Matthew 26:31 · Bible study
Matthew 26:31 Commentary: The Shepherd Struck, the Sheep Scattered
Greek · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Jesus foretells the disciples’ desertion, connecting it to Zechariah 13:7. A study in failure and sovereignty.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Jesus foretells that all disciples will desert him, fulfilling Zechariah 13:7, where God strikes the Shepherd and the sheep scatter.
- Key words: σκανδαλισθήσεσθε (skandalisthēsesthe, “will be caused to stumble”, future passive of σκανδαλίζω); ποιμήν (shepherd); διασκορπισθήσονται (they will be scattered).
- Main debate: Whether the “stumbling” refers primarily to physical desertion, loss of faith, or both; and how to balance God's sovereignty in striking the Shepherd with human responsibility.
- Theological theme: God's sovereignty over suffering and failure; the suffering Messiah as the stricken Shepherd; the temporary nature of the disciples' failure in light of the resurrection.
- Best use: Preparing believers for times when faith is tested; showing that even failure is within God's redemptive plan; emphasizing Christ's foreknowledge and care.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Then Jesus said to them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of Me. For it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
WEB World English Bible 2000
Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of me tonight, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
KJV King James Version 1769
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.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended in me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
then saith Jesus to them, `All ye shall be stumbled at me this night; for it hath been written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Then saith Jesus to them, All ye shall be offended in me during this night. For it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Then Jesus saith 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.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Entonces Jesús les dice: Todos vosotros seréis escandalizados en mí esta noche; porque escrito está: Heriré al Pastor, y las ovejas de la manada serán dispersas.
Então Jesus lhes disse: Todos vós vos falhareis em serdes fiéis a mim esta noite; porque está escrito: “Ferirei o pastor, e as ovelhas do rebanho serão dispersas”.
Alors Jésus leur dit: Je serai pour vous tous, cette nuit, une occasion de chute; car il est écrit: Je frapperai le berger, et les brebis du troupeau seront dispersées.
Da sprach Jesus zu ihnen: In dieser Nacht werdet ihr euch alle ärgern an mir. Denn es steht geschrieben: “Ich werde den Hirten schlagen, und die Schafe der Herde werden sich zerstreuen.”
Toen zeide Jezus tot hen: Gij zult allen aan Mij geergerd worden in deze nacht; want er is geschreven: Ik zal den Herder slaan, en de schapen der kudde zullen verstrooid worden.
Allora Gesù disse loro: Questa notte voi tutti avrete in me un’occasion di caduta; perché è scritto: Io percoterò il pastore, e le pecore della greggia saranno disperse.
Tedy im rzekł Jezus: Wy wszyscy zgorszycie się ze mnie tej nocy; albowiem napisano: Uderzę pasterza, i będą rozproszone owce trzody.
Тогда говорит им Иисус: все вы соблазнитесь о Мне в эту ночь, ибо написано: поражу пастыря, и рассеются овцы стада;
那時，耶穌 對他們 說：「 今 夜，你們 為 我 的緣故都 要跌倒。因為 經上記著說：我要擊打 牧人，羊 就 分散了。
Then said Jesus to them, All of you will be turned away from me this night: for it is said in the Writings, I will put to death the keeper of the sheep, and the sheep of the flock will be put to flight.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Matthew 26:31
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions read this verse as Jesus' clear prediction that all eleven disciples will fail him that very night. The key Greek verb σκανδαλισθήσεσθε (future passive of σκανδαλίζω) means they will be “caused to stumble”, not that Jesus tempts them, but that the circumstances of his arrest become an occasion for their falling away. Barnes notes they will be “ashamed to own me as a teacher” and “guilty of the sin of forsaking me.” Gill adds that they will “stagger and hesitate in their minds, whether he was the Messiah or not.” Clarke renders it “ye will all forsake me, and lose in a great measure your confidence in me.”
Jesus grounds this prediction in Zechariah 13:7, where God declares, “I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.” This quotation does more than foretell events; it reveals that the disciples' desertion operates within God's sovereign plan. As Cambridge Bible observes, the prophecy from Zechariah brings consolation to Jesus himself, knowing that even in being left alone, he walks the path Jehovah has appointed. Calvin points out that though the words were addressed to all, they were especially spoken as “extraordinary consolation” for Peter, who would need assurance after his denial.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Spiritual failure view: The stumble involves losing faith, being ashamed, and doubting if Jesus is the Messiah (Gill, Barnes, citing Matt 26:56; John 16:31-32).
