http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 1 Peter Denies the Lord Three Times Matthew 26:58, 69-75 Mark 14:54, 66-72 Luke 22:55-62 John 18:15-18, 25-27
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 2 Texts: Matthew 26:58, 69-75, Peter Denies The Lord Three Times 58. But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest s palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end. 69. Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. 70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. 71. And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. 72. And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. 73. And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech betrayeth thee. 74. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. 75. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice, And he went out, and wept bitterly. Mark 14:54, 66-72, 54. And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest: and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire. 66. And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest: 67. And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth. 68. But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 3 69. And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them. 70. And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilean, and thy speech agreeth thereto. 71. But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak. 72. And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept. Luke 22:55-62, 55. And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. 56. But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him. 57. And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. 58. And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. 59. And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilean. 60. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spoke, the cock crew. 61. And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. 62. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly. John 18:15-18, 25-27, 15. And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 4 16. But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spoke unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter. 17. Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man s disciples? He saith, I am not. 18. And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself. 25. And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not. 26. One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him? 27. Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew. Commentary: I. As Jesus was being led away to Caiaphas, the high priest, Peter followed Jesus at a distance, afar off. A. The other disciple, John, went right on in to where Jesus was being tried. 1. John never wavered in his devotion and faithfulness to Jesus. 2. John stayed close to the Lord! B. Peter followed at a distance, afar off. He denied the Lord. C. It behooves us to stay close to our Lord! II. The other disciple, John, was known to the high priest and was able to enter with Jesus into the court of the high priest. A. The court was a part of the official residence of the high priest.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 5 B. The usual meeting place of the Sanhedrin was just off the court of women in the temple enclosure. C. John took his stand with Jesus. 1. He made no effort to conceal his discipleship. D. John was not tempted to deny Jesus. 1. He bravely made known his allegiance to Jesus Christ. III. Peter was not known to the high priest and initially was stopped at the outside door and left standing there. A. John went out and spoke to the doorkeeper who permitted Peter to enter the courtyard. B. Perhaps the first maid to question Peter saw the interaction of John and Peter. Note: The Bible does not state how John happened to be known and favorably regarded by the High Priest. We are only left to wonder. IV. Peter followed Jesus as far as the courtyard of the high priest, right into the courtyard of the high priest. V. Peter entered the courtyard of the high priest and sat down with the slaves and officers to see what would happen, the outcome. A. Another possible reason for Peter s denials was that he placed himself in the company of Jesus enemies. B. We must remember that evil companionships corrupt good morals! VI. Peter sat there warming himself by the officers charcoal fire, for it was cold, the fire that they had kindled in the middle of the courtyard. A. All gathered were warming themselves by the charcoal fire, some standing, some sitting.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 6 B. At various times they stood and at other times they sat. C. Peter found himself in the midst of the Lord s enemies and soon was influenced by them to deny his Lord. D. We must not warm ourselves by the devil s fire. VII. While Peter was sitting outside of the Sanhedrin s meeting place in the courtyard a maid servant girl of the high priest as he sat in the firelight, looked intently at him, came to him and said, You too were with Jesus the Galilean. This man was with him too. A. This servant-girl, slave-girl was the doorkeeper, kept the door, who evidently had admitted Jesus to the courtyard. B. All four biographers of Christ (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) tell of Peter s denial. C. The word too means you and John are both Jesus disciples. D. All four biographers told things objectively as they occurred. 1. They did not try to cover up Peter s sin. E. Peter s denials were reported factually with no emotional recriminations against or justifications for Peter s conduct. F. Peter was certainly bewildered by all that was happening. 1. Perhaps Jesus rebuke when he cut off Malchus ear may have deeply hurt Peter s feelings. 2. If Peter had been left to fight in the Garden he would have fought to his death. 3. Afterward he was deeply confused, weak! 4. Satan hit him hard when he was most vulnerable. 5. Remember, the devil as a roaring lion walks about seeking whom he may devour.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 7 6. Peter s denials were for nothing. a. John made it clear that he was Jesus disciples and nothing bad befell him. b. So it would have been with Peter if he had acknowledged his discipleship. 7. The exception to this rule was that Peter had assaulted Malchus, a servant of the High priest, which may have made him subject to arrest. a. However, Jesus had healed Malchus injury. VIII. Peter denied before all those gathered in the courtyard. IX. Peter said to the servant-girl, Woman, I do not know nor understand what you are talking about. A. Could Peter have thought the authorities were going to arrest him for attacking Malchus? B. Is this a reason Peter wanted to remain incognito? C. Peter had suffered monumental shock already that night. D. However, the Gospel writers made no excuse for Peter s actions, denials. E. Peter was not being interrogated by authorities but simply by the bystanders. X. When Peter had gone to the gateway, porch another (servant-girl) saw him and said to those who were there, This man was with Jesus of Nazareth. This is one of them! A. Once on the porch Peter heard the cock, rooster crow. B. Another asked Peter, You are not also one of his disciples, are you?
