⭐WEB · Matthew 17:23
What does Matthew 17:23 mean?
"and they will kill him, and the third day he will be raised up.” They were exceedingly sorry."
— Matthew 17:23 (World English Bible)
Surrounding context
He said to them, “Because of your unbelief. For most certainly I tell you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.
But this kind doesn’t go out except by prayer and fasting.”
While they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered up into the hands of men,
and they will kill him, and the third day he will be raised up.” They were exceedingly sorry.
When they had come to Capernaum, those who collected the didrachma coins came to Peter, and said, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the didrachma?”
He said, “Yes.” When he came into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth receive toll or tribute? From their children, or from strangers?”
Peter said to him, “From strangers.” Jesus said to him, “Therefore the children are exempt.
Explanation
Matthew 17:22-23 records the second time Jesus explicitly foretells his death and resurrection to his disciples, and this particular clause captures both the prediction itself and the disciples' emotional reaction to it. In plain language, Jesus tells his followers that he will be handed over to men who will kill him, but that on the third day he will be raised back to life. Upon hearing this, the disciples become deeply grieved.
The Gospel of Matthew was written primarily for a Jewish-Christian audience, likely by the apostle Matthew or someone drawing on his testimony, to demonstrate that Jesus is the promised Messiah who fulfills Old Testament expectations. This verse falls within a broader section of Matthew (chapters 16-17) where Jesus begins preparing his disciples for the reality of his coming suffering, death, and resurrection in Jerusalem. This follows Peter's confession that Jesus is the Christ (16:16) and precedes the Transfiguration, which gave Peter, James, and John a glimpse of Jesus' glory. Despite that glimpse, and despite Jesus stating plainly what would happen, the disciples still could not fully grasp or accept the idea that their Messiah must suffer and die. Their sorrow reflects their limited understanding at this point—they grieved over the prospect of his death without yet comprehending the triumphant resurrection that would follow it.
Theologically, this verse is significant because it shows Jesus knowingly and intentionally walking toward his death as part of God's redemptive plan
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