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Explanation for:
Matthew
26
:
70
But he denied before them all, saying: I know not what thou sayest.
13
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"An extraordinary and unforeseen occurrence! When Peter witnessed the Master being arrested, he was so consumed with zeal that he took up a sword and severed the ear of the servant. Yet, in a moment when he should have been filled with righteous anger at the insults hurled, he instead denies his association with Christ! Who among us would not feel a surge of fury at the injustices unfolding at that moment? Nevertheless, the disciple, paralyzed by fear, not only fails to express any outrage but also disowns his Lord, cowering before the threats posed by a mere servant girl. And this happens not just once but twice and even a third time; all the while, he remains in the courtyard, answering the maid's inquiries as he exits through the gate."},{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"An unusual and unforeseen event! When Peter observed the Lord being arrested, he became so agitated that he drew a sword and severed the ear of one present; however, instead of expressing greater outrage upon hearing such insults, he chose to deny his association. Who, indeed, could remain unperturbed in such a situation? Yet, this disciple, paralyzed by fear, not only failed to show any indignation but also denied the truth before a simple and powerless servant girl. And it wasn't just once; he renounced it another two times. This all took place swiftly, not in a court of law but in the courtyard, where the maid questioned him as he exited through the gate. Remarkably, he did not immediately recognize his own failure. Luke recounts that Jesus turned and looked at him, Lk. 22:61, indicating that, not only did he deny knowing Christ, but that even in the moment when the rooster crowed, he did not recall his actions unless reminded by the Teacher. It was this gaze that awakened him to the truth. Fear overwhelmed him! Mark informs us that the rooster crowed when Peter denied Christ for the first time, and then again after the third denial, Mark 14:68-72, thereby providing a clearer account of the disciple's weakness and his bewilderment due to terror; and it is noted that Mark learned this from Peter himself, as he was his companion. Thus, it is even more remarkable that he not only did not mask the failure of his teacher but instead elucidated it more than others, for he was a follower. It raises questions regarding the accuracy of Matthew's assertion, as he reports that Jesus declared, ‘Truly I say to you that this night, before the cock crows, you will deny Me three times,’ Matthew 26:34, while Mark, discussing the tripartite denial, notes that the rooster crowed a second time, Mark 14:72. There is no inconsistency here. It is common for a rooster to crow multiple times in succession; hence, Mark’s mention was intended to illustrate that even the crowing could not prevent Peter’s fall nor remind him of his pledge. Both accounts hold truth. Even before the rooster completed its first crowing, Peter had denied his Lord three times. And when Jesus brought his sin to light, he could not weep openly for fear of accusation but left to weep bitterly."},{"author-name":"Ambrose of Milan","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88871ceef8c96e0998cd0_Ambrose%20of%20Milan.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Peter's treacherous denial serves as a testament we must acknowledge, for the Lord forewarned, “Thou shalt deny Me thrice” (Matt. 26:34). I find it easier to accept that Peter faltered rather than conclude that the Lord erred. But what exactly did he proclaim as false? In his impulsive vow, Peter relied on his faithfulness, overlooking the frailties of human nature. He paid dearly for his hasty commitment to lay down his life (see Jn. 13:37). This was no mere human shortcoming; it was a matter of divine command. If Peter suffered so profoundly for his reckless pledge, what then will be the consequence for those who do not believe?\\n\\nWhere did Peter's denial occur? Not on the mountain, nor within the temple, nor in the familiarity of his own home, but in the Jewish praetorium, within the court of the high priest. He renounced his allegiance in a place devoid of truth, at a moment when Christ was seized and bound. How could he stand firm against temptation when the gatekeeper admitted him and posed questions? Eve's influence led Adam astray, just as this woman led Peter into peril! Adam fell in paradise, a realm where sin cannot be rectified, while Peter stumbled in the Jewish courtyard, a place devoid of purity. Adam was commanded not to eat, while Peter was foretold to repudiate. The disobedience of the former affected the latter, yet the latter’s fall ultimately paved the way for the former’s redemption.