- Physical desertion view: The stumble primarily means fleeing in fear, leaving Jesus physically alone (Clarke, and the fulfilment in Matt 26:56: 'Then all the disciples left him and fled').
What is clear: Jesus predicted that all his disciples would abandon him that night, and this happened precisely as he said, fulfilling the prophetic pattern of Zechariah 13:7.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The meaning of σκανδαλισθήσεσθε (stumble) | All traditions agree it means the disciples will fall away, forsake Jesus, or lose confidence due to the shock of his arrest. | Some emphasize temporary loss of faith (Gill, Barnes), others emphasize physical desertion (Clarke), most combine both. |
| The identity of the Shepherd | All agree Jesus is the Shepherd spoken of in Zechariah. | Whether Zechariah originally referred to a contemporary shepherd or a future messianic figure; Christian tradition reads it as directly messianic. |
| The role of God in striking the Shepherd | God is the ultimate agent; the cross is not an accident. | The relation between God's decree and human responsibility in Jesus' death; some emphasize divine sovereignty, others human sin. |
| The scope of the scattering | The eleven disciples (not Judas) scattered physically and temporarily. | Whether the scattering includes later restoration, all affirm restoration, but some see it as a complete restoration of faith, others as a gradual process. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The scene is set immediately after the Last Supper. Jesus and the eleven disciples have sung a hymn and are heading toward the Mount of Olives (Matthew 26:30). It is night, the same night on which Jesus will be arrested. The Passover context is crucial: the lamb is being slain, and Jesus, the true Passover Lamb, is about to be offered. The disciples have just shared a meal of covenant with him, yet within hours they will all abandon him.
The quotation from Zechariah 13:7 is from a passage describing the purification of Jerusalem in the last days. In the original, the Lord of hosts commands the sword: “Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is my companion.” The shepherd is struck, the sheep are scattered, but then God promises to turn his hand upon the little ones. By applying this to himself, Jesus identifies directly as the messianic shepherd whom God will strike. The disciples are the sheep, and their scattering is not a sad coincidence but a divinely ordained event that is part of God's redemptive plan.
The Mount of Olives itself bears symbolic weight. In Zechariah 14, the Mount of Olives is where the Lord will stand to deliver Jerusalem. Jesus goes there not to deliver in a political sense but to be delivered up. Cambridge Bible notes: “there is deep significance in the words recurring to the mind of Christ, as He trod the very field of Jehovah's destined victory.” The disciples' stumbling (the word σκανδαλισθήσεσθε can mean “take offence” or “fall away”) reflects the crisis of the cross, everything they hoped for appears to be crumbling. Yet Jesus prepares them: this too is scripture.
Textual Notes
The supplied commentary and lexical sources note no significant manuscript variants for Matthew 26:31. The quotation of Zechariah 13:7 is a free rendering but consistent with the LXX and Hebrew. The text is well established.
Reception History
From the early church, Matthew 26:31 has been understood as a prophecy of the disciples' weakness and a proof that Jesus knew all events in advance. The Zechariah quotation was interpreted christologically, identifying Jesus as the Shepherd struck for his flock. In the Patristic period, the scattering of the sheep was seen as a judgment on Israel for rejecting the Shepherd, but also as a temporary trial for the disciples. During the Reformation, the verse was used to illustrate the frailty of human faith and the necessity of divine preservation. Calvin’s commentary emphasizes God's providence and the comfort Jesus offers. In modern church practice, this passage is often read during Holy Week to highlight the isolation of Christ and the failure of his closest followers.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Certainty of Failure: Jesus says “All of you” will stumble. No one is exempt.
- The Purpose of Prophecy: The Scripture must be fulfilled; even desertion serves God’s plan.
- The Promise of Resurrection: Jesus promises to go before them to Galilee after he is raised.
Five-point outline
- Jesus knows what his disciples will do before they do it.
