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Explanation for:
Matthew
20
:
19
And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to be mocked, and scourged, and crucified, and the third day he shall rise again.
12
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Desiring to alleviate the burden of suffering, the disciples often overlooked its significance. Consequently, Christ consistently reminded them, seeking to cultivate their awareness and soften their grief. There was a purpose behind His private discussions regarding His impending trials. There was no benefit in publicizing such anguish among the people, as their outrage would surpass that of the disciples. Yet, one might ask, was it not made known to the public? Indeed, the information was shared, but not in an overt manner. He addressed the people, stating, \\"Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up\\" (John 2:19), and noted that \\"this generation seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah\\" (Matthew 12:39). He also mentioned, \\"yet a little while I am with you, and you shall seek Me, and you shall not find Me\\" (John 7:33-34). However, He spoke to His disciples with much greater clarity. Why engage in conversation if the crowd failed to grasp the depth of His words? This was to ensure they would later realize that Jesus Christ anticipated His suffering and approached it willingly, not in ignorance or against His desires. \\n\\nHe forewarned them not only to illuminate their understanding but also to fortify them, so they might more resiliently withstand His agony, preventing the sudden onset of despair when the time came. Initially, He informed them only of His death; as they began to contemplate this truth and ready themselves for it, He gradually unveiled additional details, such as being betrayed to the Gentiles and enduring scorn and beating. This way, witnessing the fulfillment of His sorrowful foretellings would enable them to look forward to the resurrection. If Christ did not shy away from disclosing events that seemed detrimental to His honor, it was logical to trust His hopeful proclamations. Observe how astutely He selects the appropriate moments for such discussions. He did not announce His sufferings from the outset, to avoid overwhelming them, nor did He proclaim them at the instant of occurrence to circumvent any feelings of defeat. It was only after they had witnessed His miraculous power and received grand assurances of eternal life that He, among His miracles and teachings, frequently spoke of suffering. \\n\\nOne Gospel writer notes how He referenced the prophets as His witnesses, while another remarks on the disciples' confusion, stating, \\"this word was hidden from them\\" (Luke 18:34), and they followed Him in fear. Some may conclude that these predictions proved futile; if the disciples could not comprehend what they heard, they could not have harbored any expectations, and thus their hope remained unfortified. I would pose an even more complex question: if they did not grasp these truths, why were they grieving? Another account tells us that they wept. If understanding eluded them, what was the source of their sorrow? As Peter expressed, “Thou art merciful; these things cannot happen to Thee” (Matthew 16:22). What can we say to this? Even if they lacked a clear understanding of the mysteries surrounding the temple's rebuilding and the resurrection along with the actions He would undertake thereafter—this knowledge was concealed from them—they recognized that He was destined to die, which invoked their mourning. They had witnessed others being raised from the dead; however, they had never seen anyone resurrect themselves to live eternally afterward. They struggled to comprehend this, even though He spoke about it frequently. Their understanding of death itself, what it truly entailed, was also unclear, causing them fear as they followed Him. Moreover, it seems that His conversations about suffering intensified their anxiety. Nevertheless, this knowledge did not embolden them, despite their frequent reminders of His resurrection. Beyond His death, they were particularly distressed about the scorn and beatings He would endure. When they envisioned His miracles—healing the possessed and raising the deceased—only to hear such forewarnings, they were bewildered, pondering, \\"Is He, who performed these wonders, to endure such torment?\\" Thus, they found themselves in a state of confusion, grappling with their faith and skepticism toward His words, unable to fully comprehend their meaning."},{"author-name":"Anonymous Commentary (Opus Imperfectum)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Why does He reveal the mystery of His passion? Because every hardship that suddenly confronts individuals feels daunting and unmanageable. However, when we ready ourselves for such trials and they arrive as anticipated, we are able to embrace them more readily than if caught off guard. Jesus foretells His forthcoming crucifixion to His disciples so that when the time of suffering arrives, they will be equipped to face it, having been forewarned of its necessity. If even the apostles, who were informed about His impending death, were still tempted to abandon Him when He was taken, how much more would they have faltered without such a warning?"