What is the meaning of Matthew 26:31? Then Jesus said to them Jesus speaks plainly to His disciples just after the Last Supper. • He is not guessing; He prophesies with divine certainty (John 13:19). • The setting is intimate—only those closest to Him hear this warning (John 15:15). • His words reinforce that He remains fully in control, even as events race toward the cross (John 10:17-18). This very night The time frame is immediate. • Before the sun rises, the prophecy will unfold (Matthew 26:34). • It underlines the urgency of Gethsemane and the arrest to follow (Luke 22:47-53). • No disciple can claim later that he misunderstood; the Lord nails the moment down to the hour (Mark 14:30). you will all fall away A sobering prediction of universal failure among the Twelve. • “Fall away” points to temporary stumbling, not final apostasy (Luke 22:31-32). • Even bold Peter, who protests first, will deny Him three times (Matthew 26:33-35). • The truth levels the playing field—no one can boast of personal strength (1 Corinthians 10:12). on account of Me Jesus is the very cause of the disciples’ stumbling. • The scandal of the cross shakes their expectations of a conquering Messiah (1 Corinthians 1:23). • When He is seized, they assume their own lives are in danger (John 18:15-16). • Their failure serves a higher purpose: it highlights His faithfulness where all others fail (2 Timothy 2:13). For it is written The Lord anchors His prediction in Scripture. • He quotes Zechariah 13:7, confirming that every detail of His passion flows from the Father’s plan (Acts 2:23). • By saying “it is written,” He underscores the absolute reliability of God’s Word (Psalm 119:160). • Fulfilled prophecy strengthens our confidence that future promises will also come to pass (Revelation 19:10). “I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.” The Father ordains the striking; the cross is no accident. • The Shepherd is Jesus, the prophesied Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep (John 10:11). • The strike refers to His arrest, trials, and crucifixion (Isaiah 53:4-6). • The sheep—His disciples—scatter in fear: – They flee from Gethsemane (Mark 14:50). – Peter follows at a distance before denying (Matthew 26:58, 75). – Only John stands near the cross (John 19:26-27). • Yet scattered sheep are not abandoned. After the resurrection the Shepherd gathers them again in Galilee (Matthew 28:10; John 21:1-14). summary Matthew 26:31 announces, in advance, the disciples’ collapse on the night of Jesus’ arrest. The Lord stakes His prophecy on Scripture, citing Zechariah 13:7 to show that the Father Himself will allow the Shepherd to be struck. The disciples’ scattering fulfills God’s Word, humbles their self-reliance, and magnifies Christ’s steadfast obedience. Even in their failure, the Shepherd’s plan to gather, restore, and send them out as bold witnesses remains unshaken. |
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