Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #14 Matthew 26:69-75 – Peter’s Denial

Matthew 26:69-75 – Peter’s Denial

|| Mark 14:66-72; Luke 22:55-62; John 18:16-18, 25-27

MT26:69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant girl approached him and asked, “Are you also with Jesus the Galilean?” MT26:70 But Peter denied this before all of them, saying, “I have no idea what you are talking about!” MT26:71 Now after having gone out into the entry another servant girl saw him and told the others, “This one was with Jesus the Nazarene!” MT26:72 And, again [the second time] Peter denied it with a sworn vow, “I have never known the person!” MT26:73 But a moment later when Peter approached those standing around, they said to Peter, “For sure you are from among them for your accent[1] betrays you!” MT26:74 At this Peter started using profanity and cursing,[2] “I never knew the person!” And instantly the roaster crowed. MT26:75 So it was now Peter remembered what Jesus had told him, “Before the rooster crows you will deny me three times.” With that Peter went outside weeping bitterly.[3]

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[1] Your accent: Or, ASV: thy speech maketh thee known; NEB: your accent gives you away; BECK: anyone can tell by the way you talk. Compare this matter of the dialect or accent at Acts 2:7.

[2] Profanity and cursing: Or, RSV: to invoke a curse on himself and to swear; GDSP: to swear with the strongest oaths.

[3] Weeping bitterly: Our hearts, though shocked by his failure at this moment of test, go out to Peter, for we can only wonder how we would have responded. Fear of what others think is one of the Devil’s greatest tools. Remember, Peter had also failed to remain awake in prayer to avoid future temptations. We can trace his denial back to his lack of prayer.

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Preceding

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #1 Matthew 26:1-2 – Two Days Before Execution

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #2 Matthew 26:3-5 – Plotting to Seize Jesus

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #3 Matthew 26:6-13 – A Woman to Be Remembered

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #4 Matthew 26:14-16 – The Price of Betrayal

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #5 Matthew 26:17-19 – Passover Preparations

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #6 Matthew 26:20-25 – The Last Passover

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #7 Matthew 26:26-30 – Keep Doing This in My Memory

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #8 Matthew 26:31-35 – How All Will Be Stumbled This Night

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #9 Matthew 26:36-39 – Garden Prayer

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #10 Matthew 26:40-47 – Two More Prayers for the Cup to Pass

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #11 Matthew 26:48-56 – Betrayal by Judas and Arrest of Jesus

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #12 Matthew 26:57-58 – To Caiaphas

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #13 Matthew 26:59-68 – False Witnesses and the Charge of Blasphemy