John Calvin Commentary Matthew 26:56

"But all this is come to pass, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples left him, and fled." — Matthew 26:56 (ASV)

Now all this was done. The other two Evangelists express it somewhat differently. What Matthew relates in his own person, Mark appears to attribute to Christ. Luke employs even different words: this is your hour, and the power of darkness.

But the design of the Holy Spirit is, beyond all doubt, that whatever the contrivances of wicked men may be, nothing whatever has been done except by the will and providence of God. For as He had said a little before, God has testified nothing by the prophets except what He had determined with Himself (Luke 22:3).

First, therefore, we are here informed that whatever may be the unbridled rage by which Satan and all ungodly men are driven, the hand of God still always prevails, to draw them reluctantly wherever He pleases. Secondly, we are informed that though wicked men fulfill what was predicted in the Scriptures; yet, since God does not employ them as His lawful ministers but directs them by a secret movement to that which was farthest from their wish, they are not excusable. While God makes a righteous use of their malice, blame still attaches to them.

At the same time, let us observe that Christ said this in order to remove the offense, which would otherwise have greatly disturbed weak minds when they saw Him so reproached and outraged.

Still, Christ intended not only to benefit His disciples, but also to repress the pride of His adversaries, so that they might not triumph as if they had achieved victory. For this reason, in Luke’s narrative He says, this is your hour; by which He means that the Lord grants them this liberty for a short time.

The power of darkness denotes the power of the devil, and this term also had a strong tendency to abase their glory. For though they exalt themselves however much, Christ shows that they are still nothing more than the slaves of the devil.

While all things are mingled in confusion, and while the devil, by spreading darkness abroad, appears to overturn the whole order of the world, let us know that the providence of God shines above in heaven, to bring finally to order what is confused; and let us, therefore, learn to raise the eyes of faith to that calm sky.

Then all the disciples forsook Him, and fled. From this we may again infer how much more ready they were to fight rashly than to follow their Master.