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Explanation for:
Matthew
26
:
56
Now all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then the disciples all leaving him, fled.
11
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{"arr":[{"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":"All these events transpired to fulfill the prophecies recorded in Scripture. At that moment, all the disciples deserted Him and ran away. What are these prophetic writings? They pierced my hands and my feet (Psalms 21:17), and elsewhere it is written: like a lamb He was taken to be sacrificed (Isaiah 53:7). Additionally, in another passage, or in the same one: For the transgressions of my people He was put to death (Isaiah 53:8)."},{"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":"Here is a paraphrased version of the given text, maintaining the theological core and biblical citations:\\n\\nChrist addressed His disciples and spoke to those who sought to capture Him, saying, ‘You have come out against Me as if I were a criminal, with swords and clubs; I was teaching in the temple daily, and you did not seize Me. Consider the many signs that should have enlightened them: He knocks them down, He heals a servant’s ear, He warns of destruction. “By the sword they will perish,” He proclaimed, noting that those who live by violence will be met with violence, which is evident in His restoration of the ear. In every moment, both now and in what is to come, He displays His power, illustrating that the Jews did not apprehend Him by their own strength. He emphasizes, ‘I was teaching in the temple every day, and yet you did not capture Me,’ demonstrating that they arrested Him with His consent. He focuses on His teachings rather than His miracles to avoid appearing boastful. He pointed out their inactivity when He was instructing, and their aggression when He was silent. He remained unhindered among them in the temple, yet they come upon Him armed in the night. Why would they need weapons against someone who was always present with them in the temple? This reveals that they could not have taken Him unless He had willingly offered Himself to them; for if they could not seize Him while He was openly among them, they certainly could not manage to do so now without His willingness.\\n\\nMoreover, this clarifies the mystery of why He chose to surrender Himself. He stated that these events took place to fulfill the scriptures of the prophets. Behold how even at the last moment, just at the time of His betrayal, He undertakes every effort for the sake of His adversaries’ correction: He warns them, prophesies, issues threats: “by the sword they will perish.” When He says, ‘I was teaching in the temple daily,’ He illustrates His voluntary suffering. By declaring, ‘Let the scriptures of the prophets be fulfilled,’ He affirms His submission to the will of His Father. Why did they not seize Him in the temple? Simply because they feared to act against Him openly in front of the people. Thus, He exited the city, granting them freedom regarding the location and timing of His capture, even up to the last moment, removing any justification from their actions. He who willingly bestowed Himself in accordance with divine prophecies could not possibly contradict the divine plan. At this point, the evangelist tells us that all the disciples abandoned Him and fled. When Jesus was arrested, the disciples remained with Him; however, upon hearing His words directed at the crowd that came to confront Him, they scattered. They ultimately recognized that escape was no longer an option for Him after He had willingly surrendered and affirmed that this was in line with the prophecies."},{"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":"All of this, which I desired to be taken, occurred so that the prophetic Scriptures would come to fruition, which spoke solely of my demise. Then all the disciples abandoned Him and ran away. When they realized that Jesus Christ had willingly surrendered Himself as foretold in the Scriptures, and they recognized that there was no longer a way for Him to evade them, they dispersed, fulfilling His steadfast prophecy. Mark recounts that a young man, cloaked with a linen covering over his exposed body, followed Him, and the soldiers apprehended him. However, he left the linen behind and fled away in his nakedness. Some believe that the young man was from the home where Jesus had celebrated the Passover, while others suggest he was James, the brother of the Lord, who was known to wear only one garment throughout his life, wrapping himself in the linen covering over his bare form."},{"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":"Demonstrates the absurdity of their endeavor, revealing their inability to seize Him. He states that while He was in the temple among them, they attempted to apprehend Him; yet, because He chose not to permit it, they were powerless to do so. Now, however, He willingly surrenders Himself, for He understands that it is impossible for the Scriptures that predicted their malice to be false."},{"author-name":"Tichon of Zadonsk","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989ff6b5b4c943e70095_Tichon%20of%20Zadonsk.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":18,"exegesis-text":"Abandoned by all the disciples - “then all the disciples, forsaking Him, fled” - so that we, who are abandoned, defenseless, powerless, and estranged from the presence of God, can receive intercession and assistance. As He proclaims through the prophet, “I looked, and there was no helper; and I marveled, and no one interceded; and My arm brought salvation\\" (Is. 63:5)."},{"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":"These events unfolded as a continuation of Jesus Christ's own words, rather than as a comment from the Evangelist. The phrase \\"the writings of the prophets\\" refers to the Lord’s sufferings and death. At that moment, all the disciples, as prophesied by Jesus Christ, were present. When the confrontation began, the disciples initially remained with Him; however, after He declared the words directed at the crowd that approached Him, they dispersed. It became evident that escape was no longer an option for Him, as He willingly surrendered Himself, affirming that His actions were in accordance with the prophetic writings."