Matthew 26 56

Matthew 26:56 kjv

But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.

Matthew 26:56 nkjv

But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.

Matthew 26:56 niv

But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

Matthew 26:56 esv

But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples left him and fled.

Matthew 26:56 nlt

But this is all happening to fulfill the words of the prophets as recorded in the Scriptures." At that point, all the disciples deserted him and fled.

Matthew 26 verses

Matthew 26 56 Meaning

Matthew 26:56 signifies that the betrayal, arrest, and abandonment of Jesus, while seemingly a triumph of evil and a failure of human loyalty, were in fact preordained steps meticulously laid out in the prophetic scriptures of the Old Testament. These events were necessary fulfillments of God's divine plan, showcasing His sovereign control even amidst profound human weakness and sin. The immediate consequence of Jesus's arrest was the scattering of all His disciples, validating prophecies about the shepherd being struck and the sheep being dispersed.

Matthew 26 56 Context

Matthew 26:56 concludes the narrative of Jesus's arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. Immediately preceding this verse, Jesus has just healed the ear of the high priest's servant, cut off by Peter's impulsive sword, and declared that He could call twelve legions of angels to His aid. However, Jesus then poses the rhetorical question, "How then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?" This verse answers that question directly: the lack of resistance, the arrest itself, and the subsequent flight of His disciples, were all precisely to bring about the fulfillment of the ancient prophecies concerning the Messiah's suffering, rejection, and vicarious atonement. It follows Jesus's deeply spiritual agony in Gethsemane, where He fully submitted to the Father's will ("not my will, but thine, be done"). The historical context highlights the Jewish expectations of a conquering Messiah who would overthrow Roman rule, a vision fundamentally contradicted by Jesus's meek submission and the apparent failure symbolized by His arrest and abandonment. This divergence between Messianic expectations and the actual events served as a significant polemic against the prevalent zealotic and nationalistic interpretations of prophecy, emphasizing that God's plan revolved around suffering and redemption rather than immediate political power.

Matthew 26 56 Word analysis

• But (Greek: δέ - de): Functions as a strong contrast, signaling a shift in emphasis from Peter's action or Jesus's ability to resist to the underlying divine purpose.
• all this (Greek: τοῦτο ὅλον - touto holon): Refers comprehensively to the entire preceding sequence of events in the arrest – Jesus's non-resistance, His not calling legions of angels, and the willingness to be led away captive. It indicates a complete surrender to the divine plan.
• was done (Greek: γέγονεν - gegonen): Perfect tense of γίνομαι (ginomai), meaning "to come into being," "to happen," or "to be done." It signifies that these events did not occur by chance or by human initiative alone, but were completed or had happened according to a predetermined arrangement, indicating a past completed action with present results. It implies divine orchestration, that this had to happen in this way.
• that (Greek: ἵνα - hina): Introduces a purpose clause, indicating the divine intention and telos (goal/aim) behind all the events leading up to and including the arrest. It confirms that everything was designed to achieve a specific, predetermined end.
• the scriptures (Greek: αἱ γραφαί - hai graphai): Refers specifically to the writings of the Old Testament, which were revered as God's inspired Word. It underlines the authority and reliability of prophecy, affirming that what was written millennia ago was now precisely coming to pass.
• of the prophets (Greek: τῶν προφητῶν - tōn prophētōn): Designates the specific section of the Old Testament dedicated to prophetic utterances, further emphasizing the accuracy and detailed nature of the foretold events. This highlights God's pre-knowledge and purposeful governance of history.
• might be fulfilled (Greek: πληρωθῶσιν - plērōthōsin): Aorist passive subjunctive of πληρόω (plēroō), meaning "to fill," "to complete," "to accomplish." The passive voice implies that God is the agent who fulfills or brings to completion the prophecies. The subjunctive indicates purpose or result, that this completion was the precise intention behind "all this."
• Then (Greek: τότε - tote): Marks a temporal and logical consequence; what follows is a direct result or immediate reaction to Jesus's arrest and His emphasis on prophecy.
• all (Greek: πάντες - pantes): An emphatic quantifier. It signifies the complete totality, emphasizing that not a single disciple remained by Jesus's side. This total abandonment underscores the reality of human fear and weakness under pressure.
• the disciples (Greek: οἱ μαθηταί - hoi mathētai): Refers to Jesus's chosen followers, the twelve (minus Judas) and perhaps other close adherents. These were individuals who had spent years learning from and proclaiming Jesus, yet their commitment faltered under extreme duress.
• forsook him (Greek: ἀφέντες αὐτόν - aphentes auton): From ἀφίημι (aphiemi), meaning "to leave," "to let go," "to abandon." It conveys a definitive and conscious act of desertion. It is a powerful statement of abandonment at a moment of extreme vulnerability for Jesus.
• and fled (Greek: καὶ ἔφυγον - kai ephygon): From φεύγω (pheugō), meaning "to flee," "to run away," "to escape." It emphasizes the rapid, panic-stricken movement away from danger. This physical flight confirms the emotional and spiritual abandonment, leaving Jesus to face His accusers alone.

