←
Explanation for:
Matthew
26
:
72
And again he denied with an oath, I know not the man.
13
more explanations
& daily audio-books
spoken by
– enjoy in Theosis App –
Start your
Bible-journey
with explanations
& daily audio-books
only 4$* per month
{"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":"A remarkable and unforeseen situation unfolds! Upon witnessing the Master merely apprehended, Peter was so overtaken by emotion that he drew a sword and severed an ear; yet, when his indignation should have been at its peak upon hearing such slanders, he instead denies knowing Him! Who among us would not have been outraged by the events occurring at that moment? Nonetheless, the disciple, gripped by fear, exhibits no anger and instead disavows his association, failing to withstand the intimidation from a weak and powerless servant girl. This betrayal happens not just once but a second and a third time, all in quick succession, and not before a court but while he lingered in the courtyard, where the maid questioned him as he passed through the gate. Remarkably, he did not immediately recognize his fall. As Luke narrates, Jesus fixed His gaze on him (Lk. 22:61), meaning that not only did he deny his Lord, but even at the moment the rooster crowed, he lacked the awareness of his sin until the Teacher provided a reminder through His look — serving as a voice of reproof. Fear overwhelmed him! Mark states that the rooster crowed at Peter’s first denial and crowed again after his third (Mark 14:68-72), indicating the disciple's frailty and shock from his terror, insights which Mark, being a companion of Peter, learned directly from him. Therefore, it is even more astonishing that he not only disclosed his teacher’s fall but did so with greater clarity than others, precisely because he was a disciple. \\n\\nSo how can Matthew’s account hold true when he asserts Jesus said, \\"Truly I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times\\" (Matthew 26:34), while Mark notes the rooster crows a second time following the denials (Mark 14:72)? This can be reconciled without contradiction. Roosters are known to crow multiple times in a night; Mark references this to illustrate that even the crowing did not deter Peter from his fall nor jog his memory concerning his pledge. Thus, both accounts are valid. Peter denied his Lord three times before the rooster completed its first crowing. And when Christ reminded him of his betrayal, he felt too ashamed to weep openly, fearing that his tears would lead to accusations, so 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":"It is apparent that some devout individuals, motivated by their admiration for the apostle Peter, have interpreted this passage in a manner that suggests Peter is not denying God but rather denying man. They propose that his statement signifies, 'I do not know this man, for I know Him as God.’ However, the discerning reader can see how misguided this interpretation is. Such an explanation defends the apostle at the expense of portraying the Lord as telling a falsehood. If the apostle did not repudiate Him, then the Lord must have misled us when He declared, 'Verily I say unto thee, that this night, before the cock crows, thou shalt deny Me thrice.' Notice that He states, 'You shall deny Me,' not 'You shall deny a man.'\\n\\nAnd he denied again, swearing that he did not know this Man. I have encountered individuals who, in their reverence for the apostle Peter, have attempted to clarify this text in such a manner that Peter did not reject God but man, meaning that what he expressed was 'I do not recognize this man, for I know God.' Yet, the wise reader understands how superficial such an explanation is, as those who defend Peter in this way inadvertently accuse the Lord of falsehood. If Peter truly did not repudiate Him, then the Lord was deceiving when He said, 'Verily I say unto thee, that this night, before the cock crows, thou shalt deny Me thrice.' Notice that He asserts, 'You shall deny Me,' rather than 'You shall deny a man.' \\n\\nCertainly, you are one of them; your speech bears witness against you. Peter did not speak another language nor was he from a different nation; they were all Jews—both the one asking and the one answering. However, each region had distinct dialects, and Peter revealed himself through his unique manner of speaking. For instance, the Ephraimites in the Book of Judges struggled to articulate the word ’shibboleth.’ Then he began to invoke oaths and insist that he did not know this man. At that moment, a rooster crowed. In another Gospel, we read that after Peter’s denial and the crowing of the cock, the Savior gazed at him, and that look caused him to weep profusely. It cannot be that Peter, upon whom the Light of the World cast His gaze, would linger in the shadows of denial."