Luke 9:45

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

But {G1161} they understood not {G50} this {G5124} saying {G4487}, and {G2532} it was {G2258} hid {G3871} from {G575} them {G846}, that {G3363} they perceived {G143} it {G846} not {G3363}: and {G2532} they feared {G5399} to ask {G2065} him {G846} of {G4012} that {G5127} saying {G4487}.

Complete Jewish Bible

But they didn’t understand what he meant by this. It had been concealed from them so that they would not grasp its meaning, and they were afraid to ask him about it.

Berean Standard Bible

But they did not understand this statement. It was veiled from them so that they could not comprehend it, and they were afraid to ask Him about it.

American Standard Version

But they understood not this saying, and it was concealed from them, that they should not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 9:45 captures the profound spiritual and intellectual struggle of Jesus' disciples to comprehend His repeated prophecy of suffering and death. Despite explicit warnings, their preconceived notions of a conquering Messiah blinded them to the divine truth, leading to a state of ignorance and a reluctance to seek further clarity, highlighting the chasm between human expectation and God's redemptive plan.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows Jesus' second explicit prediction of His betrayal and crucifixion in [Luke 9:44](/luke/9-44 "Luke 9:44 - Jesus Foretells His Suffering"). The declaration, "Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men," was a solemn and direct warning. This prophecy builds upon an earlier, equally clear statement in [Luke 9:22](/luke/9-22 "Luke 9:22 - Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection"), where Jesus first spoke of the Son of Man suffering, being rejected, killed, and raised on the third day. The disciples' consistent failure to grasp these repeated pronouncements underscores their deeply ingrained expectations and the radical nature of Jesus' true mission. Their misunderstanding here also sets the stage for later incidents, such as the dispute over who would be greatest ([Luke 9:46](/luke/9-46 "Luke 9:46 - The Disciples Dispute Who Is Greatest")), further revealing their earthly mindset.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** First-century Jewish society, under Roman occupation, was rife with messianic fervor. The prevailing expectation, heavily influenced by Old Testament prophecies like those in [Isaiah 9:6-7](/isaiah/9-6-7 "Isaiah 9:6-7 - The Prophecy of the Messiah's Reign") and [Daniel 7:13-14](/daniel/7-13-14 "Daniel 7:13-14 - The Son of Man Coming with Clouds"), was of a political and military Messiah who would liberate Israel from foreign rule and establish an earthly kingdom of unparalleled glory. This vision was deeply ingrained in the disciples' worldview. The concept of a suffering, dying Messiah, particularly one who would be executed as a criminal, was not only foreign but scandalous and contradictory to their understanding of divine power and glory. They simply had no theological framework to accommodate such a notion, leading to a cognitive dissonance that prevented them from truly hearing Jesus' words.