Words-group by Words-group analysis:

• "But all this was done, that the scriptures... might be fulfilled": This opening phrase underscores divine sovereignty over seemingly chaotic or tragic events. It asserts that Jesus's passion was not an accidental tragedy or an unexpected failure, but the very culmination of God's redemptive plan meticulously foretold. This theological framework explains the paradoxical reality of the Son of God being arrested and seemingly defeated.
• "Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled": This section vividly portrays human frailty and the harsh reality of fear overcoming loyalty. Despite their earlier bold declarations (e.g., Peter in Mt 26:33-35), when faced with the overwhelming power of the authorities and the apparent downfall of their leader, every single disciple deserted Jesus. This collective abandonment not only highlighted their immaturity in faith at that moment but also served as a fulfillment of specific prophecies (e.g., Zech 13:7) which Jesus himself had foretold just hours earlier. It serves as a stark reminder that even those closest to God can falter when their faith is truly tested, yet it also sets the stage for their eventual restoration and empowerment by the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 26 56 Bonus section

The immediate flight of the disciples, though a display of fear, can also be seen as an instance where Jesus implicitly protected them. John's Gospel (Jn 18:8-9) recounts Jesus asking the arresting party, "If therefore ye seek me, let these go their way," so that the saying might be fulfilled: "Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none." Their scattering ensured their immediate safety from the authorities, preserving them for their future mission after Jesus's resurrection and ascension. This short-term failure eventually led to long-term glorification as they would later preach the very Christ they had momentarily abandoned. The disciples' fear also serves as a stark example of a moment of scandal—when the messianic claims were tested by overwhelming force and human perception might have viewed it as total defeat. However, for God, it was precisely the planned pathway to ultimate victory.

Matthew 26 56 Commentary

Matthew 26:56 is a pivotal verse within the Passion narrative, serving as a powerful theological bridge connecting the immediate, unfolding human drama with God's eternal, predetermined will. Jesus's own statement, reiterated by the Gospel writer, confirms that His submission to arrest and suffering was not a weakness but an act of profound obedience and a deliberate fulfillment of prophetic Scripture. This removes any perception of Jesus as a failed Messiah, instead framing His arrest as the essential next step in God's redemptive plan.

The verse emphatically declares divine sovereignty: every element of the crisis, from the betrayal to the arrest itself, happened that the ancient prophecies might find their full expression. This emphasis on prophecy highlights the Old Testament's coherence with the New Testament and showcases God's unfailing commitment to His word. This divine necessity stands in stark contrast to the human response: the disciples, who had promised steadfast loyalty and even boasted of readiness to die with Jesus, utterly abandoned Him. Their flight, while a deeply painful moment for Jesus, also ironically fulfills His own previous warnings derived from Zech 13:7.

The verse presents a complex reality: God's perfect plan unfolding through imperfect human agents. The disciples' abandonment serves as a sobering reminder of human weakness and the testing nature of faith when confronted with overwhelming adversity. However, it also prepares the way for their subsequent restoration and the dramatic display of divine grace and power in the resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit, which would transform these fearful individuals into bold apostles. The verse thus captures a moment of supreme theological significance and profound human failure, all part of God's intricate design for salvation.