Luke 18:34

And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.

And {G2532} they {G846} understood {G4920} none {G3762} of these things {G5130}: and {G2532} this {G5124} saying {G4487} was {G2258} hid {G2928} from {G575} them {G846},{G2532} neither {G3756} knew they {G1097} the things which were spoken {G3004}.

However, they understood none of this; its meaning had been hidden from them, and they had no idea what he was talking about.

But the disciples did not understand any of these things. The meaning was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend what He was saying.

And they understood none of these things; and this saying was hid from them, and they perceived not the things that were said.

Luke 18:34 KJV reveals the profound incomprehension of Jesus' disciples regarding His impending suffering, death, and resurrection, despite His clear and repeated predictions. This verse highlights a crucial aspect of their spiritual journey and God's sovereign timing in revealing truth.

Context of Luke 18:34

This verse immediately follows Jesus' third explicit prediction of His passion, where He detailed His journey to Jerusalem, His betrayal, mockery, scourging, and crucifixion, culminating in His resurrection on the third day (Luke 18:31-33). Despite the directness of His words, the disciples were unable to grasp their meaning. This was not the first time Jesus had spoken of His suffering; similar predictions are found in Luke 9:22 and Luke 9:44, often met with similar bewilderment (Mark 9:32). Their expectations of a conquering Messiah likely clouded their ability to comprehend a suffering one.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Human Incomprehension: The disciples, though intimately close to Jesus, were still bound by their preconceived notions of a conquering political Messiah. They struggled to reconcile this expectation with the idea of a suffering servant. Their spiritual blindness prevented them from understanding the necessity of the cross.
  • Divine Obscurity and Timing: The phrase "this saying was hid from them" suggests a divine element at play. It was part of God's sovereign plan that the full spiritual implications of Jesus' sacrifice would not be clear until after the resurrection, when the Holy Spirit would illuminate their understanding (John 16:13). This divine concealment ensured the fulfillment of prophecy and the unfolding of God's redemptive plan.
  • The Centrality of the Cross: This passage underscores how central Jesus' suffering and death were to God's plan of salvation, a concept that defied human logic and expectation until it was fulfilled and explained through the resurrection.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek phrase for "understood none of these things" uses the verb syniēmi, meaning to "bring together" or "comprehend," implying a total lack of mental grasp or perception. The subsequent phrase, "this saying was hid from them," employs the Greek verb kryptō, which means "to conceal" or "to hide." This isn't merely a passive inability to understand, but an active concealment, suggesting that God's timing for revelation played a significant role. Their understanding was divinely veiled until the appropriate moment, typically after the resurrection when Jesus opened their understanding to the Scriptures.

Practical Application

Luke 18:34 offers several timeless lessons for believers today:

  1. Trust in God's Timing: Just as the disciples struggled to grasp divine truth before its appointed time, we too may face periods of confusion or unanswered questions regarding God's will or plans. This verse encourages patience and trust that God reveals truth when we are ready to receive it.
  2. Overcoming Preconceptions: Our own expectations and desires can often blind us to God's true intentions, especially if they differ from what we imagine. It's crucial to approach Scripture and life with an open heart, willing to adjust our understanding to God's revealed truth.
  3. Dependence on Spiritual Illumination: The disciples' inability to understand highlights the need for spiritual enlightenment. It is the Holy Spirit who guides us into all truth and helps us comprehend the deeper spiritual realities of God's Word (1 Corinthians 2:14).

This verse serves as a powerful reminder that God's ways are often higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8), and true understanding often comes through divine revelation, not merely intellectual effort.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Luke 9:45

    But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.

  • Mark 9:32

    But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.

  • John 10:6

    This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.

  • Luke 24:45

    Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

  • John 12:16

    These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and [that] they had done these things unto him.

  • Luke 2:50

    And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.

  • Luke 24:25

    Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

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