Articles
The Son of Man will be delivered over
The Son of Man will be delivered over
Here in Matt. 20:18-19, Jesus speaks plainly about his coming rejection and crucifixion. This is actually the third of four predictions of Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion. Matthew records these predictions here and at 16:21; cf. 17:22–23 and 26:2. (see text below).
These predictions may have been a surprise to the apostles as many people then expected the Messiah ‘to live forever’. Yet the most pointed Messianic prophecies of Isa. 53 and Psa. 2, and 22 all indicated the rejection and death of the Messiah.
How did they miss this? Actually, I think it would have been quite easy! We unfortunately bring many preconceived thoughts into our bible reading and so did they. Such a royal king coming in the power of God – how could he die? Who in the world would reject such a one?
The scriptures DID speak of the Messiah ‘reigning forever” (see 2 Sam. 7:16; Isa. 9:7; and Dan. 7:14). The angel in fact stated this at the announcement of His coming birth (Luke 1:32-33). The problem of interpretation is trying to wrap one’s head around two (seemingly) conflicting concepts – he would rule forever and he would die.
The answer is obvious according to the New Testament – he was RESURRECTED. That was Jesus’ statement here: “on the third day he will be raised up”! Thus he both died and reigns forever. BUT such solution to this problem was NOT obvious in the Old Testament times, after all, dead people stay dead. [Yes, there were a couple of exceptions in the OT, but they were just that – exceptions].
The point is that we must be very careful in our reading and understanding. We can NOT allow ourselves to leave out other verses in our conclusions. Yet, people do this all the time! We have a favorite verse and then we ignore any and all other verses that don’t ‘fit’. Living by EVERY word of God is not always easy!
Hugh DeLong
SCRIPTURES
Matthew 16:21 21 From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day.
Matthew 17:22-23 22 And while they were gathering together in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men;
23 and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day." And they were deeply grieved.
Matthew 20:18-19 18 "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death,
19 and will hand Him over to the Gentiles to mock and scourge and crucify Him, and on the third day He will be raised up."
Matthew 26:2 2 "You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man is to be handed over for crucifixion."
Luke 1:32-33 32 "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end."
