Yes, the disciples could not understand Jesus' predictions of His death and resurrection because the meaning was hid from them by God.
Jesus plainly told the twelve that He would be delivered to the Gentiles, mocked, scourged, put to death, and rise again the third day. Yet the Gospel of Luke records that they understood none of these things and that the saying was hid from them. Les Feldick emphasizes that God Himself hid it from them; it was not yet time for them to know.
Luke 18:34 — This verse directly states that the twelve understood none of these things and that the saying was hidden from them.
Luke 18:31-33 records that Jesus took the twelve aside and told them, 'Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.' He then specified that He would be delivered unto the Gentiles, mocked, spitefully entreated, spitted on, scourged, put to death, and on the third day rise again. The following verse states plainly: 'And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.' Scripture itself says the disciples did not understand and that the saying was hidden from them.
Les Feldick repeatedly points to Luke 18:31-34 as a clear example that Jesus told the disciples exactly what would happen—as plainly as language could be—yet they understood none of it. He asks, 'Who hid it? God did. It wasn't time for them to know.' Les teaches that the death, burial, and resurrection were kept secret while the Old Testament program was still on the scene. The disciples had no expectation of the resurrection; after the crucifixion they thought everything was finished, and not one of them was outside the tomb on Sunday morning waiting to see Him come out. Paul, speaking after the fact, could explain that Christ died for our sins and rose for our justification, and we receive that by believing it.
Yes. Jesus took the twelve and said, 'Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.' He then told them He would be delivered to the Gentiles, mocked, spitefully entreated, spitted on, scourged, put to death, and rise again the third day. As Les Feldick often notes, this was plain language—as plain as you could get it—yet the next verse says they understood none of those things.
Les Feldick teaches that God Himself hid it from them. The Bible says 'this saying was hid from them,' and Les asks, 'Who hid it? God did. God did. It wasn't time for them to know.' He stresses that this was not a failure of listening or intelligence—God had not opened their eyes to it.
No. Les Feldick points out that had the disciples understood that Jesus would rise on the third day, they would have been outside the tomb on Sunday morning waiting to see it happen. Instead, only Mary Magdalene came, and she came to anoint the body with spices, not to witness a resurrection. After the crucifixion, the disciples thought it was all over—'everything had gone down the tube.'
Les Feldick explains that Paul, speaking after the fact, could say that Christ died for our sins and was raised for our justification, and that we receive all of this by simply believing it. This understanding came after the cross and was not part of the disciples' message during Christ's earthly ministry, when the Old Testament program was still in effect.
The Righteousness of God Without the Law Explained
Adam is on those two premises, faith and the shed blood. You can't escape them. And now you just analyze, maybe even someone here, I don't know all of you that well. If you think you can try your dead level best, if you think by just simply going to church, and again, don't ever misconstrue that I'm against church. I'm an active church member myself.
The Twelve Understood None of It
Les reads Luke 18:31-34 and marvels that the twelve, who had been with Jesus for three years, understood none of His plain words about His death and resurrection.
God Hid It From Them
Les asks who hid the saying from the disciples and answers directly: God did. It was not time for them to know.
The Disciples Had No Idea of the Resurrection
Les shows that the disciples had no idea Jesus would die or rise, and therefore did not preach Christ crucified and risen during His earthly ministry.
Kept Secret During the Old Testament Program
Les explains that the meaning of the cross was kept secret as long as the Old Testament program was still on the scene.
Paul Speaks After the Fact
Les contrasts the disciples' confusion with Paul, who after the fact could explain that Christ died for our sin and rose for our justification, received by believing.
God Hid It — It Wasn't Time
Les points again to Luke 18:34 and emphasizes that God hid the meaning from the twelve because it wasn't time for them to know.
They Would Have Been at the Tomb If They Knew
Les argues that if the disciples had understood the resurrection, they would have been waiting at the tomb on Sunday morning—but none of them were.
Luke 18:31: 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.
Jesus begins His final journey to Jerusalem and announces that the prophets' writings about Him will be fulfilled.
Luke 18:32: For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:
Jesus plainly predicts His rejection and abuse at the hands of the Gentiles.
Luke 18:33: And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.
Jesus explicitly states that He will be killed and rise again on the third day.
Luke 18:34: And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.
This verse directly answers the question: the disciples did not understand because the meaning was hidden from them.
Yes. In Luke 18:31-33, Jesus plainly said He would be delivered to the Gentiles, mocked, scourged, put to death, and rise again the third day. Yet the next verse says they understood none of these things.
Les Feldick teaches that God hid it. He says, 'Who hid it? God did. It wasn't time for them to know.' The disciples' lack of understanding was not from unwillingness to listen but from God's timing.
Because they didn't understand that Jesus would rise from the dead. Les points out that if they had understood, they would have been outside the tomb. Instead, only Mary Magdalene came, and she came with spices to anoint the body.
Watch the Teaching: The Righteousness of God Without the Law Explained