},{"author-name":"Augustine of Hippo","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88950a5c988a4fc06c7ae_Augustine%20of%20Hippo.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":5,"exegesis-text":"Upon the cross, the Wisdom of God embodied humanity to demonstrate how we might lead a life of righteousness. Such a life flourishes when we abandon the fears that are unfounded. Death, indeed, should not instill fear. Thus, through the demise of the Man whom divine Wisdom embraced, this truth was to be made manifest. Yet, some individuals, while untroubled by death itself, dread a particular form of death. Nonetheless, just as death should not be a source of fear, it is inappropriate for someone who lives in health and righteousness to dread any specific type of death. Therefore, this particular form was certainly illustrated by the Cross of that Man, as there is no death more cursed and dreadful than it."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"Having become familiar with the concept of suffering, He provides additional insights: that He would be handed over to the Gentiles, specifically to the soldiers under Pilate, the Roman authority, and that they would mock Him, whip Him, and ultimately crucify Him. However, on the third day, He would rise once more. After foretelling the sorrowful events, He also introduces a message of hope, so that awareness of the former may lead to anticipation of the latter. As noted in Luke 18:31, 34, Christ proclaimed to them that “All things written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man shall come to an end,” and they did not comprehend any of this. The prophets had indeed prophesied in detail regarding all His afflictions, and it would have been feasible to reference all their predictions had it not been necessary to broaden their discourse too widely. At that moment, the disciples were oblivious to the prophecies spoken, and as Luke mentions in 18:34, this understanding was concealed from them—particularly the fact that He would rise again on the third day; they did not grasp that it referred to Him as also noted in chapter 17. Chrysostom provides another explanation for their lack of insight: they had heard of another raising a dead person and even witnessed it, but the concept of a dead person raising himself was something they had neither heard nor seen. Similarly, as they observed Jesus Christ's human actions, they believed He would be put to death, leading to their sorrow; yet when they considered His divine acts, they remained disbelieving, failing to realize that it pertained to Him. They misunderstood such declarations, assuming they were metaphorical."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"The sons of Zebedee believed that if the Lord traveled to Jerusalem, He would take His rightful place as the ruler of the world. They had frequently heard Him speak of going to Jerusalem. Thus, they entertained a worldly notion and sent their mother to Him, feeling too timid to approach Him themselves. Yet, they approached discreetly, as Mark records, stating that \\"James and John approached Him.\\" They came to Him unobtrusively and in secret."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Surrender Him to the Gentiles, specifically the Roman officials, to carry out the execution of the condemned. Witness Pilate the governor and his soldiers. He will be beaten mercilessly and crucified; observe Pilate the governor alongside his soldiers. And on the third day, He will rise again."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"And thus, they will deliver Him, the Son of Man, to the nations to be reviled, beaten, and crucified upon the cross. Here, for the first time, the Lord revealed the full extent of the agony that awaited Him in His crucifixion, and He shall meet His demise in this manner. However, do not lose hope or feel despondent; this must unfold as foretold in the scriptures, yet those same scriptures proclaim that Christ will rise on the third day. The prophecies of the Savior were unmistakably direct, yet, according to the words of the holy Evangelist Luke, His disciples could not grasp them: ‘these words were hidden to them’ (Luke 18:34). What purpose did these prophecies serve if they remained misunderstood? St. Chrysostom provides insight here: although they were not fully aware of the divine plan, they did know that He would face death, and this caused them sorrow. They had witnessed Him raise others, but the idea of someone rising from the dead by their own power, to live eternally without dying again, was beyond their comprehension. Despite His repeated teachings on this matter, they failed to grasp it. Alongside His impending death, they were particularly frightened by the thought of Him being mocked, beaten, and facing similar torments. As they contemplated His extraordinary miracles, the predictions astonished them, leading them to question, ‘Can He who created all things endure such suffering?’ Thus, they both believed and doubted His words, unable to find peace in them, despite their clarity."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The exact duration of Jesus' time in the desert is uncertain, but as the Passover drew near, He recognized the necessity to leave His isolation and journey to Jerusalem. When He set out with His disciples, they felt compelled to follow Him, filled with apprehension, as if He were heading toward certain death, often walking ahead of Him in their fear. During their journey, while the sorrowful crowd moved in silence, Jesus summoned the twelve apostles and revealed to them, ‘Your insight is accurate; indeed, we are traveling to Jerusalem, where all that the prophets have predicted concerning the Son of Man will come to pass: He will be handed over to the Gentiles; they will mock Him, insult Him, spit on Him, scourge Him, strike Him down, and ultimately kill Him; yet on the third day, He will rise again’ (Luke 18:32-33). This was not the first occasion He had shared these details with them, but they had been unable to grasp His previous statements, nor could they comprehend the significance of His words in that moment. Though they had recognized Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God through Peter’s declaration, they could not accept that the Messiah, the Son of God, could face death. If it were impossible for Him to perish, how could He then rise? If Jesus meets death, then He cannot be the Messiah, nor the Son of God. So who is He? These questions lingered, seeking answers that eluded the Apostles; the meaning of His words remained concealed from them, and they failed to understand what was said (Luke 18:34)."},{"author-name":"Lopuchin A.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c891400ee1341634d2276d_Lopuchin%20A.P..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The duration of Jesus’ involuntary stay in Ephraim remains uncertain (John 11:54), yet the Passover celebration was nearing. This was the time when the Lamb of God, who removes the sins of humanity, would be sacrificed alongside the customary lambs. Pilgrims from all corners journeyed to Jerusalem, including Jesus and His disciples. He was deep in thought regarding the monumental event ahead, and His followers, understanding His contemplation, chose not to disturb Him. Eventually, He paused and summoned them, reiterating for the third time with greater clarity and more striking, distressing details than before that He would be betrayed into the hands of the chief priests and scribes; that He would face condemnation and be handed over to the Gentiles; that they would ridicule and scourge Him. For the first time, He disclosed the gravest reality, that He would be sacrificed, but on the third day, He would rise again. Their minds, however, were clouded with earthly hopes of a Messianic reign, fixated on the anticipated splendor of the kingdom of God, causing them to overlook His prophecy. They remained oblivious to its meaning and disinterested in grasping it fully, which was further evidenced by a new event that grieved Christ deeply."},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The Lord Jesus Christ and His disciples journeyed towards Jerusalem. For the Saviour, this path led to the cross and the redemptive sacrifice at Golgotha. The God-Man foresaw the culmination of this journey—there in Jerusalem—fully aware of the horrific details that awaited Him. He walked forward alone, aiming to demonstrate, as interpreted by Blessed Theophylact, that He eagerly approached suffering and did not shy away from death for our salvation. His disciples trailed behind, hesitant to disrupt His solitary reflections. Their hearts were filled with a mix of diverse and even conflicting emotions: while some, influenced by the common expectation of an earthly kingdom for the Messiah, believed literally in Christ's promise to appoint them on twelve thrones (Matt. 19:27-30), anticipating the swift establishment of this kingdom filled with glory, others, the majority, were engulfed in fear. Awareness of the Pharisees’ repeated attempts to kill their Master (John 5:16, 18; 10:31, 39) weighed heavily on their minds—Thomas had recently perceived the trip to Judea as a march towards certain death (11:16). Thus, confronted with their own vulnerability and the fierce animosity they faced, they anxiously considered the peril that loomed not just for their Divine Teacher, but also for themselves, His closest followers. \\n\\nThe Saviour's dual prophecies regarding His suffering, death, and resurrection (Matt. 16:21; 17:22, 23) could have served as significant encouragement for His disciples, affirming God's unwavering purpose, yet these messages had either been forgotten or misunderstood. Knowing the innermost thoughts and feelings of their hearts, the Lord gathered the twelve apostles once again and, for the