The disciples did not understand because, as Luke 18:34 plainly states, the saying was hid from them — and Les Feldick teaches that God hid it.
Jesus spoke in plain language, yet the twelve comprehended none of it. Les points out that God Himself kept the meaning hidden until His appointed time. The disciples' behavior after the crucifixion confirms that they had no expectation of the resurrection.
Luke 18:31-34 — This passage directly records Jesus' plain prediction of His death and resurrection and the disciples' inability to understand because the saying was hid from them.
In Luke 18:31-33, 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. For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again." The very next verse records the response of the Twelve: "And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken." The Scripture itself does not say the language was unclear; it says the saying was hid from them.
Les emphasizes that Jesus' words in Luke 18:31-33 were as plain as language can be. He says, "Plain as day, I don't see how He could have said it any plainer." The Twelve were listening, had been with Jesus for three years, and He spoke their own language. Yet they still understood none of it. The explanation, Les insists, is found in verse 34: the saying was "hid from them." Les answers the obvious question directly: "Who hid it? God did. It wasn't time for them to know." He connects this to God's larger pattern of revealing truth in His own timing. God does not expect people to believe what He has not yet revealed. Once He does reveal it, they are responsible to believe it. Les also shows how the disciples' lack of understanding was demonstrated after the crucifixion. If they had understood Jesus would rise on the third day, they would have been waiting outside the tomb on Sunday morning. Instead, none of the eleven were there. Mary Magdalene came only to anoint the body with spices, and even Peter and John saw the empty tomb evidence without having expected the resurrection.
In Luke 18:31-33, Jesus told the twelve exactly what would happen in Jerusalem: He would be delivered to the Gentiles, mocked, spitefully entreated, spitted on, scourged, put to death, and would rise again on the third day. Les comments that this was "plain as day" and that Jesus could not have said it any plainer. The disciples were listening, but the next verse says they still "understood none of these things" and the saying was hid from them.
Les answers the question directly: "Who hid it? God did. It wasn't time for them to know." He explains that God reveals truth according to His own timetable. Les also teaches that God does not expect anyone to believe something He has not yet revealed. The disciples' failure to understand was therefore not a problem of language or repetition; God had purposely concealed the meaning until His appointed time.
Les says the disciples had no idea Jesus would die, and after He died they had no idea He would rise again. He asks, "Had they had any understanding that He was going to die, yes He would be buried, but the third day He would be rising again, where would they have been that early Sunday morning? Well outside the tomb." Instead, none of the eleven were there. Mary Magdalene came to anoint the body with spices, and she was shaken when the body was gone. Even Peter and John saw the evidence in the empty tomb without having expected the resurrection.
Les uses this passage to show that God has never revealed all truth at once. In His sovereignty, He speaks when He is ready and then holds people responsible to believe what He has said. Les points out that the Gentiles who were once "far off" were made nigh by the blood of Christ, but that truth, too, was revealed in God's time. The disciples' blindness to the cross and resurrection was part of God's plan until the appointed time of revelation.
God Reveals in His Own Timing
Les teaches that God has always revealed truth on His own timetable and does not expect belief in what He has not yet made known, which explains why the disciples were not expected to understand the crucifixion ahead of time.
No Expectation of Resurrection
Les shows the disciples' total surprise after the crucifixion: none were at the tomb, and Mary Magdalene came only to anoint the body, proving they did not understand Jesus' resurrection promise.
Jesus Spoke Plainly
Les says Jesus could not have stated His death and resurrection more plainly, yet the Twelve still understood none of it because the saying was hid from them.
God Hid It Until His Time
Les identifies God as the one who hid the meaning from the disciples, saying it was not time for them to know.
God Hid It from the Twelve
Les again stresses Jesus' words were plain and answers "Who hid it? God did," showing the disciples' ignorance was the result of divine concealment.
Disciples Had No Idea He Would Rise
Les explains the disciples were so ignorant of the resurrection that they went back to Galilee, and even Peter and John did not understand the empty tomb evidence.
Hearing Without Comprehending
Les notes the disciples heard Jesus' words and yet never comprehended them, tying this to God's pattern of speaking before a generation can believe.
They Would Have Been at the Tomb
Les says if the disciples had understood Jesus would rise on the third day, they would have been outside the tomb; their absence proves God had hidden the resurrection from them.
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' introduction to the twelve frames the journey to Jerusalem as the fulfillment of all prophetic writings concerning Him.
Luke 18:32: For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:
This verse itemizes the Gentile mistreatment Jesus would suffer.
Luke 18:33: And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.
Jesus explicitly predicts both His death and His resurrection 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.
The disciples' response shows they understood none of it because the saying was hid 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 on the third day. Les says He could not have said it any plainer.
Luke 18:34 says the saying was hid from them. Les teaches that God hid it from the disciples because it was not yet time for them to know.
Les points out that none of the disciples were waiting at the tomb on resurrection morning. Mary Magdalene came only to anoint the body with spices. If they had understood, they would have been there expecting Him to rise.
Watch the Teaching: Why Did God Hide Secrets in the Bible Until Now?