TEXT [Commentary]

E. Prediction of the Disciples’ Desertion (26:31-35; cf. Mark 14:26-31; Luke 22:31-34; John 13:31-38)

31 On the way, Jesus told them, “Tonight all of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say,

‘God will strike[*] the Shepherd,

and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

32 But after I have been raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there.”

33 Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you.”

34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.”

35 “No!” Peter insisted. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the other disciples vowed the same.

NOTES

26:31 Tonight all of you will desert me. Cf. Mark 14:26-31; Luke 22:39-40a; John 13:31-38. “Desert” is perhaps a weak rendering of a term which means “to be caused to stumble” or “to be led into sin” (skandalisthēsesthe; 5:29; 11:6; 13:21, 57; 15:12; 18:6, 8; 24:10; cf. BDAG 926). The image is that the disciples will seriously stumble in their faith.

the Scriptures say. Jesus cited this dire prediction by quoting Zech 13:7, which describes the scattering of the sheep that results when the shepherd is struck (cf. 9:36).

26:32 after I have been raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there. As serious as this desertion would be, it was not final, since Jesus promised to meet the disciples in Galilee after he was raised from the dead (cf. 28:7, 10, 16). Perhaps the picture of Jesus going ahead of the disciples to Galilee is intended to cause the reader to picture a shepherd going ahead of his sheep (cf. John 10:4). The resurrection of Jesus, previously mentioned several times (12:40; 16:21; 17:23; 20:19; 27:63-64; 28:6), would be a turning point in that Jesus would then bring the disciples as wandering sheep back into the fold.

26:33 I will never desert you. Peter has not been heard from for some time (19:27), but at this point he speaks up and becomes a prominent character throughout the rest of the chapter. Peter denied that he would deny the Lord (26:35; cf. 26:75). Peter put this very strongly, believing that he would be the last person to sin by deserting Jesus. Even if all the other disciples fell away, Peter believed he would remain faithful.

26:34-35 you will deny three times that you even know me. When Jesus told Peter that he would deny Jesus not once, but three times before a rooster crowed, Peter adamantly reaffirmed what he has just said, adding that he would die before denying Jesus. Peter’s impetuous personality put him in the spotlight here (as in 14:28-31; 16:21-23), but in 26:35b it is added that all the disciples were saying the same thing Peter said.

COMMENTARY [Text]

This passage records another instance of Peter being against Jesus (cf. 16:22). Twice Jesus predicted Peter’s future behavior (26:31, 34), and twice Peter strongly objected (26:33, 35). Told that all the disciples will scatter and be met by Jesus in Galilee, Peter insisted that he would never desert Jesus even if everyone else did. Told that he would do worse than desert Jesus, he would deny him three times, Peter affirmed that he would die first. The ensuing narrative shows just how wrong Peter was on both counts. But Peter had been wrong before, and had nevertheless overcome his momentary failing (16:22). The resurrection of Jesus would be the event that turned grief into joy, defeat into victory, and desertion into renewed allegiance (26:32; 28:7, 10, 16-20). At this point Peter did not know himself well enough to acknowledge his propensity to desert and deny Jesus. He would learn this bitter lesson (26:75) and be restored to fellowship with Jesus and ministry for Jesus (cf. John 21:15ff). According to tradition, Peter did eventually die a martyr’s death rather than deny Jesus, though it was years after the crucifixion.