20:18 {3} Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,
(3) They that should be persecuting him the least, are the greatest persecutors of Christ.
20:18 Behold, we go up to Jerusalem. They had gone to Jerusalem ofttimes before, but never on such a mournful errand.
Shall be betrayed. By Judas, who would lead the band sent by the Jewish rulers to seek him in the night.
Unto the chief priests and unto the scribes. The Jewish Sanhedrin. It included both the leaders of the priesthood, the leading scribes, or doctors of the law, and others. The great council of the nation condemned Jesus to die. See Mt 26:59-66.
20:17-19 Christ is more particular here in foretelling his sufferings than before. And here, as before, he adds the mention of his resurrection and his glory, to that of his death and sufferings, to encourage his disciples, and comfort them. A believing view of our once crucified and now glorified Redeemer, is good to humble a proud, self-justifying disposition. When we consider the need of the humiliation and sufferings of the Son of God, in order to the salvation of perishing sinners, surely we must be aware of the freeness and richness of Divine grace in our salvation.
