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Explanation for:
Matthew
26
:
71
And as he went out of the gate, another maid saw him, and she saith to them that were there: This man also was with Jesus of Nazareth.
11
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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 astonishing occurrence indeed! When Peter witnessed his Lord being arrested, he was filled with such fervor that he drew a sword and severed the ear of one of the captors. Yet, at the moment when he should have displayed greater outrage at the affronts being hurled, he instead denies knowing Christ. Who among us would not have felt anger at such an injustice? However, this disciple, overwhelmed by fear, showed no signs of indignation; instead, he disowns any connection to the Lord, despite the feeble challenge posed by a mere servant girl. And this denial was not a single instance but occurred a second and a third time. It happened quickly, not even in front of any judges, as he was merely in the courtyard when the girl confronted him as he exited through the gate. Surprisingly, he did not immediately recognize his own failure. Luke records that Jesus turned and looked at him (Lk. 22:61), indicating that not only did he deny his Master, but even as the rooster crowed, he failed to remember without the Master's reminder—His glance served as a vocal reminder for him. Fear gripped his heart! Mark adds that the rooster crowed after Peter's first denial and again after the third (Mark 14:68-72), illustrating the weakness of the disciple and his paralyzing terror. This account likely comes from Mark’s relationship with Peter, whom he accompanied. It is particularly noteworthy that Mark did not attempt to hide his mentor's failure; rather, he openly recounted it with greater clarity than any other, demonstrating his role as a disciple. Yet, how is it that Matthew's account holds true when he writes that Jesus said, \\"Truly I say to you, this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times\\" (Matthew 26:34), while Mark states that the rooster crowed a second time (Mark 14:72)? This is indeed fair, and there is no contradiction. Roosters are known to crow multiple times throughout the night, and Mark's account emphasizes that even the crowing did not prevent Peter from falling nor remind him of his pledge. Thus, both narrations stand correct. Before the rooster could complete its first crow, Peter had already denied his Lord three times. When Christ later reminded him of his sin, Peter could not openly weep for fear of being accused; instead, he left and wept bitterly."},{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"And he once again denied, asserting with an oath that he did not recognize the man. I have encountered individuals who, out of reverence for the apostle Peter, interpret this passage in a manner that suggests Peter was denying a mere human, rather than God. In this view, his declaration meant, ‘I do not know this man, for I know God.’ However, a discerning reader can see how insubstantial such reasoning is, for those who defend Peter in this light inadvertently accuse the Lord of falsehood. If Peter did not indeed deny Christ, then the Lord was not truthful when He proclaimed, \\"Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crows, thou shalt deny Me thrice.\\" Note that He states, \\"Thou shalt deny Me,\\" not \\"thou shalt deny man.\\" Clearly, Peter was recognized as one of them, for his speech revealed his identity. He did not speak in a different tongue nor was he from another nation: all involved were Jews—the one questioning and the one being questioned. However, each region had its own distinct dialects and mannerisms that could betray a person's origin through their speech patterns. For instance, the Ephraimites in the Book of Judges were unable to pronounce the word \\"shibboleth.\\" He began to call down curses and swear that he did not know this man. At that moment, a rooster crowed. In another Gospel, it recounts that after Peter's denial and the sound of the rooster, the Savior turned to him, and that look caused him to weep bitterly. It is inconceivable that Peter, upon whom the Light of the world gazed, could linger in the darkness of denial."},{"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":"When Peter was questioned again, “And you are one of those who were with Jesus the Galilean?” (Matt. 26:69), he hesitated to repeat the eternal verb in his response, acknowledging that those who had received the gift of life were not constantly with the Son of God. It was as if Peter were declaring, “Only He who existed from the beginning was always present” (see Jn. 1:1). He replied, “No” (in the Latin text of both the Gospel and St. Ambrose's writing, it reads, “Non sum ego,” or literally, “I am not”) (Lk. 22:58). The expression “I am” can be attributed solely to the eternal Being, of whom Moses stated, “The Being sent me” (Ex. 3:14). Although Mark does not provide the exact words of this response, he simply notes that Peter, when presumed to be one of them, again denied it (Mark 14:70). This highlights that the evangelist values truth over providing a rationale. In denying association with them, Peter did not reject Christ; he denied being one of the disciples but not the divine grace itself. He denied being among those present with the Galilean (Matt. 26:69), yet he did not refute his relationship with the Son of God."