Matthew 26:31-35

Mat 26:31 (KJB)
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.

Offended - To put a stumbling block in front of, cause to fall away

Here Jesus tells the disciples that this very night, they are going to be offended, that is, they are going to fall away from the Lord Jesus Christ that very night but Jesus also tells them that it is a fulfillment of Scripture and they are not doing this on their own. (Zec 13:7 KJV) 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: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones. The sheep had to be scattered because it could never be written that any of the disciples suffered with Him or else they would make that disciple out to be a co-redeemer with Christ. Look at what the Roman Catholic Institution has done with Peter making him the first pope and exalting him to a lofty position based on stories laden with more stories. Jesus is telling the disciples straight out that they will abandon Him temporarily because He had to go through this alone.

Mat 26:32 (KJB)
But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.

Then Jesus does not leave it there with the disciples abandoning Him. He tells them that after He is risen from the dead that He is going to meet them in Galilee. This was a wise move because Galilee was about 70 miles (113 km) north of Jerusalem and it would have taken the disciples about three days of walking to get up there and meet the Lord. This was also done to get the disciples out of Jerusalem so the Sanhedrin would not have went after them and have them imprisoned or killed. This verse is a great encouragement to the disciples that even though Jesus was going to die, death had no hold on Him because He is the way, the truth and the LIFE. Eternal life always surpasses death.

Mat 26:33 (KJB)
Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.

Peter then begins to exalt himself a little by making the statement that though all will abandon Jesus, he will never fall away and forsake the Lord Jesus. No doubt Peter was speaking with what he believed was a sincere heart in that he would never forsake Jesus. He was unaware of the plan that no one could be near Jesus when events started because Jesus had to bear the sins alone and no man could ever be in a position to claim any credit for atonement. Peter loved the Lord and he did show bravery in the garden of Gethsemane by cutting off the ear of Malchus with his sword. (John 18:10 KJV) Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.

Mat 26:34 (KJB)
Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

Jesus responds to Peter’s vow with another prophecy. He starts out by telling him “verily” which means “truly” I say unto you that you are going to deny me. You will deny me three times even before the rooster crows early in the morning. Jesus is not giving Peter some type of vague prophecy but is telling him specifically that he will deny and when. In fact, Peter will go from defender to denier in just a few hours.

Mat 26:35 (KJB)
Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.

Despite the specific prophecy that Jesus gives Peter concerning his upcoming denial, Peter does not accept what the Lord says and continues to claim that he will die with Jesus. Peter did not understand the strength of the Spirit coupled with the weakness of the flesh. Fear will come upon him in a few hours and he will totally deny the Lord, in fact he will even start cursing to show that he is not connected to Jesus. Peter was not the only one who declared his allegiance but all the disciples stated that they would die with Jesus and not deny Him. They too did not understand that what was happening was a fulfillment of Zechariah 13:7 and therefore the Scripture could not be broken.

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