third time, articulated the upcoming events with greater clarity, as noted by Blessed Theophylact, to fortify their spirits so that when the prophecies unfolded, they might endure with courage and not be caught unprepared, understanding that He would suffer according to His divine will. St. Matthew the Evangelist adds a new element to this prophecy that was absent from previous declarations—the foretelling of death on a cross. The Lord proclaimed, “Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all the written prophecies concerning the Son of Man will be fulfilled: the Son of Man will be betrayed by the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to be mocked with their words; they will strike Him and spit upon Him, and after condemning Him to crucifixion, they will kill Him, but on the third day He will rise again.” Yet despite having heard these revelations before, the disciples remained perplexed, as noted by the holy Evangelist Luke: “These things were hidden from them, and they did not understand the things that were being said.” \\n\\nThe inability of the closest disciples to grasp these truths can be understood as they only attained full spiritual insight after the Holy Spirit descended upon them. Before this divine revelation, as described by St. John Chrysostom, they “either believed or disbelieved His words and could not comprehend them; before the cross, they knew little.” Their thoughts were often entangled with earthly desires, sometimes engaging not with the matters of God but of men (Matthew 16:23). Eventually, witnessing the precise realization of the Lord's predictions regarding His sufferings and death would also bolster their confidence in His wondrous resurrection, providing them with undeniable evidence of His Divinity (1 Cor. 15:14)."},{"author-name":"Bogolepow D.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The Gospel writers introduce the narrative with phrases such as \\"and going up to Jerusalem\\" (Matthew) and \\"when they were on the way, going up to Jerusalem\\" (Mark). These statements indicate that Jesus, along with His disciples, had crossed the Jordan and was journeying towards Jerusalem, passing through Jericho (see Matthew 19:15, Mark 10:17). As the disciples realized that their Master aimed to travel to Jerusalem for the Passover feast, they were filled with fear and apprehension: \\"Jesus went on ahead of them, and they were terrified; and as they followed Him they were afraid\\" (Mark). They experienced similar feelings when Jesus invited them to Judea to raise Lazarus (John 11:7-8, 16). However, this time, the Lord did not offer them the same comfort He had previously (John 11:9-10), but instead, He called the twelve to Himself and provided a clear and specific forewarning of the suffering awaiting Him in Jerusalem. With this explicit prophecy of His impending suffering and death, Jesus moved forward, encouraging His disciples and demonstrating that when His time came, He would voluntarily embrace death. \\n\\nIt is noted that the disciples \\"understood nothing\\" of the Lord's prophecy concerning His death and resurrection: \\"these words were hidden from them, and they did not comprehend what was said.\\""},{"author-name":"Alexander Gorsky","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8884037c1e1c51e1332e2_Alexander%20Gorsky.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Prior to the Passover celebration, as Jewish pilgrims from across the globe were converging on Jerusalem, the Lord made plans to travel with His disciples. Rather than heading directly from Ephraim, He chose a route that took Him eastward through Jericho to mingle with the throngs of worshippers heading to the holy city, with the intention of making a triumphant entrance. The disciples were filled with apprehension, fearing the peril that awaited them in Jerusalem, particularly with many hostile individuals present (Mark 10:32). Yet, the Lord moved ahead of them, soon merging with the other travelers heading to Jerusalem. The name of Jesus, widely recognized by all, began to stir excitement among the worshippers. This recognition could have dimmed the fear in the disciples’ hearts and even ignited their aspirations for the Messiah’s reign. \\n\\nThen, the Lord took His closest disciples, the twelve, aside and shared a somber warning about what lay ahead in Jerusalem. He disclosed that He would be handed over to His adversaries, specifically the Sanhedrin, who would condemn Him to die. However, rather than executing the sentence themselves, they would turn Him over to the Gentiles, the Roman authorities governing Judea. The Gentiles would not immediately carry out the Sanhedrin's decree; instead, they would first ridicule Him, scourge Him, spit on Him, and ultimately put Him to death. The Lord emphasized that all of this was necessary to fulfill the prophecies, concluding with the promise that the Son of Man would rise from the dead on the third day, distinguishing His resurrection from that of Lazarus."}]}
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