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Matthew 26

And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples,

Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.

Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,

And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him.

But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.

Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,

There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.

But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?

For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.

When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.

For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.

For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.

Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.

Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,

And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.

And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?

And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.

And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover.

Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.

And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?

And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.

The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.

Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;

For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

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.

But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.

Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.

Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.

Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.

And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.

Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.

And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.

And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.

Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.

And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.

And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.

And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear.

Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?

In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.

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

And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.

But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.

Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;

But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,

And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.

And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?

But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.

Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.

What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.

Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,

Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?

Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.

But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.

And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.

And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.

And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.

Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.

And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

What does Matthew 26:33 mean?

Explanation

The verse, Matthew 26:33, features a bold statement from the apostle Peter in response to Jesus' prediction of his disciples' desertion.

Peter declares his unwavering fidelity to Jesus, claiming he will not be like others who will be scandalized or cause to stumble ("offended") because of Jesus.

The deeper meaning here touches on themes of loyalty, faith, self-awareness, and human overconfidence.

Peter, in his declaration, shows a strong sense of personal commitment to Jesus, but also a lack of understanding of his own human limitations and the gravity of the impending events.

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Historical Context

Matthew 26:33 is set during the Last Supper, a Passover meal Jesus shared with his disciples shortly before his crucifixion.

This was a period of high tension as Jesus' ministry had aroused both large followings and significant opposition.

The statement by Peter is in direct response to Jesus' prophetic warning that all of his disciples would abandon him, as foretold in Zechariah 13:7.

This conversation would have taken place in the context of Jewish customs and beliefs, where loyalty to one's teacher and rabbi was of paramount importance.

Theological Insights

From different theological viewpoints, Peter's assertion can be discussed as follows:

Traditional Christian Theology: Peter's statement is seen as a genuine expression of his love and commitment to Jesus, but also as a cautionary example of overconfidence. His later denial of Jesus fulfills Jesus' prediction and serves as a lesson in humility and the necessity of God's grace.
Liberation Theology: May focus on the socio-political implications of the verse, seeing Peter's confidence as reflective of the human struggle for justice and standing with one's leader, even when faced with oppressive forces.
Feminist Theology: Could interpret the verse as a glimpse into the gendered dynamics of the time, with Peter's assertion embodying a typically masculine assertiveness that ultimately proves hollow when put to the test.

Practical Applications

Practically, this verse can teach:

Humility: Acknowledge one's limitations and the propensity to overestimate one's strength.
Dependence on God: Recognizes that in times of testing, reliance on divine help is crucial.
Self-Reflection: Encourages individuals to assess their own commitment and honesty about their capabilities and faith.

Cross-References

Matthew 26:34-35: Jesus tells Peter that he will deny him three times before the rooster crows, and Peter reiterates his commitment.
Mark 14:29: Peter says even if all are made to stumble, he will not.
John 13:37-38: Peter claims he will lay down his life for Jesus, and Jesus predicts Peter's denial.
Zechariah 13:7: A prophecy that Jesus quotes regarding the shepherd being struck and the sheep scattering.

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek text of Matthew 26:33 include:

"πασκανδαλισθήσεται" (pas - skalizothesetai): Translated as "shall be offended," this complex word derives from "skandalon," originally meaning "stumbling block." It indicates being caused to fall into sin or apostasy.
"οὐδέποτε" (oudepote): Meaning "never." It is an emphatic negation showing the strength of Peter's conviction.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In cultural and religious contexts, strong declarations of loyalty are common.

For example, in ancient epics like Homer's "The Odyssey," oaths of loyalty are considered sacred.

Similarly, in other religious traditions, such as Islam and Hinduism, disciples or followers often express intense devotion to their spiritual leaders.

These comparisons highlight a universal theme of adhering to one's convictions or leader, a theme also present in Matthew 26:33.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientifically, the verse can be examined through the psychological concept of "overconfidence bias," where a person's subjective confidence in their judgments is greater than the objective accuracy of those judgments.

This can help explain Peter's assurance in his loyalty despite Jesus' prediction.

commentaries

Expert commentaries on Matthew 26:33 reflect on Peter's impetuous nature:

William Barclay notes that Peter, full of emotional love for Jesus, could not envision a scenario where he would deny his Lord.
John Calvin suggests that Peter speaks rashly, not considering the weakness of his flesh.
Contemporary scholars like N.T.

Wright might view Peter's statement as reflecting a common theme throughout Scripture: human beings consistently overestimate their righteousness and strength.

Wright emphasizes the need for recognition of human weakness and reliance on divine grace.

Matthew 26

Matthew 26

What does Matthew 26:33 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?

What does Matthew 26:33 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?