},{"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 astonishing occurrence! When Peter witnessed the Master being apprehended, he became so agitated that he seized a sword and severed the ear of the servant; yet in a moment when he should have felt greater fury and outrage at the slander being hurled, he instead disowns his association with Christ. Who among us would not have felt righteous anger in such a situation? Yet this disciple, gripped by fear, not only displays no indignation but also capitulates at the accusation from a mere servant girl. Not just once, but a second and third time, he disavows his connection. This transpired not in front of the judges but in the courtyard, where the maid confronted him as he exited through the gate. He was also slow to perceive his own betrayal. Luke recounts that Jesus gazed upon him (Lk. 22:61), indicating that not only had he denied his Lord, but even as the rooster crowed, he failed to recollect it until the Teacher reminded him—His look served as the prompt. Thus, he was overwhelmed by fear! Mark records that the rooster crowed at Peter's first denial and again at the third (Mark 14:68-72), speaking more precisely of the disciple's weakness and the bewilderment brought on by terror; and Mark learned this from his mentor, as he was a companion of Peter. It is therefore remarkable that he did not attempt to hide his teacher’s fall, but rather detailed it more vividly than others, precisely because he was one of the disciples. \\n\\nHow can Matthew's account be reconciled when he states that Jesus foretold, “Truly I say to you that this night, before the cock crows, you will deny Me three times” (Matthew 26:34), while Mark notes that the rooster crows a second time in relation to the triple denial (Mark 14:72)? It is justifiable, and there exists no contradiction. Given that it is typical for a rooster to crow multiple times, Mark emphasizes that even the crowing did not prevent Peter from faltering, nor did it serve to remind him of his pledge. Thus, both perspectives hold true. Before the rooster completed its first crowing, Peter had denied Christ three times. And when Christ finally brought his sin to his awareness, he was too fearful to weep openly in case his tears provoked accusations against him, so 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":"He denied it once more, affirming that he had no knowledge of the man. I have encountered individuals who, out of reverence for the apostle Peter, interpret this passage to suggest that Peter did not deny God but rather humanity; in other words, his statement implies, \\"I do not know this man, for I am acquainted with God.\\" However, any discerning reader can see how untenable such an interpretation is, as those who defend Peter in this manner inadvertently accuse the Lord of deceit. If Peter did not disown Him, then the Lord must have been dishonest when He declared, \\"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,\\" and not man. Surely, those around him recognized him as one of the disciples, for his speech revealed his identity. Peter did not speak a different language nor come from another nation; they were all Jews—the interrogator and the one being questioned alike. However, dialectical differences did exist among various regions, and a distinct manner of speaking could identify a person. For instance, the Ephraimites in the Book of Judges had difficulty pronouncing the word shibboleth. Then Peter began to call down curses and insist that he did not know this man. Suddenly, a rooster crowed. In another Gospel, we learn that following Peter's denial and the crowing of the rooster, the Savior turned and looked at him, and that gaze caused Peter to weep bitterly. It is impossible for Peter, upon whom the Light of the World had cast His gaze, to remain enveloped 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, \\"You are one of those who were with Jesus the Galilean?\\" (Matt. 26:69), he avoided using a term that denotes eternal existence in his reply, recognizing that those who began their journey of life had not always accompanied the Son of God. It was as if Peter was implying, \\"Only He who existed from the beginning was consistently present\\" (See: Jn. 1:1). He responded with a firm refusal. In the Latin text of both the Gospel and St. Ambrose's writings, it reads, \\"Non sum ego,\\" meaning \\"I am not\\" (Lk. 22:58). The phrase \\"I am\\" can solely be spoken by the Eternal Being, of whom Moses states: \\"The Being sent me\\" (Ex. 3:14). While Mark does not record the exact wording of Peter's answer, he notes that Peter denied it once more when presumed to be one of them (Mark 14:70). This indicates that the evangelist prioritized truth over justification. In denying his association with them, Peter did not reject Christ. He denied being among the disciples but did not reject divine grace. He denied being one of those with the Galilean (Matt. 26:69), but he never denied his connection 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 terrified he was! Not only did he disavow it, but he also took a solemn oath. He did not leave the gate, but approached it, as noted by Mark (Mark 14:68)."