“But his disciples
Did not understand
This saying.
Its meaning
Was concealed
From them.
Thus,
They could not
Comprehend it.
They were afraid
To ask him
About this saying.”
οἱ δὲ ἠγνόουν τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο, καὶ ἦν παρακεκαλυμμένον ἀπ’ αὐτῶν ἵνα μὴ αἴσθωνται αὐτό, καὶ ἐφοβοῦντο ἐρωτῆσαι αὐτὸν περὶ τοῦ ῥήματος τούτου.
Luke said that the disciples did not understand this saying of Jesus (οἱ δὲ ἠγνόουν τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο), because its meaning was veiled or concealed from them (καὶ ἦν παρακεκαλυμμένον ἀπ’ αὐτῶν). Thus, they could not comprehend it (ἵνα μὴ αἴσθωνται αὐτό). However, they were afraid (καὶ ἐφοβοῦντο) to ask Jesus (ἐρωτῆσαι αὐτὸν) about the meaning of this saying (περὶ τοῦ ῥήματος τούτου). This saying about the reaction of the disciples can also be found in Matthew, chapter 17:23, and Mark, chapter 9:32. Mark, like Luke, said that the disciples did not understand what Jesus was talking about. They were afraid to ask or question him about this. Once again, Mark indicated that the disciples did not seem to understand everything that was going on around them. Matthew, on the other hand, said that on hearing this, the disciples were greatly vexed, pained, or distressed, since this was shocking news to them. They seemed to understand what Jesus was taking about. Do you always understand what Jesus is talking about?
