Bible Truth #147 - Luke 18:31-34

Luke 18:31-34 (NIV)

31  Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.

32  He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him.

33  On the third day he will rise again.”

34  The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.

Luke 18:31-34 (KJV)

31  Then he took [unto him] the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.

32  For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:

33  And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.

34  And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.

Its meaning was hidden from them? ITS MEANING WAS HIDDEN FROM THEM??? How can that be if man has a free will and God wants everyone to be saved? I suppose the Arminian says that the apostles hid it from themselves since God would never do a thing like that - He wants everybody to come to repentance (although that is NOT what 2 Peter 3:9 says, see Bible Truth #86).

Its meaning was hidden from them because that was God’s plan. The meaning of Jesus’ teaching was not revealed to them until AFTER Jesus rose from the dead. When the two disciples came back from Emmaus and joined the apostles and the others, Jesus appeared to them and they were startled and frightened - even the two who had already seen Jesus on the road to Emmaus. Then as He spoke to them Jesus showed them His hands and feet and still they didn’t believe. Then He asked for something to eat, they gave Him some fish and watched Him eat it. Then He told them that when He was with them before, everything written about Him in the Law, and prophets, and in Psalms must be fulfilled. Then guess what happened? THEN He opened their minds so they could understand. (Luke 24:35-45)

The bottom line is that verse 34, the apostles NOT understanding, was intentional and part of God’s plan. How can I say that with confidence? Because not only does it reconcile with the rest of God’s Word, it is clear in the plain text that the meaning of Jesus’ words was HIDDEN from them, hence it was impossible for them to understand. They didn’t hide it from themselves, God hid it from them. And as my pastor has said, if God doesn’t want you to know something, you’re NOT going to know it.

It is fact the true meaning of the Doctrine of Election is hidden from Arminians and they do not understand. God is working in them, and every man, to make them think what He wants them to think (Philippians 2:13). To HIM be the Glory!!