Matthew 17:22

¶ And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:

And {G1161} while they {G846} abode {G390} in {G1722} Galilee {G1056}, Jesus {G2424} said {G2036} unto them {G846}, The Son {G5207} of man {G444} shall be {G3195} betrayed {G3860} into {G1519} the hands {G5495} of men {G444}:

As they were going about together in the Galil, Yeshua said to them, "The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of people

When they gathered together in Galilee, Jesus told them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.

And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be delivered up into the hands of men;

Commentary

Context of Matthew 17:22

This verse finds Jesus and His disciples in Galilee, shortly after the transformative event of the Transfiguration and the healing of a demon-possessed boy. It marks the second explicit prediction by Jesus of His impending suffering, death, and resurrection. The first such prophecy was given in Matthew 16:21, and a third would follow in Matthew 20:18-19. Despite these clear warnings, the disciples often struggled to grasp the concept of a suffering Messiah, clinging to the popular expectation of a conquering king.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Sovereignty and Foreknowledge: Jesus' declaration is not a guess but a statement of divine certainty. He knows precisely what awaits Him, demonstrating God's sovereign control over all events, even the darkest ones. This prophecy underscores that His passion was not an accident but part of a preordained plan.
  • The Suffering Messiah: The verse reinforces the crucial theme of the suffering Servant, a concept difficult for many of Jesus' contemporaries to reconcile with their messianic expectations. Jesus, the "Son of man," must endure betrayal and human injustice to fulfill His redemptive mission.
  • Betrayal and Human Agency: The specific mention of being "betrayed into the hands of men" highlights the role of human treachery, most notably that of Judas Iscariot. Yet, this human act of betrayal serves God's larger, divine purpose for salvation.

Linguistic Insights

The title "Son of man" (Greek: ho huios tou anthrōpou) is Jesus' most frequent self-designation. It emphasizes both His true humanity and His unique, divine authority, often echoing the apocalyptic figure of Daniel 7:13-14. In this context, it specifically links to His role as the suffering servant who would be delivered up for the sake of many. The word "betrayed" comes from the Greek paradidomi, which means "to hand over" or "to deliver up." While it can be neutral, in this context, it carries the strong connotation of treachery and hostile delivery.

Practical Application

Matthew 17:22 reminds believers that God's plans often involve suffering and challenges, even for His Son. For followers of Christ, this verse encourages:

  • Trust in God's Sovereignty: Even when life's circumstances seem chaotic or unjust, we can trust that God is in control and working out His ultimate purposes.
  • Preparation for Difficulty: Jesus did not shy away from telling His disciples the hard truth. Similarly, followers of Christ should be prepared for potential betrayal, opposition, or suffering in their journey of faith.
  • Understanding Redemption: This verse points directly to the path of the cross, which is central to Christian faith. It helps us appreciate the immense sacrifice Jesus made for our salvation, enduring betrayal and death to offer eternal life.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Matthew 16:21

    ¶ From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

  • Luke 18:31

    ¶ Then he took [unto him] the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.

  • 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 8:31

    And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and [of] the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

  • Matthew 17:23

    And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.

  • Luke 9:44

    Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.

  • 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.
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