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Explanation for:
Matthew
26
:
31
Then Jesus said to them: All you shall be scandalized in me this night. For it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be dispersed.
11
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Jesus then addressed them, stating that each of them would be tempted to experience fear regarding Him. He referenced the prophecy, \\"It is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered,\\" to encourage the disciples to remain vigilant in their study of the Scriptures and to demonstrate that His crucifixion was in accordance with God's divine plan. This indicated that He aligned with the teachings of the Old Testament and the God revealed within it, showing that the unfolding events were under God's sovereign oversight. The prophets of old had foretold these occurrences, providing the disciples with a firm hope for what lies ahead. He also highlighted the transformation of the disciples, contrasting their state before and after the crucifixion. Those who were unable to stand firm during His crucifixion emerged stronger than steel following His death. The flight and fear exhibited by the disciples serve as evidence of the Savior's death. If, after such significant events and testimonies, anyone claims that Christ was not crucified, what sheer blasphemy would that be if no such events had ever taken place? Thus, through His sufferings, the condition of His disciples, and His profound mysteries, Christ validates the reality of His death, thereby exposing those affected by Marcion's heresy. He allows Peter, the chief apostle, to deny Him, raising the question of why this apostle and others harbored such fear if Christ had not been bound and crucified."},{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"He predicted that everyone would face trials, so that when they experience temptation, they would not lose hope in their salvation but would find redemption through repentance. The detail added is crucial: to be tempted during this night, for just as those who are intoxicated are affected by the night, those who are tempted will encounter their trials in the darkness of the night (1 Thessalonians 5:7). We will declare, \\"The night is over, and the day has come\\" (Romans 13:12). This concept is echoed in the words of the prophet Zechariah, where it is conveyed, on behalf of God, \\"Strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered\\" (Zechariah 13:7). Additionally, in the entire Sixty-eighth Psalm, which is a praise to the Lord, it expresses a similar sentiment: \\"For whom You have struck, they still pursue\\" (Psalm 68:27). The Good Shepherd is struck down so that He may lay down His life for His sheep, bringing together many flocks into one flock under one Shepherd (John 10:16). This testimony is elaborated upon in the work we have composed titled ‘On the Best Way to Interpret.’"},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"As the divine, He predicts what is to come; however, to prevent His disciples from feeling reproached, He notes that it is written, ‘I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered,’ implying the following: I have united you all, but my departure will lead to your dispersion. It is mentioned that the Father will strike the Son. This occurs because the Jewish leaders crucified the Lord with the Father’s consent. Although the Father had the power to stop them, He chose not to intervene, thus it is stated that He ‘smote’."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"You will face temptations, meaning your faith in Me may falter, or you may be dispersed. This prophecy originates from Zechariah (Zechariah 13:7). It is understood that the Father struck the Son, certainly indicating that He permitted the Son to be afflicted, that is, to be put to death. This demonstrates that His death was in accordance with the Father's will and aligned with Divine Providence."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"After crossing the Kidron, He spoke to His disciples, foretelling the sorrowful truth that they would soon face a trial of faith. “This very night, all of you will be tested regarding Me; the prophecy of Zechariah will come to pass: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be dispersed” (Zechariah 13:7)."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"'Be in awe of Me' (cf. note on Matt. 5:29 and Matt. 11:6): you will waver in your profession of faith in Me, succumbing to fear and abandoning Me; the derision and disgrace I will face in the approaching night will provide a stumbling block for you; you will hesitate to acknowledge Me before those who oppose Me as your Sovereign and Master; perhaps your trust in Me will be partially undermined, for you have not fully grasped the significance of the world's redemption through My suffering and death. - 'For it is written': found in the writings of the prophet Zechariah (Zech. 13:7). 'He brings this prophecy to remind the disciples to remain vigilant regarding the Scriptures and to emphasize that His crucifixion adheres to the divine plan, making clear that He aligns perfectly with the teachings of the Old Testament and the God presented therein. Everything unfolding is a fulfillment of God's watchfulness, with all occurrences foretold by the prophets long ago, ensuring that they may confidently anticipate what is to come' (Chrysostom). - 'I will strike': as stated by the prophet. 