Matthew 20:18-19
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While Jesus already warned his disciples about his upcoming suffering, here he specifies who will be involved—the religious leaders, the chief priests and scribes. This isn't just a random attack; it's a deliberate targeting by the very people meant to uphold God's law, showing the depth of the opposition He would face.
“See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is leading his disciples on the final journey to Jerusalem, a journey that will culminate in his suffering. He’s deliberately preparing them, for the third time, for his impending crucifixion by detailing the specific betrayals, condemnations, and physical torments he will endure, all before the astonishing announcement that he will rise again on the third day.
Jesus isn't caught off guard by His impending suffering. He's heading straight into it with open eyes. How does this change how we see His journey?
Jesus, on His way to Jerusalem, explicitly tells His disciples what awaits Him. This isn't a surprise attack; it's a foreknown and intentional path. He states, "we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over... and they will condemn him to death." (Matthew 20:18).
Willing Sacrifice
This foreknowledge underscores Jesus' willing participation in God's plan. He knows the betrayal, the condemnation, and the death that lie ahead. Yet, He proceeds, demonstrating a profound commitment to His mission.
Divine Orchestration
Notice that Jesus highlights His upcoming suffering as part of a divine plan, not a random tragedy. He knows the key players – the chief priests and scribes – and their role in His condemnation. This foreknowledge speaks to the intricate orchestration of events leading to the cross.
The religious leaders condemn Jesus to death, yet this isn't the end of the story. What does this judgment reveal about their motives and Jesus' true identity?
In this passage, Jesus reveals that His impending death will come through condemnation by the chief priests and scribes. They "will condemn him to death" (Matthew 20:18).
Religious Opposition
This condemnation was rooted in religious and political opposition. As leaders of the Jewish people, they saw Jesus as a threat to their authority and the established religious order. Their condemnation was an attempt to eliminate this perceived disruption.
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A Higher Verdict
However, Jesus' foreknowledge of this condemnation points to a truth beyond human judgment. While they would condemn Him, His ultimate vindication comes through His resurrection, proving His divine identity and the ultimate failure of their sentence. The death they plot is, in fact, the means of salvation.
Understand the original words
huios tou anthrōpou · Greek Noun phrase
A title used by Jesus for Himself, rooted in Daniel 7:13-14, emphasizing both His true humanity and His divine authority as the Messianic representative of humanity.
archiereusin kai grammateusin · Greek Noun phrase
The religious leaders of Jerusalem responsible for the temple and interpreting the Law; they functioned as the primary human authority structures that opposed Jesus' ministry.
katakrinousin · Greek Verb
To sentence someone to a penalty, often implying legal or moral judgment; in the context of the Passion, it refers to the formal rejection and sentencing of Jesus by the religious authorities.
ethnesin · Greek Noun
Used generally for non-Jewish people, emphasizing the betrayal of the Messiah into the hands of those outside the covenant community of Israel.
staurōsai · Greek Verb
The capital punishment of the Roman Empire, involving public, slow, and agonizing death; theologically, it is the means by which Christ bore the curse of sin and achieved atonement.
egerthēsetai · Greek Verb
Refers to the bodily return to life of Jesus Christ; it is the foundational event of the Christian faith, signaling the defeat of death and the validation of His sacrificial work.
Jesus' frank prediction of His betrayal, condemnation, and crucifixion highlights His awareness of His imminent suffering and His determined resolve to fulfill God's plan, even as His disciples struggle to grasp the necessity of His suffering.
c. 30 AD— this verse
Jesus' Final Journey to Jerusalem
Jesus and his disciples make their way to Jerusalem for Passover, knowing this journey will lead to Jesus' arrest, trial, and crucifixion.
c. 30 AD
Jesus' Confrontation with Religious Leaders
Jesus engages in sharp debates with the chief priests and scribes in Jerusalem, exposing their hypocrisy and challenging their authority.
c. 30 AD
The Sanhedrin Convenes
The Sanhedrin, the Jewish high court composed of chief priests and scribes, plots against Jesus, viewing him as a threat to their religious and political order.
c. 30 AD
Jesus' Betrayal and Arrest
Jesus is betrayed by Judas Iscariot and arrested by temple guards, fulfilling his prophecy that he would be delivered into the hands of religious authorities.
c. 30 AD
Jesus' Trial by the Sanhedrin
The Sanhedrin holds an illegal night trial, finds Jesus guilty of blasphemy, and condemns him to death.
c. 30 AD
Jesus Delivered to Roman Authorities
The Sanhedrin, lacking the authority to execute Jesus, delivers him to the Roman governor Pontius Pilate.
c. 30 AD
Crucifixion by Roman Soldiers
Pontius Pilate, under pressure from the Jewish leaders and the crowd, hands Jesus over to Roman soldiers who crucify him.
This Old Testament passage prophesies that the Suffering Servant would be 'despised and rejected by men,' echoing the rejection Jesus anticipates from the religious leaders here.
Psalm 22:6-8This psalm describes the Messiah being 'despised,' 'scorned,' and 'laughed to scorn' by His enemies, foretelling the mockery and condemnation Jesus is about to face.
Daniel 9:26This prophecy speaks of the Anointed One being 'cut off' and that a ruler's people would 'condemn him to death,' directly paralleling Jesus' foretelling of His own death sentence.
Luke 18:31-32This parallel account emphasizes that Jesus took the Twelve aside and revealed to them 'everything that had been written in the Law of Moses and by the prophets' concerning His suffering and death.
Mark 10:33-34This parallel passage adds further details to Jesus' prediction, including being delivered to the Gentiles, mocked, spit upon, scourged, and killed, painting a more vivid picture of the suffering Jesus is announcing.
henryMatthew 20:17-19: "And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,"
20:17-19 Christ is more particular here in foretelling his sufferings than before. And here, as before, he adds the mention of his resurrection and his glory, to that of his death and sufferings, to encourage his disciples, and comfort them. A believing view of our once crucified and now glorified Redeemer, is good to humble a proud, self-justifying disposition. When we consider t…
barnesMatthew 20:18: "Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,"
Behold, we go up to Jerusalem - Jesus assured them that what they feared would come to pass, but he had, in some measure, prepared their minds for this state of suffering by the promises which he had made to them, Matthew 19:27-30 ; Matthew 20:1-16 . In all their sufferings they might be assured that eternal rewards were before th…
While Jesus already warned his disciples about his upcoming suffering, here he specifies who will be involved—the religious leaders, the chief priests and scribes. This isn't just a random attack; it's a deliberate targeting by the very people meant to uphold God's law, showing the depth of the opposition He would face.
Jesus is leading his disciples on the final journey to Jerusalem, a journey that will culminate in his suffering. He’s deliberately preparing them, for the third time, for his impending crucifixion by detailing the specific betrayals, condemnations, and physical torments he will endure, all before the astonishing announcement that he will rise again on the third day.
Jesus is leading his disciples on the final journey to Jerusalem, a journey that will culminate in his suffering. He’s deliberately preparing them, for the third time, for his impending crucifixion by detailing the specific betrayals, condemnations, and physical torments he will endure, all before the astonishing announcement that he will rise again on the third day.
"“See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be…" — While Jesus already warned his disciples about his upcoming suffering, here he specifies who will be involved—the religious leaders, the chief priests and scribes. This isn't just a random attack;…
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Last reviewed October 2026
