saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus doesn't just state that He will be rejected; the Greek word used for "rejected" implies a deliberate, critical judgment and dismissal, like a craftsman examining a stone and finding it unfit. This points to the profound, intentional opposition He would face from the very religious leaders who should have recognized Him.
saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Right after Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Messiah, Jesus begins to reveal a truth his disciples aren't ready for: his path involves suffering and death. He explicitly states that he must be rejected by the Jewish leaders, killed, and then raised on the third day. This stark prediction immediately clashes with their hopes for a triumphant, earthly kingdom, setting the stage for a difficult conversation about what it truly means to follow him.
Jesus just heard Peter declare Him the Christ. But instead of celebrating earthly victory, Jesus immediately pivots to a future of pain and rejection. Why?
Jesus declares that suffering and death are not accidental but a must. This isn't just about physical pain; it's about a deep, deliberate rejection.
A Necessary Suffering
The phrase 'must suffer many things' highlights that this suffering was divinely ordained and essential for God's plan. It wasn't a setback but the very path to fulfilling His mission.
Deliberate Rejection
The specific mention of 'elders and chief priests and scribes' points to rejection by the very religious leaders meant to recognize Him. This wasn't a misunderstanding; it was a calculated refusal of God's Anointed.
Right after predicting His death, Jesus immediately points to His resurrection. How does this turn the tables on despair?
The announcement of death is immediately balanced by the promise of resurrection. This isn't a mere add-on; it's the climax that redefines the entire narrative.
The Sting of Death
Jesus is 'killed'—a stark pronouncement of His imminent death. This was the ultimate rejection by humanity.
The Power of the Third Day
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The phrase 'on the third day' is crucial. It anchors the hope of victory not in human intervention, but in God's sovereign power to bring life from death. This resurrection confirms His identity and the efficacy of His sacrifice.
Understand the original words
huios tou anthropou · Greek Noun Phrase
A term often used by Jesus to refer to Himself, emphasizing His humanity while also echoing the messianic figure in Daniel 7:13-14 who receives authority and glory. It highlights His role as the representative of humanity who suffers before being glorified.
pathein · Greek Verb
To undergo pain, hardship, or affliction. In a theological sense, it often refers to the redemptive suffering of Christ, which was necessary to fulfill God's plan of salvation.
apodokimasthēnai · Greek Verb
The act of treating someone or something as unworthy of acceptance or recognition. It implies a formal or decisive turning away from someone, particularly in the context of the leaders rejecting Jesus.
apoktanthēnai · Greek Verb
The action of ending a life. In the biblical context of Christ, it refers to His sacrificial death on the cross as the atonement for the sins of the world.
egerthēnai · Greek Verb
The act of being brought back to life after death. Biblically, it signifies God's power over death and the vindication of Jesus' ministry, serving as the foundation of the Christian hope.
This verse marks the critical turning point where Jesus transitions from teaching about his identity to revealing the specific, challenging path of suffering and death that his mission entailed, directly confronting the disciples' initial understanding of the Messiah.
c. AD 27-29
Jesus' Galilean Ministry
Jesus begins his public ministry in Galilee, gathering disciples and teaching about the Kingdom of God. This period marks the height of his popularity before his journey to Jerusalem.
c. AD 29— this verse
Peter's Confession
Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ, a pivotal moment where Jesus begins to reveal his impending suffering and death to his disciples.
c. AD 29
Jesus' First Prediction of Suffering
Jesus explicitly states that the Son of Man must suffer, be rejected by the Jewish leaders, be killed, and rise again. This teaching directly challenges the disciples' expectations of a conquering Messiah.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Journey to Jerusalem
Jesus deliberately journeys toward Jerusalem, knowing that his rejection, suffering, and death await him there, as foretold by the prophets.
c. AD 30
Trial and Crucifixion
Jesus is arrested, tried, and condemned by the religious authorities (elders, chief priests, scribes) and handed over to the Roman authorities for crucifixion.
c. AD 30
Resurrection
Three days after his crucifixion, Jesus is raised from the dead, validating his claims and fulfilling prophecy, bringing ultimate victory over suffering and death.
This ancient prophecy foretells the Messiah being 'despised and rejected by men,' directly echoing the rejection Jesus speaks of in Luke 9:22.
Psalm 118:22This psalm, often associated with the Messiah, describes the 'stone that the builders rejected' becoming the cornerstone, directly aligning with Jesus' prediction of rejection by the religious leaders.
Hosea 6:2This passage speaks of God's promise to revive His people 'on the third day,' foreshadowing the resurrection Jesus announces as part of His destined suffering.
Matthew 16:21This parallel account in Matthew shows Jesus giving the same core message about His suffering, rejection, death, and resurrection, highlighting the disciples' struggle to accept this difficult truth.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4This New Testament summary of the gospel directly reflects Jesus' own words, affirming that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and was raised on the third day, validating the prophetic nature of His announcement.
vincentLuke 9:22: "Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day."
Be rejected (ἀποδοκιμασθῆναι)The verb means to reject on scrutiny or trial, and therefore implies deliberate rejection.Of the elders (ἀπό)Lit., from the side of; on the part of.
calvinLuke 9:21-27: "And he straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing;"
- Then he charged his disciples [451] not to tell any one that he was Jesus the Christ. 21. From that time Jesus began to make known to his disciples, that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, and the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and be raised again on the third day. 22. And Peter, taking him aside, [452] began to rebuke him, saying, Lord, spare thyself; [45…
Jesus doesn't just state that He will be rejected; the Greek word used for "rejected" implies a deliberate, critical judgment and dismissal, like a craftsman examining a stone and finding it unfit. This points to the profound, intentional opposition He would face from the very religious leaders who should have recognized Him.
Right after Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Messiah, Jesus begins to reveal a truth his disciples aren't ready for: his path involves suffering and death. He explicitly states that he must be rejected by the Jewish leaders, killed, and then raised on the third day. This stark prediction immediately clashes with their hopes for a triumphant, earthly kingdom, setting the stage for a difficult conversation about what it truly means to follow him.
Right after Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Messiah, Jesus begins to reveal a truth his disciples aren't ready for: his path involves suffering and death. He explicitly states that he must be rejected by the Jewish leaders, killed, and then raised on the third day. This stark prediction immediately clashes with their hopes for a triumphant, earthly kingdom, setting the stage for a difficult conversation about what it truly means to follow him.
"saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”" — Jesus doesn't just state that He will be rejected; the Greek word used for "rejected" implies a deliberate, critical judgment and dismissal, like a craftsman examining a stone and finding it unfit. T…
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Last reviewed October 2026