},{"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":"Let the prophecy come to pass. Another reason for their seizing Him is that this is the divine decree outlined in Scripture, which clearly reflects God's will. It is noteworthy that during the trials from Satan, the Saviour countered his assaults solely with the Holy Scriptures; likewise, in the dark moments of His crucifixion, He consistently referred to Scripture's testimonies (Matt. 26:24, 31, 54; Lk. 22:37; Jn. 13:18). At that moment, all His disciples abandoned Him and fled. Given the words the Saviour spoke to His adversaries, His disciples ought to have been inspired and determined to share His burden. If a time of darkness had arrived, one that would surely be followed by a dawn, how could they not choose to stand firm against the shadows? Would it not be a glorious act to resist? Would it be honorable to succumb to the darkness? Yet, what the Saviour had foretold was realized. They were still inexperienced, feeble, and immature. The chains binding their Master, along with the overwhelming sight of His enemies, frightened them, causing them to scatter. A time will come when another prophecy of the Lord will be fulfilled in them, and they will eventually walk the path of suffering.\\n\\nNow, forgive the frailty of humanity! We promise much and deliver little. Divine Love, we submit to the sacred connections that bind You to the will of the Father above. Without these unseen bonds, none could restrain You, nor could any action offend Your holiness. How majestic You appear in these ties! You transcend the universe and the malevolence of hell. O Light that gives life to all! Illuminate our darkened minds and warm our icy hearts, that we may not retaliate against evil but willingly submit to the will of our heavenly Father; disperse the darkness of thought that self-love and pride rouse in us when we face unjust offenses; strengthen our will, which falters under the weight of adversaries and tribulations.\\n\\nSelf-love, dear listeners, seeks space for our desires and entices us with cries of liberty, liberty is man's unassailable right! But is it truly freedom to be enslaved by passions that transgress both God's and human laws? For the sake of Israel's hope, I wear these chains, Paul declared with joy (Acts 28:20), and Christ is a prisoner (Eph. 3:11). This is the genuine freedom of the spirit! It willingly submits to God's will, which allocates different measures to individuals on earth, and embraces afflictions joyfully, using them to tame the desires of the old self. The spirit is humble and gentle, not overly ambitious for itself; yet empowered by God, it steadfastly endures the heavenly trials set before it. O Lord, in the fulfillment of Your sacred will lies our freedom, our salvation, our life. May Your will be accomplished in us. Amen."},{"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":"God has allowed this, and I yield not to your brutality but to the divine will: ALL THAT HAS OCCURRED SHALL BE FULFILLED, AND THE WORDS OF THE PROPHETS SHALL BE HONORED. St. Chrysostom remarks on the miraculous acts for their benefit: first, He brings them low, then He mends a servant's ear, subsequently He warns them of their impending doom, declaring, ‘by the sword they shall perish.’ Innocent, Archbishop of Kherson, reflects on how this remarkable blend of grandeur and humility, strength and vulnerability, momentarily halted the unruly crowd. \\n\\nIn the meantime, the disciples, seizing the opportunity amid the turmoil and uncertainty, began to depart in haste. One of them, recounting this event later, felt compelled to declare: ALL the disciples then deserted Him and fled. Even the passionate Peter ran away, along with the beloved John. Witnessing the God-Man's refusal to defend Himself, their fear overwhelmed their emotions, compelling them to consider only their own escape, and their only recourse was to flee swiftly. Thus, what the Savior had predicted was realized. They remained like 'children,' still fragile in faith: the chains binding their Master and the daunting faces of His adversaries instilled terror in their hearts, causing them to scatter. A time will come when another word from the Lord will be fulfilled concerning them—they will endure trials. But now— forgive me, O stubbornness of man! You pledge much and deliver little."},{"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":"The soldiers, regaining their composure, approached Jesus and bound Him, complying with the orders given by the chief priests and elders. The apostles, fearing they might meet the same fate, abandoned their Master in haste and fled. Thus, the prophecy came to pass: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered (Zechariah 13:7; Matthew 26:31). The whereabouts of the nine apostles are uncertain, but Peter and John, though they distanced themselves from Jesus, dared not venture too far. Their longing to understand what would happen to Him compelled them to stay close. Emerging from their brief hiding place, they followed the departing crowd from a distance and eventually made their way to Jerusalem."},{"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":"Only Peter and John trailed the crowd from a distance, while a young man, wrapped in a linen cloth, moved anxiously among them. This brave disciple of the Lord, seemingly stirred by the commotion in the street, followed his Master as long as he went unnoticed. However, when a servant sought to determine his identity by seizing the linen cloth, the young man fled in fear, escaping from the servant’s grasp and abandoning the cloth, running away naked into the night. Tradition holds that it was St. Mark who uniquely recorded this occurrence. (Mark 14:51-52)"},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The disciples, observing that their Teacher neither employed miraculous nor ordinary tactics for His protection, willingly surrendered to His adversaries. In their desperation, they sought refuge by fleeing swiftly, fearing that the guards, emboldened after seizing the Lord, would now turn their aggression toward them, thereby subjecting the disciples to judgment alongside their Master. This scenario fulfilled the final words spoken by the Lord during His farewell discourse just hours earlier (John 16:32)."}]}
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