Matthew 26:31Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

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.

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.’

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.

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?’

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.

'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).