No, the disciples did not understand because God deliberately hid the meaning from them — it was not yet time for them to know.
Jesus spoke plainly to the Twelve, telling them exactly what would happen in Jerusalem. Yet Scripture says they understood none of these things because the saying was hid from them. Les Feldick emphasizes that God sovereignly kept this understanding from them until His appointed time.
Luke 18:31-34 — This passage records Jesus' clearest prediction of His death and resurrection, and then states plainly that the disciples understood none of it because it was hidden from them.
In Luke 18:31-34, Jesus took the twelve aside and told them they were going up to Jerusalem, where everything written by the prophets about the Son of Man would be accomplished. He specifically said He would be delivered to the Gentiles, mocked, spitefully entreated, spitted on, scourged, put to death, and on the third day rise again. These were not figures of speech; they were direct statements of coming events. Yet the very next verses say the disciples understood none of these things. The saying was hid from them, and they did not know the things that were spoken (Luke 18:34). The text does not simply say they missed the meaning; it explicitly says the meaning was hidden from them — something God did, not something they failed to grasp on their own.
Les Feldick points out that Jesus' prediction was as plain as it could possibly be. He was not speaking in a foreign language, the Twelve were not sleeping, and He had been speaking the same language to them for three years. Yet they still understood none of it. Les's explanation is that God hid it from them. As he says, 'Well, who hid it? God did.' It was not time for them to know. Les uses this to show why the disciples were not waiting at the tomb on resurrection morning. If they had understood that Jesus would rise the third day, they would have been outside the tomb waiting to see it happen. Instead, after the crucifixion they went back to Galilee, thinking everything was over. Even Mary Magdalene came only to anoint the body, not to witness a resurrection. And when Peter and John ran to the tomb later, the Scripture still says they did not yet understand that He must rise from the dead.
Les Feldick stresses that Jesus could not have been more plain. In Luke 18, Jesus spelled out every step: delivered to the Gentiles, mocked, spitefully entreated, spitted on, scourged, put to death, and raised the third day. Les says, 'Plain as day, I don't see how He could have said it any plainer.' The disciples heard Him and were listening intently. The problem was not clarity; it was that God had hidden the meaning from them.
If the disciples had understood, Les observes, they would have been waiting at the tomb on Sunday morning. Instead, none of them were there. Mary Magdalene came to anoint the body, not to see Jesus rise. After His death, the disciples simply went back to Galilee — it was all over to them. Even later, when Peter and John ran to the empty tomb, they still did not yet understand from Scripture that Jesus must rise from the dead. This shows how completely God had hidden these things from them.
Why Peter Didn't Preach the Gospel in Acts 3
But God was going to use the favored nation, He was going to use the covenant people to reach out to those pagan, idolatrous Gentiles at the appropriate time. And of course Israel as yet is dragging their feet, and so that time hasn't come. Alright, Deuteronomy 29. Here it is. We've looked at it before. The secret things. See that? The secret things belong unto the Lord our God.
No Expectation of Resurrection
Les shows the disciples had no idea Jesus would die or rise, otherwise they would have been at the tomb Sunday morning; only Mary Magdalene came, and she came to anoint the body.
The Saying Was Hid From Them
Les explains that Jesus told them more than once, but God never opened their eyes — the saying was hid from them, so none of the disciples expected a resurrection.
Plain as Day But Still Hidden
Les emphasizes that Jesus' prediction was plain language, not a foreign language, yet the Twelve understood none of it because the saying was hid from them.
God Hid It — It Was Not Time
Les asks who hid it from them and answers that God did; it was not time for them to know.
Disciples Gave Up After the Cross
Les shows that after Jesus died, the disciples had no idea He would rise; they went back to Galilee as if it was all over.
What Did the Ethiopian Eunuch Actually Believe? Acts 8
For God to give him the instructions. And so it's always been through human history that God has to speak something before that generation or whatever can believe it. Alright, Luke 18. Verse 31. Again, we're in Christ's earthly ministry and it's just shortly before the crucifixion. They're on their way from Galilee, northern Israel, down to Jerusalem.
They Were Not Waiting at the Tomb
Les points out that the Twelve were not sitting outside the tomb waiting; when told He was alive, they could not believe it, and even after seeing the evidence they still did not understand the Scripture.
Luke 18:31-34: 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. 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. And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.
Jesus' most detailed prediction of His death and resurrection is immediately followed by the statement that the Twelve understood none of it because it was hidden from them.
No. Les Feldick points out that Jesus and the Twelve had been together for three years and spoke the same language. The problem was not the words — it was that God had hidden the meaning of the prediction from them (Luke 18:34).
Because they had no expectation that Jesus would rise. If they had understood His prediction, Les argues, they would have been outside the tomb waiting to see it happen. Instead, Mary Magdalene came only to anoint the body, and the other disciples had gone back to Galilee, thinking everything was finished.
Watch the Teaching: Why Peter Didn't Preach the Gospel in Acts 3