They Understood None of These Things

This is the third major passion prediction in Luke and the most explicitly scriptural in form. Jesus takes the Twelve aside and announces that they are going up to Jerusalem, where 'all the things written through the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be completed.' Luke then lists humiliation, abuse, death, and resurrection in a sequence dominated by future passive verbs. The inclusion of Gentile involvement, followed by mocking, mistreatment, spitting, flogging, and killing, anticipates the narrative details of Luke 22-23.

Luke's distinctive emphasis lies in verse 34, where the disciples' incomprehension is stated three times: they understood none of these things, the saying was hidden from them, and they did not know what was being said. The passive kekrymmenon, 'hidden,' may be understood as a theological passive suggesting divine concealment, though some interpreters take it more broadly as narrative language for their inability to grasp a paradoxical messianic destiny. Luke does not explain the mechanism of their misunderstanding.

The passage places scriptural fulfillment and human incomprehension side by side. Readers have already been told repeatedly what will happen, so the narrative tension concerns not whether Jesus will suffer but when and how the disciples will come to understand. Their lack of perception also forms a deliberate contrast with the blind man in the following scene, who recognizes Jesus as the Davidic Messiah despite lacking physical sight.

Luke 18 continues the travel narrative toward Jerusalem and gathers material concerned with prayer, vindication, status before God, wealth, discipleship, and messianic identity. Verses 1-14 contain two parables about prayer, but with different emphases: the widow and judge address persistent prayer amid delayed vindication, while the Pharisee and tax collector expose contrasting claims to righteousness. The following episodes concerning children and the rich ruler develop the question of who can receive the kingdom and under what conditions.

The chapter then turns more explicitly toward Jerusalem. Jesus gives the third Lukan passion prediction, stressing fulfillment of what was written by the prophets, yet the disciples fail to understand. Near Jericho, a blind beggar recognizes Jesus as 'Son of David' and receives sight through faith. This juxtaposition is narratively significant: those physically accompanying Jesus remain uncomprehending, while a marginalized blind man perceives his messianic identity. The chapter therefore links reception of the kingdom with dependence, divine mercy, and recognition of Jesus as he approaches his passion.