“But all this is come about, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him, and fled.'
But it was not to be seen as too surprising, for it was necessary in order that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. We must see from the description ‘prophets' all from Abraham onwards, and thus including the Books of Moses, and the Psalms of David. These had all spoken of man' dastardly behaviour towards the true people of God, and especially to the unique One Whom He would send, not only in Daniel 7 but all through the Scriptures. It matter little whether we see this as written by Matthew or as spoken by Jesus, for it only repeats what Jesus has said in Matthew 26:54.
‘Then all the disciples left Him, and fled.' They had still been hovering there courageously, but in the end it was all too much for them. Jesus was clearly resigned to His fate, and it appeared to leave them with little to do, and with Jesus bound and taken it seemed to be the wisest course. Perhaps also, with Jesus securely bound, eyes were also beginning to look around for other victims. To hang around would have been folly.