial death.
c. 27-30 AD
Jesus' Galilean Ministry
Jesus begins his public ministry, teaching, healing, and gathering disciples, but he has not yet revealed the full extent of his impending suffering.
c. 30 AD— this verse
Jesus' Prediction of His Passion
Jesus explicitly foretells his suffering, death, and resurrection to his disciples for the first time in a clear manner, though they do not fully grasp his words.
c. 30 AD
Journey to Jerusalem
Jesus and his disciples travel towards Jerusalem, the site of his upcoming crucifixion, with Jesus deliberately leading the way despite the disciples' fear.
This passage directly prophesies the specific suffering Jesus endured, including being spit upon, highlighting the fulfillment of ancient words in His passion.
Psalm 22:6-8This psalm describes the Messiah being scorned, mocked, and insulted by His enemies, mirroring the treatment Jesus faced as foretold in Luke.
Zechariah 11:12-13This prophecy speaks of a shepherd (representing Christ) being betrayed for a paltry sum and the potter's field being involved, connecting to the betrayal and the Gentiles' role in His suffering and death.
Acts 2:23This New Testament passage explicitly states that Jesus was delivered up by God's set purpose and foreknowledge, and then crucified and killed by the Gentiles, directly echoing the words spoken in Luke.
calvinLuke 18:31-34: "Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished."
- And Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said to them, 18. Lo, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes; and they will condemn him to death. 19. And they will deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to…
pulpitLuke 18:32: "For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:"
Verses 32, 33. - For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: and they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. The outlines of the Passion he had sketched for the disciples before on two occasions, But never so clearly as now. He even tells them the manner of his end, and h…
Jesus doesn't just say he'll be mistreated; he specifies two distinct kinds of suffering: being "mocked" (treated as a joke or an object of ridicule) and "spitefully entreated" (loaded with deliberate insults and abuse). This detailed foresight reveals Jesus' deliberate embrace of even the most degrading and humiliating aspects of his Passion, not just the physical pain.
Jesus is heading towards Jerusalem with his disciples, and he pulls the twelve aside to tell them plainly what awaits him there. He reveals that all the prophecies about the Son of Man's suffering will now come true, specifically predicting his betrayal, mistreatment by the Gentiles, and eventual death, followed by his resurrection. Despite his clear warnings, the disciples are confused and afraid, unable to grasp the meaning behind his words.
Jesus is heading towards Jerusalem with his disciples, and he pulls the twelve aside to tell them plainly what awaits him there. He reveals that all the prophecies about the Son of Man's suffering will now come true, specifically predicting his betrayal, mistreatment by the Gentiles, and eventual death, followed by his resurrection. Despite his clear warnings, the disciples are confused and afraid, unable to grasp the meaning behind his words.
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anastēsetai · Greek Verb
The central miracle of the Christian faith, where Jesus Christ returned to life after His death. It signifies victory over sin, death, and the grave, and validates His identity as the Son of God.
c. 30 AD
Jesus' Arrest and Trial
Following his final Passover in Jerusalem, Jesus is arrested, tried by Jewish leaders, and then handed over to the Roman authorities.
c. 30 AD
Crucifixion and Resurrection
Jesus is scourged, mocked, and crucified by the Romans, fulfilling the prophecies of his suffering and death, and rises again on the third day.
"For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.”" — Jesus doesn't just say he'll be mistreated; he specifies two distinct kinds of suffering: being "mocked" (treated as a joke or an object of ridicule) and "spitefully entreated" (loaded with deliber…
