But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
Parallel translations
- WEB How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must be so?”
- BSB But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?”
- NKJV How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?”
- NASB How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?”
- NLT But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus asks how the Scriptures would be fulfilled if He resisted. He submits to arrest in order to fulfill God's revealed plan.
Overview
Jesus explains that His suffering is the fulfillment of Scripture and therefore must happen as appointed. His commitment to the written word governs even His response to betrayal and arrest. The verse shows that the cross is not a tragic accident but the deliberate accomplishment of God's prophetic plan of redemption.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Zech 13:7Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.
- Matt 26:24The 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.
- Luke 24:25–26Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
- Acts 1:16Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
- Isa 53:1–12Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
- John 10:35If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
- Ps 22:1–31My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
- Luke 24:44–46And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
- Ps 69:1–36Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul.
- Dan 9:24–26Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 26:54 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.