* **Key Themes:** The primary theme highlighted in [Luke 9:45](/luke/9-45 "Luke 9:45 - Disciples' Misunderstanding") is the **disciples' profound misunderstanding** of Jesus' mission. Their inability to process the truth about His impending suffering and death reveals a deep-seated spiritual blindness, rooted in their earthly expectations of a conquering Messiah. This theme is pervasive in the Gospels, showing how even those closest to Jesus struggled to align their understanding with God's redemptive plan. Furthermore, the phrase "it was hid from them, that they perceived it not" introduces the theme of **divine concealment or timing**. While their human limitations were evident, there's an implication that God, in His sovereign wisdom, allowed this truth to remain veiled until the appropriate time, particularly after the resurrection and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, when the full meaning would be revealed (cf. [John 16:12-13](/john/16-12-13 "John 16:12-13 - The Spirit of Truth Will Guide You")). Finally, their **fear to ask** about the saying underscores a theme of human apprehension and perhaps a reluctance to confront uncomfortable truths, which prevented them from seeking immediate clarity and prolonged their state of spiritual bewilderment.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **understood not (Greek, _agnoéō'_):** From G50, meaning "not to know (through lack of information or intelligence); by implication, to ignore (through disinclination)." This word indicates a complete lack of comprehension, suggesting that the disciples did not merely misunderstand but were entirely ignorant of the true implications of Jesus' words. It points to a mental block or an inability to process information that contradicted their deeply held beliefs about the Messiah.
* **hid (Greek, _parakalýptō'_):** From G3871, meaning "to cover alongside, i.e. veil (figuratively)." This term implies an active concealment or veiling. It suggests that the truth was not merely obscure but was deliberately kept from their full grasp, perhaps by divine design, until the appropriate time for its revelation. This points to a deeper, spiritual dimension to their incomprehension beyond mere intellectual deficiency.
* **feared (Greek, _phobéō'_):** From G5399, meaning "to frighten, i.e. (passively) to be alarmed; by analogy, to be in awe of, i.e. revere." This word describes their emotional state. Their fear was not necessarily a fear of Jesus Himself, but perhaps a fear of the unsettling implications of His words, a fear of rebuke for their ignorance, or a fear of what further revelation might entail. This apprehension prevented them from seeking the clarity they desperately needed.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But they understood not this saying":** This initial clause immediately establishes the disciples' profound lack of comprehension regarding Jesus' prophecy of His suffering. The "saying" refers specifically to the declaration in [Luke 9:44](/luke/9-44 "Luke 9:44 - Jesus Foretells His Suffering") about the Son of Man being delivered into the hands of men. Their failure to understand was not a simple intellectual oversight but a deep-seated inability to reconcile Jesus' words with their messianic expectations.
* **"and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not":** This phrase intensifies the previous statement, indicating that their incomprehension was not solely due to their own limitations. The truth was "hid" or veiled from them, suggesting a divine element in their inability to grasp the meaning. The repetition of the idea of not perceiving ("perceived it not") emphasizes the completeness of their spiritual blindness, preventing them from apprehending the truth even on an intuitive or sensory level.
* **"and they feared to ask him of that saying":** This final clause reveals the disciples' emotional response and their subsequent inaction. Their fear, perhaps a combination of awe, shame, or apprehension about the unsettling nature of the prophecy, prevented them from seeking clarification from Jesus. This reluctance to inquire kept them in a state of ignorance, highlighting a missed opportunity for deeper understanding and spiritual growth.

#### Literary Devices
Luke 9:45 powerfully employs **Dramatic Irony**, as the reader is fully aware of the tragic and redemptive future that awaits Jesus, while the disciples, despite being His closest followers, remain completely oblivious. This creates tension and underscores the profound gap between divine knowledge and human understanding. The verse also utilizes **Foreshadowing**, hinting at the disciples' continued struggle to comprehend the spiritual realities of Jesus' mission, particularly the necessity of the cross and resurrection, which they would only fully grasp after the events transpired and the Holy Spirit empowered them. Furthermore, there is a subtle **Contrast** between Jesus' clear and repeated pronouncements and the disciples' consistent and profound incomprehension, highlighting the human tendency to filter divine truth through preconceived notions.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 9:45 serves as a poignant reminder of the pervasive human tendency to resist truths that challenge deeply held beliefs or comfortable expectations. The disciples, despite walking with the Son of God, were so entrenched in their earthly vision of a glorious, conquering Messiah that they could not conceive of a suffering servant. This illustrates a critical theological principle: spiritual understanding often requires a surrender of preconceived notions and a humble openness to God's revelation, even when it seems counterintuitive or uncomfortable. Their inability to understand, coupled with the divine veiling, also points to God's sovereign timing in revealing truth, ensuring that understanding comes when hearts are truly prepared to receive it, often through experience and the work of the Holy Spirit.