\\n\\nConsider the circumstances under which his denial occurred. It was cold (John 18:18). Given the season, one might question the chill, yet it was indeed frigid in the absence of recognition for Christ, where no one perceived the light, where all disregarded the all-consuming Fire (Deut. 4:24; Heb. 12:29). The coolness was within the soul, not the body. Peter stood next to the smoke of the fire, reflecting the chill in his heart. The fire of the Jews is harmful; it burns but fails to provide warmth, enveloping even the souls of the faithful in the soot of error. In this moment, it wasn't the fleshly eyes of Peter that were darkened, but his inner vision, the eyes of the soul through which he beheld Christ.\\n\\nThey may ask, “Are not the elements at fault alongside the Jews?” The elements carry no blame; nor do they belong solely to the Jews. My condemnation lies with the flame of disbelief, which stands apart. I denounce the Jewish flame in light of the divine prophecy: “Your silver is rejected” (Jer. 6:30). If the silver of the Jews is deemed worthless, then the fire that refines that silver must also be cast aside. Moreover, in their hands, they melted the gold to create the head of the calf (see Ex. 32:3-6, 24), the very emblem and origin of all iniquity.\\n\\nNext, we must reflect on the nature of Peter's renunciation. It is conveyed through various narratives. The enormity of Peter's sin was so astonishing that even the Gospel writers strain to capture its essence. As per Matthew, when the servant girl recognized Peter as one who had been with Jesus the Galilean, he replied, “I do not know what you are talking about” (Matthew 26:70). Mark, being a disciple of Peter and privy to his words, recounted a similar event, though Matthew's account of the first denial seems more an effort to deflect the woman's inquiry.\\n\\nTake note of Peter's specific denial. He disclaims that he is one of those who accompanied Jesus the Galilean (Matt. 26:69), or, in Mark's words, the Nazarene (Mark 14:67). Did he truly deny being in the company of the Son of God? It appears he was asserting, “I do not know Him as a Galilean; I do not know Him as a Nazarene; I recognize Him as the Son of God.” Place names define individuals, yet the Son of God transcends earthly origins and cannot be confined to a geographical label. I offer another illustration for clarity. When the Lord inquired of His disciples, “For whom do people honor Me, the Son of Man?” (Matthew 16:13), various answers emerged: some named Elijah, others Jeremiah or one of the prophets, but Peter proclaimed, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). Is there a denial in recognizing that Christ is not merely the Son of Man but the Son of God? Can we question what Christ Himself has asserted? Let us proceed."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"Observe how the individual who had previously exhibited such great pride was now filled with fear in the presence of a vulnerable servant girl, having been abandoned by the favor of the Lord."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"Overcome by overwhelming fear, Peter abandoned his vows and yielded to human frailty, appearing as though paralyzed by terror and unaware of his own words. Yet you should grasp from my perspective, in a profound manner, that Peter is accused by a servant, representing human weakness—something lowly and characteristic of servants; he remained in this state of accusation until the rooster crowed, awakening his awareness."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Peter not only refuted being a follower of Jesus Christ but also claimed ignorance of Him, even seeming confused by the inquiry of the maid. This was a falsehood, and Peter recognized that he was not being truthful."},{"author-name":"Philaret (Gumilevski)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c896f4b6fd32caa244b5d7_Philaret%20(Gumilevski).png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Peter was unsettled by the woman's inquisitiveness, as he sought to remain unrecognized. Referring to Jesus as “Jesus the Nazarene,” a title used by His skeptics and adversaries, the gatekeeper only deepened Peter's confusion. \\"I do not understand; I do not know what you are saying,\\" Peter replied to her probing (Luke 22:57). How could it be that Peter, once so bold against powerful foes and insistent on his willingness to lay down his life for Christ, now chose to deny Him in front of a woman? The events in the Garden of Gethsemane had instilled a sense of fear in Simon's heart. The woman's inquiry heightened his bewilderment and trepidation, causing him to forget all that had occurred before, including the Lord's admonitions—culminating in his outright refusal of Jesus. Overwhelmed by his inner turmoil, he retreated to the courtyard, seeking distance from the dangers imagined by his fearful mind. The rooster crowed—a midnight herald—but Peter remained oblivious to both his own actions and the significance of the rooster's call. This was Peter's conduct in the courtyard of Ananus."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"He replied, \\"I don’t know, and I’m uncertain about what you are saying.