Yes — Jesus told them in plain words, but they still did not understand because God hid the meaning from them and the Old Testament had only revealed these events in veiled prophecy.
In Luke 18, Jesus said He would be delivered to the Gentiles, killed, and rise on the third day — language that could hardly be plainer. Yet the very next verse records that the disciples understood none of it. Les Feldick teaches that the saying was hid from them by God, and it was not yet time for them to know. Their absence from the tomb on resurrection morning confirms they had no expectation of a resurrection.
Luke 18:31-34 — This is the exact passage where Jesus predicts His death and resurrection and the disciples understand none of it.
In Luke 18:31-34, Jesus takes the twelve aside and tells them they are going up to Jerusalem, where everything written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. He specifically states that He will be delivered to the Gentiles, mocked, spitefully entreated, spitted on, scourged, put to death, and that on the third day He will rise again. The Scripture says these words were plain, but immediately records: "And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken."
Les emphasizes that Jesus' words in Luke 18 were as plain as they could be, yet the twelve still understood nothing. The reason, he says, is that God hid the meaning from them — "it wasn't time for them to know." He also points out that the Old Testament prophesied these events, but in veiled language that even the prophets themselves could not understand. Les uses the resurrection morning as proof of their ignorance: none of the eleven were waiting at the tomb. Mary Magdalene came only to anoint the body, not to witness a resurrection. If they had understood Jesus' prediction, they would have been there to see it happen. Because they had no comprehension of His death and resurrection, they did not go about preaching Christ crucified and risen from the dead.
In Luke 18:31-33, Jesus took the twelve aside 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 spelled out His betrayal to the Gentiles, mocking, scourging, death, and third-day resurrection. Les Feldick says this was "plain language, as plain as you can get it." Yet the next verse records that they understood none of these things.
The text itself answers: "this saying was hid from them." Les Feldick stresses that God did the hiding — it was not time for them to know. He also explains that the Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah's suffering were given in veiled language, so even the prophets themselves could not grasp these events. Thus, Jesus could speak clearly and still be misunderstood, because the understanding was not yet granted.
No one from the eleven was waiting at the tomb on Sunday morning. Mary Magdalene came only to anoint Jesus' body, not to see a resurrected Lord. Had they understood Jesus' prediction, Les says, they would have been there to see it happen. Les also notes that because they had no comprehension of the death, burial, and resurrection, they did not preach Christ crucified and risen from the dead during that time.
The Old Testament Prophetic Program
Les explains that the Old Testament prophecies led Israel to expect these events to happen consecutively, with no revelation of a 2,000-year gap. This helps explain why the disciples, immersed in that prophetic outlook, did not grasp the full picture.
Jesus' Plain Prediction in Luke 18
Les reads Luke 18:31-34 and emphasizes that Jesus' words were totally plain — He would be delivered to the Gentiles, killed, and rise again — yet the twelve understood none of it.
God Hid the Meaning
Les asks who hid the saying from the disciples and answers directly: God did. It was not yet time for them to know.
Old Testament Prophecy Fulfilled
Les reminds the reader that all the things God had shown through the prophets about Christ's suffering were fulfilled — even though Israel and the disciples could not understand them at the time.
The Saying Was Hid from Them
Les highlights Luke 18:34 itself: the disciples understood none of these things because the saying was hid from them, and he asks why — pointing to the verse as the answer.
No Expectation of the Resurrection
Les proves the disciples had no idea Jesus would rise by noting that Mary Magdalene went to the tomb to anoint the body, not to see a resurrected Christ. They did not preach Christ crucified and risen because they didn't understand it.
Veiled Old Testament Language
Les says there were 360-some distinct prophecies of Christ's first coming, including His death, burial, and resurrection, but they were in such veiled language that even the prophets themselves could not understand them.
God Did Not Open Their Eyes
Les repeats that Jesus told them more than once about His death and resurrection, but God never opened their eyes to it — and if they had understood, they would have been waiting at the tomb on Sunday morning.
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 says that everything the prophets wrote about the Son of Man will be accomplished in Jerusalem.
Luke 18:32: For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:
Jesus specifically predicts His betrayal to the Gentiles and the abuse He will suffer.
Luke 18:33: And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.
Jesus plainly states that He will be killed and rise 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 is the direct biblical answer to why the disciples didn't understand: the saying was hid from them.
Yes. Les Feldick says there were 360-some distinct prophecies concerning Christ's first coming, including His death, burial, and resurrection, but they were written in veiled language. Even the prophets themselves did not fully understand what they were writing.
Les Feldick says God hid it because it wasn't time for them to know. The disciples were not yet able to comprehend the death and resurrection, even though Jesus had spoken plainly about them.
The Bible says they understood none of it (Luke 18:34). Les also points out that none of the eleven were waiting at the tomb on Sunday morning; Mary Magdalene went only to anoint the body, which shows they had no expectation of a resurrection.
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