Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus isn't just predicting a future event; he's framing his own impending suffering within ancient prophecy, specifically Zechariah 13:7. He's showing that his arrest and the disciples' subsequent scattering are not random tragedies but a divine plan where God himself initiates the "striking" of the Shepherd. This highlights that even in apparent abandonment, Jesus is fulfilling a prophetic purpose ordained by God.
Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
As Jesus and his disciples walk together after the Last Supper, Jesus drops a bombshell: they will all abandon him that very night. He immediately quotes an Old Testament prophecy from Zechariah, likening himself to a shepherd who will be struck, causing the flock of his followers to scatter in fear. This dire prediction comes just before Jesus withdraws to pray alone in the Garden of Gethsemane, where his arrest will soon follow.
Jesus doesn't just predict His disciples' failure; He connects it to an ancient prophecy. Why is this so significant?
Jesus' words in Matthew 26:31 aren't a random prediction, but a deliberate fulfillment of Old Testament Scripture. He quotes Zechariah 13:7: 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'
A Divine Plan
This wasn't a failure of God's plan, but an integral part of it. God Himself declares, 'I will strike the shepherd.' This points to the Father's ultimate will in allowing His Son to be struck down.
The Shepherd and the Sheep
Jesus, the Good Shepherd (John 10:11), is about to be 'struck' – meaning He will be betrayed, arrested, and crucified. In His absence, the disciples, like scattered sheep, will flee in confusion and fear. This imagery highlights their vulnerability and dependence on Him.
Peter, so confident just moments before, is about to fail spectacularly. What does this teach us about our own strength?
Jesus directly addresses the disciples' overconfidence, particularly Peter's. He states plainly, 'You will all fall away because of me this night.'
The Danger of Self-Reliance
Commentators note that improper self-confidence is often the first step to a fall. When we believe we are secure or strong in ourselves, we are often least guarded against temptation. Satan is eager to exploit this perceived security.
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God's Allowance for Humility
Jesus allows His disciples to fall, not out of malice, but to humble them. Their impending failure is a stark reminder that their true strength and faithfulness don't come from within, but from God's power and presence, especially after His resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit.
Understand the original words
skandalizō · Greek Verb
To stumble, be offended, or fall into sin; metaphorically used of losing faith or turning away from allegiance to God or his appointed leader.
ro'eh · Hebrew Noun
The leader, protector, and guide of God's people; used of God as Israel's shepherd and Jesus as the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep.
tso'n · Hebrew Noun
A collective term for God's people, dependent upon the shepherd for guidance, protection, and provision.
diaskorpizō · Greek Verb
The process of being physically or spiritually dispersed, often occurring when the protecting authority is removed or removed by judgment.
Jesus' words draw directly from Zechariah's prophecy, which was understood in light of previous national exiles. He uses this ancient imagery to predict his own suffering and the disciples' temporary abandonment, framing his impending death not just as a personal tragedy, but as a divinely ordained event with profound, scattering consequences for his followers.
c. 722 BC
Assyrian Deportations Begin
The Neo-Assyrian Empire begins large-scale deportations of conquered peoples, a policy that would profoundly impact Israel and Judah, scattering populations and reshaping identities.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
Babylon conquers Judah, destroys Jerusalem and the Temple, and exiles a significant portion of the population. This event deeply scarred Jewish identity and theology, leading to intense reflection on God's judgment and faithfulness.
c. 500 BC
Zechariah's Prophecies Circulate
The prophecies of Zechariah, including the passage about striking the shepherd and scattering the sheep, are being read and interpreted by the Jewish people, shaping their messianic expectations.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
Jesus enters Jerusalem as the crowds hail him as king, a moment that sharpens the religious and political tensions leading to his arrest.
Night of Jesus' Arrest— this verse
The Last Supper and Prediction of Betrayal
Jesus shares his final meal with his disciples, sharing bread and wine as symbols of his body and blood, and foretells his impending betrayal and the disciples' imminent scattering.
Night of Jesus' Arrest
Jesus' Arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane
Judas leads temple guards to arrest Jesus in the garden. In the ensuing chaos, Jesus' disciples flee, fulfilling his prophecy.
Early Hours Before Dawn
Peter Denies Jesus
Despite his earlier bold promises, Peter denies knowing Jesus three times before the rooster crows, fulfilling Jesus' specific prediction.
This is the direct Old Testament prophecy Jesus quotes, showing the divine foreknowledge and planning behind His suffering and the disciples' scattering.
Mark 14:27-31This passage from Mark presents the same event, highlighting Peter's confident denial and Jesus's clear prediction, adding another perspective to the disciples' impending failure.
Luke 22:31-34Luke's account uniquely emphasizes Satan's role in 'sifting' the disciples, showing the spiritual warfare behind their moments of weakness and Jesus's prayer for Peter's faith.
John 16:32Jesus tells His disciples here that they will be scattered, each going to his own home and leaving Him alone, reinforcing the theme of abandonment present in Matthew 26:31.
1 Peter 5:8Peter, who himself fell and was restored, later warns believers to be alert because their enemy, the devil, prowls like a roaring lion, echoing the spiritual dangers Jesus foresaw for the disciples.
henryMatthew 26:31-35: "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."
26:31-35 Improper self-confidence, like that of Peter, is the first step to a fall. There is a proneness in all of us to be over-confident. But those fall soonest and foulest, who are the most confident in themselves. Those are least safe, who think themselves most secure. Satan is active to lead su…
barnesMatthew 26:31: "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."
Jesus foretells the fall of Peter - This is also recorded in Mark 14:27-31 ; Luke 22:31-34 ; John 13:34-38 . Matthew 26:31 Then saith Jesus unto them - The occasion of his saying this was Peter's bold affirmation that he was ready to die with him, John 13:36 Jesus had told them that he was going away -…
Jesus isn't just predicting a future event; he's framing his own impending suffering within ancient prophecy, specifically Zechariah 13:7. He's showing that his arrest and the disciples' subsequent scattering are not random tragedies but a divine plan where God himself initiates the "striking" of the Shepherd. This highlights that even in apparent abandonment, Jesus is fulfilling a prophetic purpose ordained by God.
As Jesus and his disciples walk together after the Last Supper, Jesus drops a bombshell: they will all abandon him that very night. He immediately quotes an Old Testament prophecy from Zechariah, likening himself to a shepherd who will be struck, causing the flock of his followers to scatter in fear. This dire prediction comes just before Jesus withdraws to pray alone in the Garden of Gethsemane, where his arrest will soon follow.
As Jesus and his disciples walk together after the Last Supper, Jesus drops a bombshell: they will all abandon him that very night. He immediately quotes an Old Testament prophecy from Zechariah, likening himself to a shepherd who will be struck, causing the flock of his followers to scatter in fear. This dire prediction comes just before Jesus withdraws to pray alone in the Garden of Gethsemane, where his arrest will soon follow.
"Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’" — Jesus isn't just predicting a future event; he's framing his own impending suffering within ancient prophecy, specifically Zechariah 13:7. He's showing that his arrest and the disciples' subsequent s…
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Last reviewed October 2026