\\" Feeling ashamed by both the inquiry and his response, Peter exited the inner courtyard and moved into the outer courtyard, possibly seeking to be less noticeable. At that instant, the first crowing of the rooster, the herald of the night, was heard; yet Peter either did not hear it or disregarded this admonition predicted by the Lord. In the meantime, the prophecy of the Lord was on the verge of being realized."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Peter, feeling perplexed, remarked, “I do not comprehend what you are saying” (Mark 14:68). With these words, he stood up and exited to the courtyard; as he neared the entrance, a rooster crowed. The prophecy Jesus made regarding Peter’s denial is recorded by all the Gospel writers, yet Matthew, Luke, and John do not mention how many times the rooster crowed during Peter's three denials of Christ. In contrast, Mark, who crafted his Gospel based on Peter's testimony and was therefore well-versed in the details of this sorrowful occurrence, conveys Jesus’ prediction in this manner: “Verily I say unto thee, that now, this night, before the cock crows twice, thou shalt deny me three times” (Mk. 14:30). Thus, in Mark’s account of Peter’s denial, he includes the significant detail that after the first denial in Caiaphas' courtyard, the rooster crowed for the first time, and after the third denial, the second crowing occurred. Evidently, such a crucial detail was not lost on Peter."},{"author-name":"Lopuchin A.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c891400ee1341634d2276d_Lopuchin%20A.P..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"In the midst of the throng, a young servant girl spotted the unfamiliar man and abruptly inquired, \\"Were you not also one of the disciples of Jesus from Galilee?\\" The unexpected nature of this question caught Peter off guard, leaving him no moment to reflect on his predicament. Thus, he responded with a gloomy and unwilling, \\"I do not know what you are talking about.\\""},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The servant girl, taken aback by Peter's request to enter the courtyard where Jesus was being held, opened the entrance and inquired, \\"Are you a follower of this man too?\\" Peter replied, \\"I am not.\\" Steadfast and determined as always, this chosen apostle was unaware that his brief response marked the onset of the significant downfall he had been warned about just moments earlier."},{"author-name":"Bogolepow D.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Regarding the account of Peter’s denial, the Gospel of John adds details to the story provided by the first Hebrews, noting that Peter was not alone in following Jesus from Gethsemane but was accompanied by ‘another disciple,’ which facilitated Peter’s access to the high priest’s courtyard. Additionally, the first three Gospels, while not strictly adhering to a chronological order of events, aim to present both the trial of Christ and Peter’s fall distinctly. They either tackle the trial first and then focus solely on Peter’s denial (as seen in Matthew and Mark), or the reverse (as Luke does). In contrast, the Gospel of John attempts to clarify the temporal connection between the two events. It indicates that Peter’s initial denial occurred while Christ was still in Annas’ residence during the first session of the trial, whereas the second and third denials happened during the subsequent session at Caiaphas’ house. It is implied that the location of Christ’s trial consisted of various sections. This is particularly evident in John’s account, which describes two phases of the trial: he mentions that the bound Jesus was transferred from Annas to Caiaphas, while he notes that Simon Peter was standing and warming himself in the courtyard of the same residence he had entered with John after Jesus was taken inside. Mark’s narrative also indicates that this house had two courtyards: an inner courtyard surrounded by buildings and an outer courtyard situated in front of the structures. According to this account, the first denial occurred in the inner courtyard, while the final two denials took place in the outer courtyard."},{"author-name":"Alexander Gorsky","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8884037c1e1c51e1332e2_Alexander%20Gorsky.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"In this account, Peter denies knowing Jesus, a narrative captured by John, who was present. His first denial comes during the inquiry of the gatekeeper (John 18:16), followed by a second denial regarding a servant (Luke 22:58; Matthew 26:71; Mark 14:69), and finally a third denial when confronted by a relative of Malchus (John 18:26). It was at this moment that the rooster crowed for the second time (Mark 14:30, 42). Jesus then glanced towards where His devoted follower stood, and Peter wept profoundly. - Why did Peter yield to temptation so quickly? - In a situation of clear peril, he might have found more resolve. Yet, it is likely that had he displayed such bravery, he would have been arrested. The Lord permitted his faltering to prepare him for future ministry."}]}
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