Three views of the disciples’ distress as Jesus foretelling his death and resurrection:
Jesus’ words here in Matthew 17:23 are not his first revelation of his imminent death and resurrection, yet they react much differently than before. Before, Peter, on behalf of the disciples, had rebuked the Lord Jesus (Matthew 16:22), but now the disciples grieve at the idea of Jesus’ suffering, empathizing with him despite the fact that even now, they still do not understand his meaning (Mark 9:32).
The disciples’ sorrow in Matthew 17:23 makes sense when we remember that Jesus, for the first time, introduces a new element into his teaching about suffering: that he would certainly be handed over into the hands of men. With these words, he implied that even his own disciples could not prevent it, and would at least be passive participants in his betrayal, although the prophecy does not mention that they will deny and abandon the Saviour. Yet they can already sense that the Lord puts them among those who will stand aside when others seek to kill him. This realization troubles them. Is that how Jesus sees them? This grief reappears in Matthew 26:22, when Jesus says that one of them will betray him. Their sorrow at that moment, so different from Peter’s rebuke in Matthew 16:22, shows more understanding of this new teaching about his suffering. Possibly, feeling hurt or undervalued, their grief sprang from a wrong motive. Yet when tempered by the gospel’s transforming power, sorrow is appropriate when hearing that the Son of Man
was despised and rejected by men… and as one from whom men hide their faces
(Isaiah 53:3).Even here in Matthew 17:23, the apostles were not yet spiritually ready to understand Jesus’ prophecy of his suffering and resurrection, which is why they do not yet show joy in the resurrection—only sorrow and shared suffering, revealing their immaturity in the faith (see Luke 23:28; John 16:6–15).
Interpretation 1:
Jesus’ words recorded in Matthew 17:23 did not constitute the first time that Jesus had told the disciples of his imminent death and resurrection and yet they react completely differently than before. Previously, Peter, speaking on behalf of the disciples, had rebuked the Lord Jesus (Matthew 16:22). Yet now the disciples are deeply grieved at the idea that Jesus must suffer. They empathise with him despite the fact that even now, they still did not understand what He was speaking about (Mark 9:32).1
Interpretation 2:
The disciples’ striking reaction of sorrow in Matthew 17:23 is entirely understandable when we keep in mind that Jesus had now for the first time introduced a new element into his teaching about suffering: namely, that the Son of Man would certainly be handed over into the hands of men. With these words, the Master clearly implied that even his own disciples would be powerless to prevent it. At the very least, they would be passive participants in his betrayal. The prophecy is not yet fully explicit, however, as it does not mention that they will deny and abandon the Saviour. Yet they can already sense that the Lord places them among those who, at the very least, will stand aside when others seek to kill him. This realization troubles them. Is that truly how the Master sees them?
This grief later reappears in Matthew 26:22, when Jesus announces that one of them will betray him. Their sorrow at that moment—which is so different from Peter’s earlier rebuke in Matthew 16:22—shows that they now understand this new dimension of his teaching concerning his suffering. It is possible that, at that moment, they felt hurt or undervalued, and that their grief sprang from a wrong motive. Yet at the same time, when tempered by the gospel’s transforming power, deep sorrow and remorse are indeed the appropriate response for anyone who hears that the Son of Man was despised and rejected by men … and as one from whom men hide their faces
(Isaiah 53:3).2
Interpretation 3:
Even here in Matthew 17:23, the apostles had not yet reached the spiritual maturity they needed in order to understand Jesus’ prophecy of his suffering and resurrection, which is why they do not yet show any signs of the joy of the resurrection—only sorrow and shared suffering. This shows that they are still immature in the faith (see Luke 23:28; John 16:6–15).3
22 Pendant qu'ils parcouraient la Galilée, Jésus leur dit: Le Fils de l'homme doit être livré entre les mains des hommes;