ACC ~ Matthew 26 v31 - 35

OVERVIEW:

Those who fell away from Christ on the night he was betrayed did so because they had not yet received the staying power of the Holy Spirit (ORIGEN). Jesus stresses the fact that they fell away as a fulfillment of prophecy. This fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy increases the faith of the community (CHRYSOSTOM). Jesus, the shepherd, was killed in order to bring unity among the many wandering sheep (JEROME).

Why did Christ say he would “go before you to Galilee” after he was raised? Cyril of Alexandria claims that this indicated that Jesus left the Jews in order to lead the Gentiles. Chrysostom, however, says that it was in order that the Jews might believe in him. Peter not only fell away from Christ but abandoned him. Through his denial, Peter demonstrates the wickedness of human nature. The other disciples accepted Jesus’ word that they would fall away. Perhaps Peter was hungry for recognition (ORIGEN).

26:31 | You Will All Fall Away

YOU WILL FALL AWAY THIS NIGHT

ORIGEN: They didn’t fall away in the daytime but at night, and it was on the night in which Jesus was betrayed. Peter also denied Christ at night, not during the day. Moreover, it was still in the middle of the night, since the cock had not yet crowed. Anyone who questions how the disciples could have fallen away after seeing such great signs and wonders and after hearing words of equal power (for the signs and wonders were performed by his words) should realize that Christ wanted to demonstrate through this warning that just as “no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit,” [1] so also no one is able to keep from falling away except by the Holy Spirit. When what Jesus had foretold came to pass, “You will all fall away from me this night,” it was still true that “the Holy Spirit had not yet been given because Jesus had not yet been glorified.” [2] If we … who have already professed Jesus to be Lord by the Holy Spirit (for “all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God”), [3] then fall away or deny him, we will not have an excuse like those who fell away or denied him without the Holy Spirit. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 87. [4]

[1] 1 Cor 12:3.

[2] Jn 7:39.

[3] Rom 8:14.

[4] GCS 38.2:200.

I WILL STRIKE THE SHEPHERD

CHRYSOSTOM: Then he said to them, “You will all fall away because of me.” After this he mentions a prophecy: “For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ ” [1] He was urging them to be attentive to what has been prophetically predicted of his death and resurrection, and at the same time he wanted to make it plain that he was indeed crucified according to God’s purpose. All of this was to show that he was no alien from the old covenant or from the God who preached it. What was done in the Old Testament was a dispensation. All the prophets proclaimed all things beforehand from the beginning that are included in this salvation event. All this was to increase faith.

And he teaches us to know what the disciples were before the crucifixion and what they did after the crucifixion. For indeed they who were not able so much as to stand their ground when he was crucified, after his death became mighty and stronger than adamant. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 82.2. [2]

[1] Zech 13:7.

[2] PG 58:740; NPNF 1 10:493.

THE FLOCK WILL BE SCATTERED

JEROME: “For it is written, ‘I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ ” Zechariah the prophet says the same thing, only differently; and if I am not mistaken, God is addressed in the person of the prophet: “Strike the shepherd that the sheep may be scattered.” [1] In harmony with these words is the psalm, which is recited in its entirety to the Lord: “For they persecute him whom you have struck.” [2] The good shepherd is struck, however, that he may lay down his life for his sheep and that out of many flocks of wandering sheep there may be one flock and one shepherd. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 4.26.31. [3]

[1] Zech 13:7.

[2] Ps 69:26 (68:27 LXX).

[3] CCL 77:252.

26:32 | I Will Go Ahead of You to Galilee

AFTER I AM RISEN

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: He did not leave the disciples with sad expressions but proclaimed the resurrection to them ahead of time, freeing them from grief, and he promised to go ahead of them into Galilee. In this way he shows that he is about to desert the Jews and go to the Gentiles. FRAGMENT 293. [1]

[1] MKGK 257-58.

GIVING COMPLETE ASSURANCE

CHRYSOSTOM: He does not permit them to become sorrowful but immediately says, “But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.” For he does not immediately appear from heaven on a single occasion and then depart to a distant country. Rather, he promises to come in resurrected form to the same nation in which he had also been crucified, and nearly to the same place. All this was to give complete assurance that he had indeed been crucified and that he indeed rose again, thereby to comfort them more abundantly when in sorrow. Therefore also he specified “to Galilee,” in order that being freed from the fears of the Jews they might believe his saying. This is why he indeed appeared there. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 82.2. [1]

[1] PG 58:740; NPNF 1 10:493.

26:33-35 | You Will Deny Me

I WILL NEVER FALL AWAY

ORIGEN: The other disciples only fell away from Jesus, but Peter, who thought that he could begin with deceit and end up with the truth, both fell away from Jesus and also denied him because of the audacious promise he made that he would never fall away.

It was not only out of carelessness but almost also out of wickedness that he said, “Even if all fall away because of you, I will not fall away.” He made a rash promise because he did not know the deceitfulness of human nature. This is why Peter didn’t simply fall away from Jesus or even deny him once but abandoned him so completely that he denied him three times. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 88. [1]

[1] GCS 38.2:202.

YOU WILL DENY ME THREE TIMES

ORIGEN: It seems to me that Jesus’ other disciples had the foresight and wisdom (when it was first said “you will fall away because of me tonight”) not to profess that they would never fall away, for they saw the truth of Jesus’ prediction. But because only to Peter alone was it said, “Truly I tell you, before the cock crows you will deny me three times,” they eventually promised along with Peter, “Even if we have to die with you, we will not deny you.” The difference between Peter and the other disciples is this: Peter did not acquiesce even after Jesus prophesied that he would deny him three times before the cock crowed. The others, however, who were not included in this prophecy or in things said only to Peter, responded with a promise which did not seek to make a liar out of the Lord, as Peter’s promise did. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 88. [1]

[1] GCS 38.2:203.

PETER’S BRAVADO

CHRYSOSTOM: Peter then spoke confidently and lifted himself up over the rest, saying, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” It may be that in some degree his bravado sprang from jealousy. For at supper they were all talking about which one of them was the greater. [1] This passion for recognition was still troubling them. Therefore Jesus resisted Peter, not compelling him to a future denial—God forbid! But he left him destitute of his help, convicting human nature. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 82.3. [2]

[1] Lk 22:24.

[2] PG 58:742; NPNF 1 10:494.