Scripture Daily

Context No. 1085 of 4322 · Matthew

Context · Reflection

Matthew 26:67-75: in context

67Then they spat in his face and beat him with their fists, and some slapped him, 68saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who hit you?” 69Now Peter was sitting outside in the court, and a maid came to him, saying, “You were also with Jesus, the Galilean!” 70But he denied it before them all, saying, “I don’t know what you are talking about.” 71When he had gone out onto the porch, someone else saw him and said to those who were there, “This man also was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72Again he denied it with an oath, “I don’t know the man.” 73After a little while those who stood by came and said to Peter, “Surely you are also one of them, for your speech makes you known.” 74Then he began to curse and to swear, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately the rooster crowed. 75Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” Then he went out and wept bitterly.

Two scenes are told together. Inside, they spit in Jesus' face, strike him, and mock him: prophesy, Christ, who hit you? Outside, in the courtyard, Peter is warming himself when a servant girl recognizes him, you were with Jesus the Galilean. Peter denies it. A second challenge, a second denial with an oath. Then bystanders press him, your accent gives you away, and Peter begins to curse and swear, I do not know the man. At once the rooster crows, and Peter remembers Jesus' words, and goes out and weeps bitterly.

The two scenes indict each other. Inside, Jesus is being struck and mocked and stays silent, refusing to defend himself; outside, Peter is not even being struck, only questioned by a servant girl, and he crumbles, denying his Lord three times with increasing violence, cursing and swearing at the end. The contrast is the point: the Master faces death without flinching while the disciple cannot face a servant's question. And Peter's collapse is a warning to everyone who has ever been confident of their own loyalty; hours earlier he had sworn he would die before denying Jesus, and here a girl's remark undoes him. But the deepest note is the last one: the rooster crows, Peter remembers, and he weeps bitterly. He does not shrug it off or harden; the memory of Jesus' word breaks him, and he grieves. That bitter weeping is the beginning of his restoration, the difference between Peter and Judas, both of whom betrayed the Lord that night. Peter's tears are godly sorrow, and the risen Christ will seek him out and restore him. The denial is real and terrible, and it is not the end of his story.

When I fail and deny my Lord in some small courtyard, do I harden and shrug, or do I let the memory of his word break me into the bitter weeping that is the start of coming back?

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