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.
LUKE 18:31KJVWhat does Luke 18:31 mean?
Luke 18:31 describes Jesus taking his twelve disciples aside and telling them that they are going up to Jerusalem, where everything written by the prophets about the “Son of man” will be fulfilled. Jesus is preparing his closest followers for events that are about to happen, emphasizing that these events are part of God’s long-promised plan.
In this scene, Jesus is speaking directly to the twelve disciples as they travel toward Jerusalem. He refers to himself as the “Son of man,” a title with roots in the Hebrew Scriptures, and points out that what is about to happen has already been foretold by the prophets. This moment sets the stage for the coming events of Jesus’s suffering, death, and resurrection, showing that these are not surprises but fulfillments of prophecy.
The Greek behind Luke 18:31
- “Ἰδοὺ” (idou, “Behold”): This word is used to get the disciples’ attention, highlighting the importance of what Jesus is about to say. It signals that something significant is about to be revealed.
- “ἀναβαίνομεν” (anabainomen, “we go up”): The Greek word here literally means “to go up,” which fits Jerusalem’s physical elevation but also hints at the spiritual significance of the journey.
- “υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου” (huios tou anthrōpou, “Son of man”): This phrase is often understood as a reference to the figure in Daniel 7:13, connecting Jesus to Old Testament prophecy and emphasizing both his humanity and his special role.
- “τελεσθήσεται” (telesthēsetai, “shall be accomplished”): This word carries the sense of something being brought to completion or fulfillment, underlining that the coming events are the completion of what the prophets wrote.
Why Luke 18:31 matters
- Luke 18:31 clarifies that Jesus’s suffering and death in Jerusalem are not accidents or unexpected tragedies, but fulfillments of what was written by the prophets, showing God’s plan at work.
- The verse highlights Jesus’s awareness and acceptance of what is coming, which sets him apart from his disciples, who often do not understand until after the events take place.
- By connecting the coming events to prophecy, Luke 18:31 ties Jesus’s story to the larger story of Israel and the Hebrew Scriptures, helping readers see continuity between the Old and New Testaments.