Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #8 Matthew 26:31-35 – How All Will Be Stumbled This Night

Matthew 26:31-35 – How All Will Be Stumbled This Night

|| Mark 14:26-31; Luke 22:31-34, 39; John 13:36-38

MT26:31 Now at this time Jesus told his disciples, “All of you [apostles] will stumble[1] because of me this very night. For it has been written,[2] ‘I shall smite the shepherd and the sheep of the flock[3] will be scattered.’ [Zechariah 13:7] MT26:32 But after being raised up[4] I shall go before you into Galilee.” MT26:33 But Peter responded: “If all the others are stumbled because of you, I shall never be stumbled!”[5] MT26:34 Jesus said to him: “I tell you this truth: This very night before the rooster crows three times you [Peter] will deny me.” MT26:35 Peter said to Jesus: “And… if it is necessary for me I will die together with you! Never will I deny you!” Also, all the disciples said the same thing.[6]

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[1] Stumble: The Greek is SCANDALISTHESESTHE. BER: scandalized. See notes on the word elsewhere.

[2] It has been written: The Nazarene quotes Zechariah 13:7.

[3] The sheep of the flock: See the “one flock” of John 10:16. See Luke 12:32 and the “little flock” of Jesus’ apostles. Jesus had said he came only for the ‘lost sheep of the house of Israel.’ Compare notes on Matthew 10:6 and Matthew 15:24.

[4] Raised up: A synonym for “resurrected.” Compare Paul’s use in 1 Corinthians 15.

[5] I shall never be stumbled: We wonder at Jesus’ expression to this presumptuousness. Or, KJV: never be offended; LAM: never deny you.

[6] All the disciples said the same thing: Or, WEY: in like manner protested all the disciples.

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Preceding

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #1 Matthew 26:1-2 – Two Days Before Execution

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #2 Matthew 26:3-5 – Plotting to Seize Jesus

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #3 Matthew 26:6-13 – A Woman to Be Remembered

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #4 Matthew 26:14-16 – The Price of Betrayal

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #5 Matthew 26:17-19 – Passover Preparations

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #6 Matthew 26:20-25 – The Last Passover

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #7 Matthew 26:26-30 – Keep Doing This in My Memory

Matthew 22:23-28 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Sadducees Question on the Resurrection

Matthew 22:23-28 – Sadducees Question on the Resurrection

|| Mark 12:18-23; Luke 20:27-33

MT22:23 On that same day the Sadducees[1] approached Jesus. Not believing in the resurrection,[2] they asked Jesus, MT22:24 “Teacher, Moses said[3] that if a man should die without children his brother should take in marriage his woman and raise up his brother’s seed.[4] [Deuteronomy 25:5] MT22:25 Now we had seven brothers and the first one died without children and so his woman[5] was released to his brother. MT22:26 This happened also with the second, the third, and finally all seven brothers. MT22:27 In the end the woman died. MT22:28 Therefore, in the resurrection to which of the seven will the woman belong? For all seven had her.”

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[1] Sadducees: See the notes on Matthew 3:7.

[2] Resurrection: The Greek is ANASTASEI means again + stand. A synonym for it is raised up. Research the word resurrection. For a thorough considering see Where are the Dead?

[3] Moses said: The Sadducees only accepted the five books of Moses as inspired of God. They allude to Deuteronomy 25:5. Compare also Ruth 1:11; 3:13. This is called “brother-in-law marriage” and though it may seem quaint to a modern western world the need to preserve the family, tribe, and nation were obsessive to the Israelites. Jesus himself is the product of such a relationship (see the book of Ruth).

[4] Seed: The Greek is SPERMA.

[5] His woman: Or, “wife.” See notes elsewhere under wife.

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Preceding

Matthew 22:1-6 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Parable of Invitation to a Marriage

Matthew 22:7-10 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Invitations after City’s Destruction

Matthew 22:11-13 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: King’s Inspection and Marriage Garments

Matthew 22:14 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Many Invited – Few Chosen

Matthew 22:15-22 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Caesar’s Things and God’s Things