Matthew 20:19
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)
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Jesus explicitly details the "how" of his suffering here, naming not just the Gentiles, but specific indignities like mockery and flogging before crucifixion – a stark, gruesome realism he hadn't shared before. This vividness, coupled with the immediate reassurance of resurrection, wasn't meant for the disciples' immediate understanding but to plant a seed of truth that would blossom later.
As Jesus and his disciples journey toward Jerusalem, Jesus takes the twelve aside to prepare them for what's to come. He explicitly details his upcoming suffering, including betrayal, mockery, scourging, and crucifixion by the Gentiles, before his resurrection on the third day. Despite these clear warnings, the disciples struggle to grasp his words, their understanding clouded by preconceived notions of the Messiah's role.
Why would Jesus specifically mention 'the Gentiles' – the very people often seen as enemies – in his prediction of suffering?
Jesus's prediction that he would be delivered to the Gentiles is incredibly significant. This wasn't just a neutral detail; it was a profound theological statement.
A Roman Punishment
The Gentiles, specifically the Romans, carried out the crucifixion. Crucifixion was a Roman form of execution, not Jewish. This detail highlights the collaboration between Jewish leaders who condemned Jesus and the Roman authorities who executed him.
The Wrath of Man Praises God
Remarkably, this act of brutality by the Gentiles, intended to mock, scourge, and crucify Jesus, was part of God's sovereign plan. The commentary points out how the 'wrath of man shall praise thee' (Clarke). These actions, though wicked, were instrumental in fulfilling the atoning sacrifice for all people, both Jew and Gentile. God used the very hands of those who opposed him to bring about salvation for the world.
Jesus doesn't just predict his death; he immediately pairs it with resurrection. Why is this crucial, especially when his disciples struggled to grasp it?
The inclusion of his resurrection alongside the brutal details of his crucifixion is not an afterthought; it's the core of the message.
A Necessary Contrast
As commentators note, Jesus meticulously details the mocking, flogging, and crucifixion. This was a shocking, ignominious death, and he knew his disciples would find it hard to accept. By immediately following this with 'he will be raised on the third day,' Jesus provides the ultimate counterpoint. The suffering is not the end; it's a path to victory.
Hope Beyond Comprehension
Even with these explicit predictions, the disciples struggled to understand. Their minds were likely fixed on a triumphant, earthly Messiah. Jesus's foreknowledge and consistent repetition of both his death and resurrection demonstrate his divine authority and prepare them (and us) for the paradox of the cross: that death leads to life, and humiliation leads to glory.
Understand the original words
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.
This prophecy highlights the shocking reality of the cross – a divine plan involving profound suffering executed by human hands, a truth the disciples struggled to grasp even when foretold.
c. AD 30— this verse
Jesus' final journey to Jerusalem
Jesus, knowing His time was near, intentionally traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. This journey set the stage for His confrontation with religious authorities and His ultimate sacrifice.
c. AD 30
Jesus predicts His suffering and resurrection
On the road to Jerusalem, Jesus explicitly tells His disciples He will be handed over to the Gentiles, mocked, flogged, and crucified, but will rise on the third day.
c. AD 30
Jesus' disciples' confusion
Despite Jesus' clear warnings, the disciples struggled to understand His predictions of suffering and death, clinging to their own expectations of a triumphant Messiah.
Passover Week, AD 30
Jesus' arrest and trial
Jesus is betrayed, arrested, and subjected to trials before Jewish leaders and then Roman authorities, including Pilate.
This passage directly describes the suffering servant being pierced for transgressions and crushed for iniquities, directly mirroring the crucifixion foretold in Matthew 20:19. It reveals the prophetic purpose behind Christ's suffering – atonement for sins.
Psalm 22:16This psalm vividly describes people surrounding the psalmist 'like dogs' and 'gnawing' at him, and explicitly states 'they pierced my hands and my feet,' which aligns with the crucifixion Jesus predicted. It offers an ancient prophetic picture of the physical agony and humiliation of the cross.
Luke 23:7This passage describes Pilate sending Jesus to Herod, who then mocked and treated him with contempt before sending him back. It provides a historical parallel to the 'mocking' Jesus predicted would be inflicted by the Gentiles.
Acts 2:23This passage recounts how Jesus was delivered up and crucified by the 'hands of lawless men,' echoing the prediction of being handed over to the Gentiles. It highlights the divine plan working through human actions, even wicked ones.
1 Corinthians 1:23This verse speaks of Christ being 'crucified,' which is the central, terrible event foretold in Matthew 20:19. It contrasts the 'offense' of the cross to some with the 'power of God' to believers, showing the profound paradox of this predicted suffering.
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…
clarkeMatthew 20:19: "And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again."
Deliver him to the Gentiles to mock - This was done by Herod and his Roman soldiers. See Luke 23:11 . To scourge, and to crucify - This was done by Pilate, the Roman governor. The punishment of the cross was Roman not Jewish; but the chief priests condemned him to it, and the Romans executed the sentence. How little did they know that they were, by this proc…
Jesus explicitly details the "how" of his suffering here, naming not just the Gentiles, but specific indignities like mockery and flogging before crucifixion – a stark, gruesome realism he hadn't shared before. This vividness, coupled with the immediate reassurance of resurrection, wasn't meant for the disciples' immediate understanding but to plant a seed of truth that would blossom later.
As Jesus and his disciples journey toward Jerusalem, Jesus takes the twelve aside to prepare them for what's to come. He explicitly details his upcoming suffering, including betrayal, mockery, scourging, and crucifixion by the Gentiles, before his resurrection on the third day. Despite these clear warnings, the disciples struggle to grasp his words, their understanding clouded by preconceived notions of the Messiah's role.
As Jesus and his disciples journey toward Jerusalem, Jesus takes the twelve aside to prepare them for what's to come. He explicitly details his upcoming suffering, including betrayal, mockery, scourging, and crucifixion by the Gentiles, before his resurrection on the third day. Despite these clear warnings, the disciples struggle to grasp his words, their understanding clouded by preconceived notions of the Messiah's role.
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Passover Week, AD 30
Jesus' crucifixion
Pilate hands Jesus over to Roman soldiers who mock, flog, and ultimately crucify Him, fulfilling Jesus' prophecy.
"and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”" — Jesus explicitly details the "how" of his suffering here, naming not just the Gentiles, but specific indignities like mockery and flogging before crucifixion – a stark, gruesome realism he hadn't sha…