- The word “stumble” includes shock, shame, and temporary loss of faith.
- The shepherd/sheep imagery shows Jesus as the vulnerable leader.
- The striking of the shepherd comes from God’s hand, the cross is not an accident.
- The promise of restoration follows: “after I am raised up.”
Illustration hooks
- The moment a team captain falls, and the team scatters in confusion, how a leader’s collapse can shake everyone.
- A group photo taken just before a tragedy: the smiles that hide what is coming.
- The experience of saying “I would never” and then doing exactly that, Peter’s boldness contrasts with his failure.
Questions your congregation is asking
- If the disciples, who walked with Jesus, could fail so badly, what keeps us from stumbling?
- How can we trust God’s plan when our own expectations are shattered?
- What does it mean that God himself strikes the Shepherd? How do we understand the Father’s role in the cross?
Leading a Discussion
This passage confronts us with the reality of failure, both the disciples' and our own. Yet Jesus speaks it not to shame but to prepare. In your group, explore the tension between human weakness and divine sovereignty.
Discussion questions
- Read Matthew 26:31-35. What specific predictions does Jesus make?
- The Greek word σκανδαλισθήσεσθε (skandalisthēsesthe) is used. In what ways did the disciples “stumble” because of Jesus?
- Why does Jesus quote Zechariah 13:7? What does that add to his warning?
- How does Peter's response (vv.33-35) show the human tendency to overestimate our own faithfulness?
- Jesus promises to go before them to Galilee after his resurrection. How does this promise shape the way you read the disciples' failure?
- When have you experienced a time when your faith was shaken by circumstances? How did you see God's plan at work even then?
- How does knowing that God's plan includes our failures change the way you approach your own weaknesses?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Job 6:15 | My brothers have dealt deceitfully as a brook, as the channel of brooks that pass away; |
| Job 6:22 | Did I ever say, ‘Give to me’? or, ‘Offer a present for me from your substance’? |
| Job 19:13 | “He has put my brothers far from me. My acquaintances are wholly estranged from me. |
| Job 19:16 | I call to my servant, and he gives me no answer. I beg him with my mouth. |
| Psalms 38:11 | My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my plague. My kinsmen stand far away. |
| Psalms 69:20 | Reproach has broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness. I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; for comforters, but I found none. |
| Psalms 88:18 | You have put lover and friend far from me, and my friends into darkness. |
| Isaiah 53:10 | Yet it pleased Yahweh to bruise him. He has caused him to suffer. When you make his soul an offering for sin, he will see his offspring. He will prolong his days and Yahweh’s pleasure will prosper in his hand. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke stresses that "offended" means "stumbled," pointing to the disciples losing confidence and forsaking Jesus. He pictures the coming events as a shepherd struck down, his flock scattered and vulnerable. The disciples' scattering is not random but flows directly from the shepherd being taken.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes notes that Peter
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin resolves the apparent difference between the Gospel accounts by arguing that Christ addressed the warning to all disciples, but directed it to Peter as their representative. Peter had the greatest need for both correction and comfort, so that after he denied Christ he would not be crushed by despair.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator notes that Jesus' mind was on Zechariah's prophecy as He crossed the Kidron Valley, a place linked to God's final judgment and victory. Recognizing this significance may have brought consolation to Christ's human heart as He faced being left alone by His disciples.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes stress that the disciples' desertion was no surprise to Christ, since it fulfilled Zechariah's prophecy. God himself declares he will strike the shepherd, showing that Christ's suffering and the scattering of the flock were all part of a sovereign plan, not a setback.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill emphasizes that the disciples' offense was more than just fear; it was a staggering doubt about whether Jesus was the Messiah, because they expected an earthly kingdom. He also stresses that the smiting of the Shepherd was not merely by human hands but by God the Father himself, who ordered justice against his Son.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry emphasizes that Jesus warned all the disciples, not just Judas, that they would be offended and desert Him that night. Even those with upright hearts could stumble in an extreme trial. This prediction was meant to alert every one of them to watch, since the failure would be universal.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley explains that the disciples' being "offended" means a specific event in Christ's experience would cause them to fall into sin by abandoning him. The offense is not mere shock or disappointment but an active turning away that constitutes sin.