Matthew 20:18

Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,

Behold {G2400}, we go up {G305} to {G1519} Jerusalem {G2414}; and {G2532} the Son {G5207} of man {G444} shall be betrayed {G3860} unto the chief priests {G749} and {G2532} unto the scribes {G1122}, and {G2532} they shall condemn {G2632} him {G846} to death {G2288},

"We are now going up to Yerushalayim, where the Son of Man will be handed over to the head cohanim and Torah-teachers. They will sentence him to death

“Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes. They will condemn Him to death

Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests and scribes; and they shall condemn him to death,

Commentary

Context of Matthew 20:18

Matthew 20:18 presents a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry as He and His disciples embark on their final journey to Jerusalem. This is the third, most detailed, and most explicit prediction Jesus makes concerning His impending passion, death, and resurrection (compare to Matthew 16:21 and Matthew 17:22-23). Occurring after the parable of the laborers in the vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16) and just before the request of James and John’s mother (Matthew 20:20-28), this prophecy highlights Jesus' clear foreknowledge of the events to come and His deliberate steps towards fulfilling God's redemptive plan. The disciples, despite these clear warnings, still struggled to grasp the true nature of His Messianic mission, focusing more on earthly glory than on suffering.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Foreknowledge and Sovereignty: Jesus explicitly details His future, demonstrating not only His divine knowledge but also that His suffering and death are not accidental but part of God's predetermined plan. This deliberate journey underscores the sovereignty of God in Christ's passion.
  • The Path to Jerusalem: The phrase "we go up to Jerusalem" signifies a deliberate ascent to the capital, the spiritual and political center, where the ultimate climax of Jesus' earthly ministry would unfold. It marks the final stage of His journey towards the cross.
  • Betrayal and Condemnation: The prophecy specifically names the agents of His suffering: He will be "betrayed" (pointing to Judas Iscariot) and "condemn[ed] to death" by the "chief priests and... scribes"—the religious authorities who would instigate the legal proceedings against Him.
  • The Suffering Son of Man: Jesus refers to Himself as the "Son of man," a title He frequently used, connecting His identity to both humanity and the divine, authoritative figure prophesied in Daniel 7:13-14. Here, it is specifically linked to suffering and death, fulfilling the role of the Suffering Servant from Isaiah.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "Son of man" in Greek is ho huios tou anthrōpou. While it literally means "son of humanity," in Jesus' usage, it carries rich theological weight, signifying His unique identity as both fully human and the divine, authoritative Messiah. The verb "betrayed" is from the Greek paradidōmi, which means "to hand over" or "to deliver up." While it can be used neutrally, in this context, especially concerning Judas, it takes on the sinister connotation of treachery and abandonment.

Practical Application

Matthew 20:18 offers profound lessons for believers today. It reinforces the truth that God's plan unfolds even through the most difficult circumstances, including betrayal and injustice. Jesus' willingness to face suffering demonstrates His profound love and obedience to the Father's will, providing a model for enduring hardship with faith. It reminds us that Christ's sacrifice was not a random event but a deliberate act of redemption. For us, this verse encourages trust in God's sovereign hand, even when our path involves suffering, knowing that ultimate victory and resurrection follow the journey through the cross. The betrayal itself is later detailed in Matthew 26:14-16.

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.

  • Acts 2:23

    Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

  • Matthew 27:1

    ¶ When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:

  • Matthew 26:66

    What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.

  • 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:

  • Matthew 17:23

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

  • Matthew 26:2

    Ye know that after two days is [the feast of] the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.
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