Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.
The saying was given when Christ's departure from His disciples was near, as part of His teaching about what lay ahead for Him and for them. The disciples were slow to understand His words about the future. Their sorrow over what He was telling them led them to avoid asking Him for further explanation. He wanted these sayings to sink down into their ears and to be retained deeply in memory, because trials and persecutions were coming. Remembering His words would keep their hearts in harmony with Him and give them understanding of His work to sustain them through those trials.
The saying was given when Christ's departure from His disciples was near, as part of His teaching about what lay ahead for Him and for them. The disciples were slow to understand His words about the future. Their sorrow over what He was telling them led them to avoid asking Him for further explanation. He wanted these sayings to sink down into their ears and to be retained deeply in memory, because trials and persecutions were coming. Remembering His words would keep their hearts in harmony with Him and give them understanding of His work to sustain them through those trials.