Matthew 17:22Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He led the firstfruits of the apostles to the mountain and revealed to them the splendor with which He would illuminate the world in the appointed time. Upon descending the mountain, He freed a man from a wicked and harsh spirit. It was essential for Him to endure a redemptive suffering for our sake and to bear the blind ignorance of the Jews. The disciples naturally felt distressed after this incident, reflecting among themselves and expressing, ‘How can He, who has raised numerous dead through divine power, who commanded the seas and the spirits, who vanquished Satan with mere words, now be ensnared by those who seek His demise? Have we been misled into believing He is God?’ In order to reveal the entirety of the future to them, He unveils the mystery of suffering.

Certainly, while expressing sorrow by indicating that He would face death, He must have also stirred a sense of joy among them by declaring that He would rise again on the third day. Their profound grief did not stem from a lack of faith, as they understood that Peter had also been transformed, thinking not of divine matters, but of earthly concerns. Instead, their mourning arose from their deep affection for their Teacher, making it difficult for them to accept anything negative or degrading about Him.

He continually warned His disciples about His impending death to assist them in coping with the reality, providing them with a constant reminder of this truth, as articulated earlier. Notice, then, that despite Peter receiving admonishment and later being instructed by the Father to heed Him, and although a promise of resurrection after three days was given, the disciples were still unable to accept it and were profoundly saddened. This sorrow stemmed from their lack of comprehension regarding His words, as evidenced in the accounts of Mark and Luke. One recount stated they failed to grasp the meaning and were afraid to inquire further, while the other noted that it was concealed from them to prevent them from feeling its weight.

Following the miracles He had performed, Jesus departed from that location, as noted by the Evangelist Mark, and traveled with His disciples throughout Galilee. While in Galilee, He predicted to His disciples the betrayal by Judas, His impending suffering, and His death, so that such news would not catch them unprepared (Mark 9:31). However, recognizing that this revelation deeply troubled them, He also prophesied His resurrection on the third day to soothe their troubled hearts.

AND THEY WILL KILL HIM, AND ON THE THIRD DAY HE WILL RISE AGAIN. However, the disciples were reluctant to confront what lay outside their understanding; they failed to grasp the profound significance of Jesus Christ's words, which seemed veiled to them, and they were too frightened to inquire further, fearing even graver revelations. The human heart finds it difficult to let go of its most treasured hopes, even when reason clearly indicates the need to embrace a painful reality. They sensed that days of grief were nearing, AND THEY WERE HAPPY. St. Chrysostom notes, 'It cannot be said that they understood nothing; they recognized that He was destined to die, for they were constantly hearing about it.

The Lord, having distanced Himself from the crowd, carried on His path incognito. He dedicated more time to His followers, occasionally reminding them that the Son of Man would be handed over to men, that He would face death, and that after His death, He would rise on the third day. Despite His repeated revelations, the disciples struggled to comprehend this truth. When confronted with the foreboding details of the future, they felt sorrowful, yet they hesitated to inquire of Him what this meant and why it was essential.

Following the incidents on the Mount of Transfiguration and below it, Jesus Christ, as recorded in the Gospel of Mark, traversed through Galilee without wishing for anyone to be aware of His presence. Thus, His journey through Galilee was concealed, shrouded in secrecy. The reason for this discretion is provided in verse 31, indicating that Jesus aimed to dedicate Himself fully to His disciples, preparing them for the impending trials of His suffering and death. It is clear from subsequent Gospel narratives (Matthew 19, Mark 10, and Luke 9:51) that this sojourn through Galilee was the final one before His journey to Judea. At this juncture, the Lord offers a second prediction regarding His sufferings to His disciples (Mark 8:31-32).

Journey to Capernaum It has been previously mentioned that following His discourse on the bread of life, Jesus sought solitude away from the crowds to be with His disciples. As He made His way to Capernaum, He passed through Galilee, wishing to remain unrecognized. The apostles struggled to accept that the true Messiah, destined to deliver the Jewish people, could endure suffering and death; such an idea conflicted with their understanding of the Messiah. Consequently, the impending death of Jesus could momentarily weaken their faith in Him until His resurrection. For this reason, during His final moments alone with the apostles, Christ repeatedly conveyed that it was necessary for Him to die in accordance with His Father’s will, yet He would rise again on the third day.

They were deeply saddened because they failed to grasp the significance of Jesus Christ's words, as referenced by Mark and Luke (Mark 9:32, Luke 9:45). Yet, if they were confused, how could they be truly sorrowful? It would be inaccurate to claim they understood nothing; in fact, they were aware of His impending death, having heard about it repeatedly. However, the notion that such a death could occur to Him, and that it would ultimately lead to His triumph and countless blessings, was something they did not fully comprehend. They also remained unclear about the concept of resurrection, for their love for the Master was profound.

From the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus Christ set His course towards Capernaum, and during His journey through Galilee, He preferred to keep His presence unnoticed. Along the way, He reiterated to His disciples the prophecy concerning what awaited Him in Jerusalem, intending for them to understand that His suffering was not to be perceived as reluctant. He wanted them to come to terms with it so they would not be taken aback by His anguish when it manifested unexpectedly, as noted by Blessed Theophylact. Take heed of these words; let them resonate within you: the Son of Man will be handed over to human authorities, they will execute Him, and after His death, He will rise again on the third day.