Luke 18:34 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.

NIV: The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.

NASB: The disciples understood none of these things, and the meaning of this statement was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend the things that were said.

CSB: They understood none of these things. The meaning of the saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.

NLT: But they didn’t understand any of this. The significance of his words was hidden from them, and they failed to grasp what he was talking about.

KJV: And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.

NKJV: But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken.

"Jesus' Travelogue to Jerusalem" (Luke 9:51—19:27) is a series of stories. These show Jesus teaching the disciples about the kingdom of God so they will be prepared to build the church. The training is almost complete. They are now "going up to Jerusalem" (Luke 18:31). And Jesus warns, yet again, about what will happen there (Luke 9:21–22, 44–45; 13:33).

This time, He is more graphic. The Jews will hand Him over to the Gentiles. He will be "mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise" (Luke 18:32–33).

Presumably, the disciples understand the words being formed and spoken by Jesus' mouth: He is saying He will be killed. But in their minds is a severe disconnect between what Jesus says and their concept of the Messiah. Most likely, they think Jesus is speaking in parable or metaphor; they can't wrap their heads around the idea that He means He must literally, physically suffer and die. They still have visions of an independent Israel with Jesus on the throne, and the twelve of them sitting at His side (Matthew 19:28). In fact, directly after this, James and John—and their mother—ask for preferential treatment in Jesus' kingdom (Matthew 20:20–28; Mark 10:35–45).

It isn't until Jesus has resurrected that He reveals how His death fulfills Old Testament prophecy (Luke 24:27, 44–49).

The foil to the disciples is the blind beggar in Jericho. He doesn't know Jesus will die, but he believes what he has heard about Jesus: He is the Son of David; He can heal his blindness; He heals to the glory of God (Luke 18:35–43). May we follow his example and believe what we hear.

Luke 18:31–34 begins the end of the so-called "Travelogue to Jerusalem" (Luke 9:51—19:27) as well as the final comparison of the chapter. For the third time, Jesus clearly warns the disciples that He will be killed (Luke 9:21–22, 44–45). They still can't understand. Conversely, a blind man who could not have traveled with Jesus and heard His teaching recognizes that Jesus is the Son of David: the fulfillment of the Davidic covenant and the King of Israel (Luke 18:35–43). Jesus' prophecy is also recorded in Matthew 20:17–19 and Mark 10:32–34.

Luke continues to arrange Jesus' teachings by their topic. Here, he includes two parables: the persistent widow and the Pharisee and the tax collector. Jesus encourages children to approach Him. He interacts with a moral, wealthy man who can't bear to follow Jesus if it means giving up wealth. After another prediction of His death, Jesus encounters and heals a blind man on His way to Jerusalem.

Luke 18 approaches the end of Jesus' "travelogue" to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51—19:27). Luke has selected miracles, teachings, and events to show how Jesus trained His disciples. His emphasis was explaining the kingdom of God in preparation for their work to build the church. Luke 18 includes several contrasts between those who understand God's kingdom and those who don't. Luke 19 includes the story of Zacchaeus and another parable before Jesus' triumphal entry and the Passion Week. These stories are also found primarily in Matthew 19—20 and Mark 10.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.