Jesus wanted to prepare his disciples for his coming suffering and death by repeating that it was destined to happen, which he said in Gaulanitis (near Caesarea Philippi, see Matthew 16:13), but also after Peter’s confession (Matthew 16:21), in Galilee after the Transfiguration (here in Matthew 17:22–23), and again in Judea, shortly before reaching Jerusalem (Matthew 20:17–19)..
Jesus speaks to confirm God’s plan of his suffering and resurrection. The deliverance into the hands of men is not a new theme in the area outside of Israel, where Jesus had mostly stayed during the last few months, but here for the first time he says, in Galilee, that his own people would deliver him into the hands of men.
This is a difficult lesson for them, so he returns to it repeatedly.
Jesus felt the need to constantly prepare his disciples for his coming suffering and death by repeatedly reiterating that it was destined to happen. This took place not only in Gaulanitis (near Caesarea Philippi, see Matthew 16:13), but also following Peter’s confession (Matthew 16:21), in Galilee after the Transfiguration on the mountain (here in Matthew 17:22–23), and once again in Judea, shortly before reaching Jerusalem (Matthew 20:17–19). His suffering and death were therefore not meant to come as a surprise to them, and yet that is precisely what happened—for the disciples failed to listen properly when he spoke about it.1
Jesus here speaks concerning the future at a time and in a context during which what was about to happen was by no means yet evident, thereby confirming the divine plan of his suffering and resurrection. The deliverance into the hands of men is not a new theme in the districts outside of Israel, however, where Jesus had mostly stayed during the last few months, but here for the first time he proclaims it in Galilee: His own people would deliver him over into the hands of men.2
Jesus continues to prepare the disciples for what is to come. It is a difficult lesson for them, and that is why he returns to it repeatedly.3
22 As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men,