},{"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":"How afraid he was! He not only rejected it but also swore a vow. Instead of leaving the gate, he approached it, that is, he went to the courtyard, as noted by Mark (Mark 14:68)."},{"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":"“Departed from the gate”: perplexed by the exchange, Peter retreated from the inner courtyard to the outer area, possibly seeking to remain unnoticed; however, the fulfillment of the Lord’s word was destined to take place."},{"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":"What unfolds next? The accounts provided by the Evangelists indicate that the subsequent happenings involving Peter occurred close to where he initially denied Christ; St. John notes merely that the Lord was taken from Annas to Caiaphas. Thus, Ananus and Caiaphas resided within the same high priestly courtyard, where all the painful events involving Peter transpired. While the Savior faced questioning by Caiaphas, Peter, still devoted to his Master and anxious about His fate, found himself at the entrance of the courtyard. In that moment, a servant girl noticed him and declared to those nearby, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” Peter, among the group of servants gathered around a fire to keep warm, remained silent in response to her remark. Yet, following her lead, one of the servants inquired, “Aren’t you one of His disciples?” (Luke 22:58). Soon after, others echoed the same question: “You are one of His disciples?”"},{"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":"Her suspicion was validated once more by the gatekeeper: \\"This one is one of them\\" (Mk. 14:69), she remarked, which prompted a logical inquiry from the servants of the religious leaders present: \\"Are you not also one of His disciples?\\" (John 18:25). Meanwhile, another individual, observing him intently, declared assertively: \\"Yes, and you are one of them\\" (Luke 22:58)."},{"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 had already denied the Lord once, and it seemed that the first crow of the midnight rooster served as a reminder of Jesus' forewarning and a caution against further betrayals. However, Peter did not heed this signal. As he was leaving the gate, another servant girl approached him and, drawing the attention of those present, declared, \\"This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.\\""},{"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":"This led him to depart from the flames and move toward the door; yet, another servant girl encountered him and started to proclaim to those nearby that ‘this man was also associated with Jesus of Nazareth.’ Increasingly bewildered by this, Peter began to affirm vehemently that he ‘did not know this man.’"},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Peter entered the courtyard, joining the group of attendants gathered around a fire, trying to keep warm while the detainee was being questioned. He hoped that by blending in, he could glean all necessary information from the guards' conversations. However, once suspicion arose, it began to circulate among the servants, much like intriguing news. One of the maids noticed Peter by the fire, approached him, and scrutinizing him closely, declared to those nearby, \\"This man was with Him,\\" and then directed her attention to Peter, saying, \\"You were also with Jesus of Galilee, the Nazarene.” This devoted disciple, who had recently affirmed his willingness to die for his Teacher (John 13:37) and had attempted to defend Him with a sword (John 18:10), now found himself paralyzed by fear, abandoning his vows and yielding to human frailty. The maid's statement drew the attention of everyone present. In an effort to protect himself, Peter quickly chose what seemed the safest route: he disavowed knowing Christ before the assembly, claiming to the woman, \\"I do not understand what you are saying.\\" After calming the crowd with this response and avoiding further inquiries, the apostle slipped away from them and moved into the outer courtyard. There, he was met with the anticipated warning from the Lord, which Peter, in his disarray and fear, failed to heed: the rooster crowed for the first time."},{"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 passage, Peter disavows his association with Jesus, as recounted by John, who was present during these events. Initially, he responds to the inquiry of the gatekeeper (John 18:16), then he denies knowing Jesus to a servant (Luke 22:58; Matthew 26:71; Mark 14:69), and finally to a relative of Malchus (John 18:26). At that moment, the rooster crowed for the second time (Mark 14:30, 42). Jesus turned to gaze at where Peter stood, prompting the disciple to weep profusely. How did Peter yield to temptation so quickly? If he had faced a clear threat, he might have shown greater bravery. However, it is likely that such boldness would have led to his capture. The Lord permitted Peter's fall to ensure his future service in the faith."}]}
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