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)
Jesus details the specific and humiliating ways he will be treated by the Gentiles—mocked, insulted, and spit upon—not to cause fear, but to prepare his disciples for the scandal of the cross. This vivid foretelling, including the prophecy that such things were written in the prophets, aims to arm them against future offense and show his willing submission to God's plan.
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)
Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem, and he takes his twelve closest disciples aside to tell them plainly what awaits him there. He reveals that he will be handed over, suffer brutal mistreatment, and be put to death, but that he will rise again on the third day. The disciples are amazed and fearful, unable to grasp the meaning of his words, clinging to their expectations of a glorious earthly kingdom.
Jesus' followers were focused on glory, but He spoke of something far more painful: humiliation. What does this tell us about His mission?
Jesus' journey to Jerusalem wasn't just a geographical move; it was a purposeful march toward suffering. The verse highlights that He would be 'delivered over to the Gentiles.' This wasn't a random capture, but a planned handing over. The Gentiles, often seen as outsiders or even enemies by the Jews, would be the ones to carry out the final, brutal acts. This detail underscores the depth of Jesus' sacrifice – it extended even to those considered furthest from God's people.
But the humiliation went further. He would be 'mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon.' These weren't just physical blows; they were intentional assaults on His dignity. Mockery, shame, and spitting were extreme forms of public disgrace, designed to strip away all honor. Jesus willingly walked into this, knowing full well the indignity that awaited Him.
Despite Jesus' clear words, His disciples completely missed the point. Why were they so unable to grasp His suffering?
The disciples, like many people then and now, had a preconceived notion of the Messiah. They were expecting a conquering king who would restore Israel's glory immediately. This expectation acted like blinders, preventing them from seeing the truth in Jesus' predictions.
As Calvin noted, they 'understood none of these things.' Their minds were fixed on 'joyful and prosperous advancement,' making the idea of an ignominious crucifixion 'absurd' to them. This isn't a minor detail; it reveals a powerful truth: our own expectations can severely distort our understanding of God's Word and His will. When we focus only on the 'glory' parts of faith and ignore the prophecies of suffering, we miss the complete picture of Christ's mission and our own call to follow Him through hardship.
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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.
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.
Jesus is clearly laying out the grim details of his impending passion. He knows he'll be handed over to non-Jewish authorities (the Romans) who will insult, abuse, and execute him. This isn't a sudden, unexpected turn of events for Jesus, but a foreseen and accepted part of God's plan.
c. 30 BC - 33 AD
Roman Rule in Judea
Judea was under Roman occupation, with a Roman governor or procurator holding ultimate authority. This political reality set the stage for Jesus' arrest and trial by Roman authorities.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Ministry in Galilee and Judea
Jesus' teachings and miracles gained him a large following, but also drew the ire of religious leaders who saw him as a threat. This growing opposition escalated tensions as Jesus approached Jerusalem.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Jesus Predicts His Death
Jesus repeatedly foretold his suffering, betrayal, death, and resurrection to his disciples, though they struggled to comprehend these predictions.
c. AD 33
Arrest and Trial of Jesus
Following his entry into Jerusalem and the Last Supper, Jesus was arrested by temple guards and subsequently tried by both Jewish leaders and the Roman governor Pilate.
c. AD 33
Crucifixion of Jesus
Jesus was condemned to death by crucifixion, a brutal method of execution used by the Romans, particularly for non-Roman citizens and criminals.
This passage directly prophesies the suffering Jesus would endure, specifically mentioning being spit upon, which aligns with the physical humiliation described in Luke 18:32.
Psalm 22:6-7This psalm foretells the mockery and scorn Jesus would face, describing Him as 'despised' and a 'reproach of men,' echoing the 'mocked' and 'shamefully treated' aspects of His passion.
Zechariah 11:12-13This prophecy describes the betrayal of the shepherd (Jesus) for thirty pieces of silver and the throwing of the money to the potter, hinting at the betrayal and the shame associated with His rejection by His own people.
Matthew 20:18-19This parallel account in Matthew's Gospel provides a very similar prediction from Jesus, emphasizing the delivery to the Gentiles, scourging, crucifixion, and resurrection, reinforcing the detailed foreknowledge of His suffering.
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 details the specific and humiliating ways he will be treated by the Gentiles—mocked, insulted, and spit upon—not to cause fear, but to prepare his disciples for the scandal of the cross. This vivid foretelling, including the prophecy that such things were written in the prophets, aims to arm them against future offense and show his willing submission to God's plan.
Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem, and he takes his twelve closest disciples aside to tell them plainly what awaits him there. He reveals that he will be handed over, suffer brutal mistreatment, and be put to death, but that he will rise again on the third day. The disciples are amazed and fearful, unable to grasp the meaning of his words, clinging to their expectations of a glorious earthly kingdom.
Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem, and he takes his twelve closest disciples aside to tell them plainly what awaits him there. He reveals that he will be handed over, suffer brutal mistreatment, and be put to death, but that he will rise again on the third day. The disciples are amazed and fearful, unable to grasp the meaning of his words, clinging to their expectations of a glorious earthly kingdom.
"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 details the specific and humiliating ways he will be treated by the Gentiles—mocked, insulted, and spit upon—not to cause fear, but to prepare his disciples for the scandal of the cross. Th…
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Last reviewed October 2026