'The suffering of the Son is ascribed to the Father in the sense that the Jewish leaders crucified the Lord under the Father's will, meaning He allowed it to happen rather than intervening to stop it. Thus, it is said that He struck' (Theophil.). - 'The Shepherd': Jesus Christ, as the Messiah, embodies the role of the Shepherd (John 10:11-14). - 'The sheep of the flock': in this context, the apostles are referred to, although all of Christ's followers are recognized as sheep (John 10:16)."},{"author-name":"Philaret (Gumilevski)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c896f4b6fd32caa244b5d7_Philaret%20(Gumilevski).png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Jesus then addressed them, stating that they would all face temptation from Him this night. The trials faced by Christ underscored the disciples' spiritual frailty, a weakness that had infiltrated them during the tumult caused by the malice of the Sanhedrin. This did not indicate a total abandonment of their faith in Christ, but rather marked the onset of wavering in their belief as they beheld Him—once a figure of immense power in their eyes—now clothed in disgrace, devoid of strength and support. This left them perplexed, leading them to retreat in fear and harbor doubts: 'Is He the One who will redeem Israel?' (Luke 24:21). At the conclusion of their farewell dialogue, the apostles remarked to the Lord, ‘Now we perceive that you have become disconnected from God.’ To which the Lord gently responded, ‘Do you believe now? The hour approaches when you will leave Me isolated’ (John 16:31-32). He highlighted their frailty at this moment. Earlier, He had commended their faithfulness in following Him despite the various adversities imposed by the Jews (Luke 22:28). However, their endurance, upon scrutiny, proved insufficient to withstand the impending tribulations. Thus, He lays bare the reality of what it entails for even the most righteous to be left to their own devices without divine assistance in times of trial. If each Apostle displayed significant vulnerability during that night of temptation, it is likely that each one faced their own share of trials during that sorrowful time. 'We all stumble in many ways,' as conveyed by the Apostle inspired by the Holy Spirit (James 3:2). The Savior imparts this lesson to believers across generations when He proclaims to His disciples, ‘All of you shall be tempted by Me this night. It is written, I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be dispersed.’ Regarding the apostles, the Lord softens the heavy future by linking it to ancient prophecy. This does not imply endorsement of His disciples' frailty as an unavoidable fate; rather, it signals that the peril of human weakness was foretold long ago, thereby urging the feeble to remain vigilant. The Savior refers to the words of the Prophet Zechariah (Zechariah 13:7), who foretold the valuation of the Messiah-Shepherd by Israel. This prophecy concerns the Messiah, and through its fulfillment, the Savior allows us to recognize Him as the long-awaited Messiah."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"In the upper chamber of Zion, as recounted by the Evangelist John, when the Lord informed the Apostles of their forthcoming separation, ‘the passionate lips of Peter,’ as noted by Innocent, Archbishop of Kherson, ‘impulsively asked, “Lord, where are You going?”’ He recognized the peril facing the Master and yearned to accompany Him through it. The Lord responded, ‘Where I am going, you cannot follow Me now, but afterward you will follow Me.’ Peter replied, ‘Lord, why can’t I follow You now? I will lay down my life for You.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, no rooster will crow before you deny Me three times’ (John 13:36-38). St. Luke further narrates that the Lord, cautioning Peter against arrogance, spoke to him with profound compassion, ‘Simon! Simon!’—if only you understood the adversaries you will face! ‘Behold, Satan has requested to sift you like wheat,’ permitting him to disturb, lead astray, and tempt you, as he did with Job. ‘But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail, and when you have returned, strengthen your brothers’ (Luke 22:31-32). St. Chrysostom remarks that if Satan sought to sift all, why did Christ not say, “I prayed for all”? Instead, He directed His words to Peter to emphasize the heightened risk of his faltering. Moreover, rather than simply indicating that He had not forgiven, He stated, ‘I have prayed’... As He approached His suffering, He spoke humbly to reflect His humanity. He, who declared with authority, ‘I will build My Church,’ and fortified it against countless threats and deaths, who promised: ‘I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven’ (Matt. 16:19), certainly did not require prayer. Christ did not say, ‘Let not your faith be denied, but let it not fail, lest you perish completely.’ Peter genuinely insisted that he was prepared to face imprisonment and death. To impress upon the zealous yet overly confident disciple the notion of the imminent danger, and to prevent despair following his denial, the Lord deemed it necessary to reiterate His caution once more en route to Gethsemane. THEN,’ St. Matthew recounts, ‘as they departed from the upper room of Zion, amidst the poignant words of comfort, encouragement, and assurance chronicled by John the Evangelist, JESUS SAID TO THEM (speaking with sorrow to His beloved disciples), ALL OF YOU WILL FALL AWAY FROM ME THIS NIGHT. You will falter in your declaration that I am the true Christ, the Son of the living God; fear will lead you to abandon Me; when I am mocked and degraded this night, you will hesitate to proclaim openly to My adversaries that I am your Lord and Teacher; perhaps your very faith in Me will waver, as you do not yet fully comprehend the essence of the world's redemption through My suffering and death. Yet, this has long been foretold by the prophets: for it is written in the prophet Zechariah, I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered. The Lord cites this prophecy to urge His disciples to heed Scripture and to illustrate that His crucifixion is in accordance with divine will, affirming that the unfolding events are part of God’s providential plan’ (St. John Chrysostom). Jesus Christ is referred to as the Shepherd, and all believers, especially the Apostles, as His flock. In these words, the Lord reflects,’ St. Chrysostom continues, ‘on the state of the disciples prior to the crucifixion and their transformation afterward. Those who, during His crucifixion, could not even stand firm, became resolute and stronger than iron following His death. Their flight and fear serve as evidence of the Savior’s death. Nevertheless, the Lord did not permit them to remain in sorrow; instead, what did He say?’"},{"author-name":"Lopuchin A.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c891400ee1341634d2276d_Lopuchin%20A.P..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"His time with them was brief, and just as He had previously informed the Jews, He now communicated that they could not accompany Him to where He was going. In that moment, He issued a new commandment, establishing a community distinct from the worldly society, calling them to love one another. However, Peter was dissatisfied with this and expressed his desire to follow the Master. When the stubborn disciple confidently asserted that nothing could hinder him from accompanying his Lord, declaring he would ‘lay down his life for Him,’ the Savior admonished his arrogance, predicting that before the rooster crowed, he would deny Him three times. After revealing the profound suffering that awaited Him, the Savior warned His disciples that they would all abandon Him that very night and scatter, but assured them that He would meet them in Galilee following His resurrection."},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"This prophecy appears in Zechariah (13:7), and as Blessed Theophylact interprets it, the defeat of the Son is ascribed to the Father in that the Jews executed the Lord with the Father’s consent. The apostles are referred to as the sheep, described as individuals of goodwill. The Lord referenced this ancient prophecy to ensure that the disciples would not perceive His foretelling as a rebuke directed at themselves. To further reassure them, He quickly brought them a message of hope, stating that after His resurrection, He would meet them in Galilee, the location of one of His post-resurrection appearances (Matt. 28:16)."},{"author-name":"Bogolepow D.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"In the farewell dialogue of Jesus Christ with His disciples, the first three Gospels convey only the foretelling of trials and temptations that await the apostles, alongside Peter's forthcoming denial, a narrative that is more elaborately presented in the Gospel of John (13:31-38). This prophecy arises from Peter’s inquiry, “Lord, where are You going?” Following the response that Peter could not accompany Him at that moment but would later on (36), Peter poses a second question, “Lord, why can’t I follow You now?” (37). In response, Christ begins to prophesy (Luke 22:31ff.) about the challenges that will confront the disciples, particularly addressing Peter: “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.” Acknowledging the unseen spiritual realities, the Lord illustrates that Satan has sought divine permission to test the disciples, akin to Job's trials, intending not only to leave them vulnerable but also to lead them under his sway, undermining their bond with Christ and with each other, just as wheat is scattered in a field. “But I have prayed for you,” says the Lord, “that your faith may not fail.” Here, Peter is aware of his profound need for Christ's intercessory prayer, as he faces a perilous temptation. Following this, Christ predicts Peter's denial, while simultaneously assuring him of his eventual restoration, resulting from Christ’s advocacy before the Father. The Lord also cautions all the disciples regarding their own temptations, indicating that they will look to Peter’s experience for reassurance and fortification of their faith (Luke 22:31-32). By revealing this impending danger to all His followers, Jesus straightforwardly indicates that they will all be tempted concerning Him that very night, thereby fulfilling the prophecy concerning the Messiah’s death and the scattering of His followers, as stated in Zechariah 13:7."}]}
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