Question 1

What does Jesus mean by all ye shall be offended because of me this night?

Accepted Answer

When Jesus says, “All ye shall be offended because of me this night,” He is warning the disciples that they will stumble and fall away from Him when they see His arrest and suffering. They will be shocked, afraid, and confused, and instead of standing with Him, they will run. This does not mean they stop loving Him forever, but that in that dark hour their faith will be shaken and they will act out of fear. Jesus says this ahead of time so they will later understand their failure did not surprise Him.

Question 2

What is the meaning of I will smite the shepherd and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered?

Accepted Answer

The words about smiting the shepherd and the sheep being scattered come from an older prophecy that Jesus applies to Himself. He is the shepherd, and His suffering and death are like the shepherd being struck. When that happens, His followers, the sheep, are scattered in fear. For a time it looks like everything has fallen apart. But this scattering is not the end of the story. God still calls them His sheep, and He will gather them again. So the verse shows both the deep shock of Jesus’ death and the quiet promise of later restoration.

Question 3

Why does Jesus promise to go before the disciples into Galilee after He is risen?

Accepted Answer

Jesus adds a gentle promise right after warning them: “But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.” He is saying that their failure that night will not be the end of their relationship with Him. After His resurrection, He Himself will take the lead again like a shepherd, meeting them back in Galilee, where much of their time with Him had begun. This shows His grace. They will leave Him in fear, but He will not leave them. He plans their reunion in advance, treating them as still His own.

Question 4

Why did Peter insist he would never deny Jesus?

Accepted Answer

Peter truly loved Jesus and could not imagine turning away from Him. When he hears that all will stumble, he reacts strongly, saying he will never be offended by Jesus, even if everyone else falls away. Later he even says he would die with Jesus rather than deny Him. His mistake is not his love, but his confidence in himself. He does not really know how weak he will be when fear and danger come. This shows how easy it is to promise big things for God without seeing our own limits or our need to depend on His help.

Question 5

What is the significance of Jesus telling Peter he will deny Him three times before the cock crow?

Accepted Answer

Jesus gives Peter a very specific warning: that before the rooster crows, Peter will deny Him three times. This shows that Jesus knows Peter’s heart and the coming events better than Peter knows himself. The threefold denial is the exact opposite of Peter’s bold threefold tone of “never,” “though all,” and “though I should die.” It also makes Peter’s later repentance deeper, because he will see that every part of this was known by Jesus ahead of time. The warning is meant both to humble Peter and, later, to keep him from total despair.

Question 6

Why did all the disciples say they would not deny Jesus?

Accepted Answer

After Peter speaks, the other disciples say the same kind of thing, that they will not deny Jesus even if it means death. They know it would be shameful to abandon their Master, and with strong feelings they promise to stand firm. But like Peter, they do not yet grasp their own weakness or how fierce the coming trial will be. Their words show honest desire, but also a kind of careless confidence. Their later flight and fear show how easily we can overestimate ourselves when we do not watch, pray, and lean on God’s strength rather than our own.

Question 7

What does this passage teach about human weakness and self-confidence?

Accepted Answer

This passage lays human weakness bare. The disciples think they are ready for anything, and Peter is sure he is stronger than the rest. Jesus’ words show how wrong that self-confidence is. In the pressure of that night, they will run, and Peter will deny even knowing Jesus. The lesson is not that love for Christ is fake, but that love alone, without relying on God’s grace, cannot stand in every test. It warns us against pride and invites us to be honest about our weakness, staying humble and prayerful instead of trusting our own hearts.

Question 8

How can this passage about Peter’s denial warning apply to my life today?

Accepted Answer

This passage speaks to anyone who feels strong in their faith. Like Peter, we may think, “I would never do that,” when we hear of someone else’s failure. Jesus’ words remind us that we do not know how we will act under pressure, and that we always need God’s help. A wise response is to take temptation seriously, pray for strength, and avoid boasting about how faithful we will be. At the same time, Jesus’ promise to meet His disciples again shows that when we do fall, we can turn back, because He is ready to restore, not throw away, the weak.

Question 9

What does this passage show about Jesus’ care for His disciples?

Accepted Answer

Even as Jesus walks toward His own suffering, He is thinking about His disciples. He warns them that they will fall away so they are not shocked later. He reminds them that their scattering was spoken of long before, so they will not think God’s plan has failed. Then He promises to go before them into Galilee after He rises, planning their restoration ahead of time. He is not coldly telling them, “You will fail,” but kindly saying, “You will fail, but I already plan to bring you back.” This shows His patience, mercy, and steady care for weak followers.

Matthew 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 Predicts Peter’s Denial

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Matthew 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.

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Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

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