* [Mark 9:32](/mark/9-32 "Mark 9:32 - Disciples Do Not Understand")
* [John 12:16](/john/12-16 "John 12:16 - Disciples Remember After Resurrection")
* [Acts 1:6-8](/acts/1-6-8 "Acts 1:6-8 - Disciples Still Expect Earthly Kingdom")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Luke 9:45 is a profound mirror for our own spiritual journeys. Like the disciples, we often approach God with our own pre-formed ideas about how He should work, what His will entails, or what our lives should look like. This verse challenges us to examine our own biases and expectations, asking whether we are truly open to hearing God's truth, even when it contradicts our comfort zones, desires, or cultural norms. Are there "sayings" from God's Word that we "understand not" because they clash with our preferred narratives? Furthermore, the disciples' fear to ask is a powerful warning against spiritual complacency or pride. Sometimes, we avoid seeking deeper understanding because we fear what the answer might demand of us, or we are ashamed of our ignorance. This passage calls us to cultivate a humble, inquisitive spirit, always willing to ask, to seek, and to knock, trusting that God desires to reveal Himself and His truth to those who earnestly pursue it. Finally, it reminds us to trust in God's perfect timing for revelation; some truths may only become clear through lived experience, the work of the Holy Spirit, or after the full unfolding of God's plan.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What preconceived notions or expectations might I hold about God, His will, or my own life that could be hindering my understanding of His truth?**
* **In what areas of my faith or life am I "fearing to ask" or avoiding deeper inquiry because I am uncomfortable with the potential answers?**
* **How can I cultivate a more humble and receptive heart to God's Word, even when it challenges my current understanding or desires?**

### FAQ
**Why couldn't the disciples understand Jesus' clear prophecies about His suffering and death?**

Answer: The disciples struggled to understand Jesus' prophecies primarily due to their deeply ingrained cultural and theological expectations of the Messiah. They, like most Jews of their time, anticipated a conquering king who would establish an earthly kingdom and liberate Israel from Roman rule, based on passages like [Isaiah 9:6-7](/isaiah/9-6-7 "Isaiah 9:6-7 - Prophecy of the Messiah's Reign"). The concept of a suffering and dying Messiah was completely antithetical to this vision and scandalous to their worldview. Their minds were so fixed on a glorious, political deliverer that they simply could not process or reconcile the idea of His humiliation and death.

**What does it mean that the saying "was hid from them"? Was God intentionally preventing them from understanding?**

Answer: The phrase "it was hid from them" (Greek: _parakalýptō_) suggests more than just their intellectual inability; it implies a divine veiling or purposeful concealment. While their human limitations and preconceived notions certainly played a role, there's a theological implication that God, in His sovereign wisdom, allowed this truth to remain obscure until the appointed time. This was not to maliciously mislead them, but perhaps because they were not yet spiritually mature enough to bear the weight of such knowledge, or because the full meaning of the cross and resurrection could only be truly grasped in retrospect, after the events themselves and the subsequent outpouring of the Holy Spirit (as seen in [John 16:12-13](/john/16-12-13 "John 16:12-13 - The Spirit of Truth Will Guide You")). God often reveals truth progressively, at the right moment for His purposes and for our spiritual capacity.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 9:45, with the disciples' profound incomprehension of Jesus' suffering, powerfully underscores the radical nature of Christ's redemptive work and its fulfillment in the New Covenant. Their blindness to the necessity of the cross foreshadows the world's general inability to grasp that true kingship and salvation would come not through worldly power, but through sacrificial love and death. Jesus, the Son of Man, was indeed "delivered into the hands of men," not as a victim of circumstance, but as the willing [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). The "saying" that was "hid from them" was the very heart of God's plan for salvation, a plan that culminated in Jesus' atoning death and glorious resurrection, which ultimately opened the way for all who believe to receive eternal life ([Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God Demonstrates His Own Love")). It was only after Jesus' resurrection, when He "opened their minds to understand the Scriptures" ([Luke 24:45](/luke/24-45 "Luke 24:45 - Jesus Opens Their Minds to Understand")), and after the Holy Spirit came upon them at Pentecost ([Acts 2:1-4](/acts/2-1-4 "Acts 2:1-4 - The Coming of the Holy Spirit")), that the disciples truly grasped the profound truth of the suffering Messiah and His victory over sin and death, transforming their fear and confusion into bold proclamation of the Gospel ([Acts 4:13](/acts/4-13 "Acts 4:13 - Peter and John Speak Boldly")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

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.

Mark 9:32

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

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.

John 16:17

Then said [some] of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father?

John 16:18

They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith.

2 Corinthians 3:14

But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which [vail] is done away in Christ.