Matthew 26:31
“Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.”
Context:This verse is part of the narrative leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion. It occurs during the Last Supper, where Jesus is with His disciples in the upper room. In this verse, Jesus is foretelling the scattering of His disciples after His arrest.
To understand the significance of this verse, we need to look at its context and the events that follow. In the verses preceding Matthew 26:31, Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper, which becomes the foundation for the sacrament of communion in the Christian tradition. Jesus identifies Judas Iscariot as the one who would betray Him and indicates that the events of the evening would fulfill Scripture (Matthew 26:21-25).
Jesus then addresses all of His disciples, saying that they would be offended because of Him that very night. The word “offended” here means to stumble, to be caused to fall away or desert. Jesus knew that when He was arrested, His disciples would scatter and desert Him, fulfilling the prophecy found in Zechariah 13:7, which states, “Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered” (KJV).
This verse emphasizes Jesus’ awareness of the upcoming events and His willingness to fulfill the Scriptures and submit Himself to God’s plan of redemption. Jesus knew that His arrest, trial, and crucifixion were part of God’s divine purpose to save humanity from sin and bring about reconciliation between God and humanity.
The scattering of the disciples serves as a foreshadowing of the disciples’ fear, confusion, and doubt in the face of Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion. However, it is important to note that even though the disciples would abandon Jesus temporarily, they would later regather and become powerful witnesses for Him after His resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit.
Overall, Matthew 26:31 reminds us of Jesus’ foreknowledge of His imminent suffering, the fulfillment of prophecy, and the temporary scattering of His disciples. It highlights Jesus’ obedience to God’s plan and His ultimate triumph over sin and death through His sacrificial death on the cross.