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 8 C. One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of Malchus whose ear Peter had cut off, said, Did I not see you in the garden with him? Here was an eyewitness! Note: It appears that many joined in the chorus accusing Peter of being a disciple of Jesus. D. Peter evidently went out to the porch to avoid the pressures from the first servant-girl. E. Going to the porch did not solve his problem because others began to question him as well. F. Running from Jesus enemies and denying our Lord will not solve our problems either. XI. Again Peter denied with an oath he had been with Jesus, I do not know the man. Man, I am not! A. Peter began to curse and to swear, to emphatically deny his association with Jesus. B. When you have no other answer, get mad, curse and swear, throw a fit!... at least this is what Peter appears to have done. C. Peter had been questioned by a maid, another maid, they and a relative of Malchus whose ear Peter had cut off. D. Peter had two choices, confess his discipleship or bluster. He made a very bad mistake and chose the latter course of action. XII. A little later, about an hour later bystanders, another man came up and said to Peter, Surely you too are one of them;... Certainly this man also was with him... XIII. for even the way you talk gives you away.... you are a Galilean too.... thy speech maketh thee known.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 9 A. Just as a southern dialect would be clearly recognized in New York City and vice versa, the dialect of a Galilean fisherman was clearly recognized in Jerusalem. XIV. Peter then began to curse and swear, I do not know the man!... nor what you are talking about. A. At first Peter simply denied Jesus hoping to wiggle out of his perceived predicament. B. Now his denials have progressed to include cursing and swearing! 1. Sin grows! C. After all, whether he was really Jesus disciple was none of the slave-girl s business, Peter may have thought. 1. We rationalize our sins! D. Sir Walter Scott wrote, Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive. XV. Immediately while he yet spoke a rooster crowed a second time. A. The rooster sounded the alarm causing Peter to begin his return to the Lord s faithful service. B. Peter had denied the Lord at least three times. C. Later Jesus insisted he confess his love for Jesus three times. D. John 21:15-17, So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 10 he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. Note: The cock crow was a division of time, marking the close of the third watch, about three o clock in the morning. (Coffman, Luke, p. 436) XVI. The Lord turned and looked at Peter. XVII. Peter then remembered the word which Jesus had said, Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times. A. Morning was coming and the rooster crowed. B. Too bad Peter didn t remember this earlier in time for him to prevent the denials. XVIII. Peter went out and wept bitterly because of his having denied his Lord. A. Peter never again denied his Lord. B. John 21:18, 19, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walked whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spoke he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. C. We can all identify with impetuous very human Peter! D. Peter deeply and sincerely repented! E. All who deny the Lord find themselves in the gall of bitterness like Peter (sooner or later)!
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 11 Peter Denies the Lord Three Times Questions 1. As was being led away to, the, followed Jesus at a,. 2. Peter followed Jesus afar off. What troubles befall people who follow Jesus afar off? 3. People placed himself among the enemies of Jesus and warmed himself at their fires. What spiritual problems would doing this make for you? 4. Tell of the circumstances leading to Peter s denials. What made him curse? Had he not cursed for over three years?
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 12 5. When Peter came to himself what did he do to show his repentance?