Passage

Matthew 17

Verses 22–23 WEB Voices

Gathering in Galilee, Jesus again announces that the Son of Man will be delivered, killed, and raised on the third day. The disciples are greatly distressed—hearing the suffering more clearly than the promise of rising.

Matthew 17:22

22While they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered up into the hands of men,

Arminian

In familiar Galilee Jesus restates the coming handover. “Delivered” signals betrayal and judicial violence ahead.

This delivery is for sinners. The Son freely goes toward the cross that grace proclaims as sufficient and sincerely offered to all who believe.

Reformed

The gathering becomes a classroom of the cross. “About to be delivered” is certainty, not rumor.

The Son of Man’s path is appointed. Human hands will act; God’s purpose will stand.

Matthew 17:23

23and they will kill him, and the third day he will be raised up.” They were exceedingly sorry.

Arminian

Death and third-day rising stand together, yet distress dominates the disciples’ hearing. Grief outruns hope for now.

Arminians pastoralize both: the cross truly saves, and disciples must keep listening until resurrection joy catches up. Grace sustains those who stumble in understanding.

Reformed

Kill and raise—both are sure. Their great distress shows faith still partial; the promise is not yet embraced.

Christ’s word includes the third day. The Father’s plan holds death and victory together for the elect’s salvation.

Key contrast Both insist the prediction includes actual death and rising. Arminians stress the sincere gospel call flowing from this cross; Reformed commentators stress the certainty of the decreed passion and resurrection for Christ’s people.

Historic quotes

Voices from both camps

Gathering in Galilee, Jesus again announces that the Son of Man will be delivered, killed, and raised on the third day: older Arminian and Reformed writers, each in their own words.

Arminian Notable voices

“They abode in Galilee - Lower Galilee, where the city of Capernaum was. The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men - Μελλει - παραδιδοσθαι εις χειρας - The Son of man is about to be delivered into the hands, etc. I am fully of the mind of two eminent critics, Grotius and Wakefield, that παραδιδοσθαι should be here translated delivered, or delivered up, not betrayed; and that the agency, in this case, should be referred to God, not to Judas.”

Adam Clarke · Commentary on the New Testament (on Matt 17:22–23)

Reformed Notable voices

“And while they remained in Galilee, Jesus said to them, The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men: 23. And they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise again. At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

John Calvin · Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists (on Matt 17:22–23)

Quotations lightly abridged for length; wording follows standard English translations of the sources named.

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Genesis, Psalms, Isaiah, Daniel, Matthew, John, Romans, Ephesians, Colossians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Hebrews, 1 John, 2 John, and 3 John are live

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