},{"author-name":"Dimitri of Rostov","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88b083687b06aec81fcf3_Dimitri%20of%20Rostov.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":17,"exegesis-text":"It is not merely the injuries and wounds that distress the Lord, but rather the words spoken by Peter: “I do not know this Man.” Oh, Saint Peter! How have you overlooked your Savior, the One who offered you solace, whose glorified face you beheld at Tabor, shining more brightly than the sun? How can you declare, “I do not know the Man,” regarding the One you once professed to be God not long ago (Matthew 16:16)? This is the One who restored your mother-in-law from a fever (Matt. 8:14). This is the One of whom St. John proclaimed, “I am not worthy to untie the strap of His sandal” (Mk. 1:7). This is the One before whom you fell and exclaimed, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man” (Lk. 5:8). This is both God and Man, from whom you requested to walk on the waters and who rescued you from peril (Matt. 14:29-31). While the Lord's gaze was upon you, you declared, “I will not be shaken” (Psalm 29:7) — yet as soon as He averted His eyes, you began to deny, “He turned away His face, and I was troubled” (Psalm 29:8). Jesus speaks to Sirach: “He is a friend for a time and shares companionship at a meal, but will not remain with you in moments of distress” (Sirach 6:8, 10). While Saint Peter was partaking at the table of joyous reflection, he exhibited loyalty. However, when adversity arose for Christ the Savior, he chose to reject Him, for “He shall not remain in the time of trouble.”"},{"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":"\\"Rejected with a solemn vow\\": which further intensified the gravity of his denial, as he invoked God as a witness to the falsehood he had uttered."},{"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 Simon received was merely speculation about him; however, he was unsettled, and amidst his bewilderment and fear, it appeared as though he was being interrogated. Consequently, he replied to the servant, “No” (Luke 22:58), and he quickly sought to bolster his denial with an oath. Thus, Simon had denied his Master and Lord once more, yet he remained oblivious to the gravity of his sin. Even now, he swore an oath in his denial, and this was not prompted by any immediate threat. Still, he failed to recognize his true state."},{"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":"It became essential to respond. Consequently, the mouth that had previously betrayed trust was quickly opened once more for another renunciation. Mere assurances were no longer sufficient, and the fearful disciple combined his deception with an oath, declaring that he had no knowledge of Jesus at all. He reiterated this denial with a solemn oath, insisting that he did not know this man. Peter believed he could distance himself from speaking of Jesus Christ, yet this led him to renounce his Master and Lord. Another dreadful hour elapsed. At that moment, he witnessed his Lord being taken out to the courtyard, to the mockery of the crowd. The disciple, motivated by love, instinctively approached to catch another glimpse of his Master, hoping to present himself to Him. He thought that, with everyone preoccupied with the Divine Sufferer, he might have been overlooked, but suddenly, he heard someone nearby emphatically stating to the officials and guards, \\"Surely this one was with Him, for he is a Galilean.\\" The other guards supported this claim, as the Galilean accent was distinct to all, and they were aware that Jesus' disciples hailed from Galilee."},{"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":"Everyone around fixed their gaze on Peter with intense scrutiny. Overwhelmed by their stares, he was unable to withstand it; terror gripped him, and he not only rejected Jesus for the second time but also took an oath, asserting that he had no knowledge of this Man, failing to even mention His name."},{"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 prompted him to step away from the fire and move toward the exit. At that moment, another servant girl confronted him and proclaimed to those nearby, “This man was also with Jesus of Nazareth.” Increasingly disoriented by this remark, Peter insisted with oaths 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 and mingled with the crowd of servants and attendants gathered around a fire in the courtyard, seeking warmth while the prisoner faced questioning. He believed that by keeping a low profile, he could glean everything necessary from the idle chatter of the guards. However, once suspicion took hold, it escalated quickly, spreading like intriguing news among the servant girls. One of them, noticing Peter sitting near the fire, approached him and scrutinized him closely before announcing to those nearby, “This man was with Him,” then turned to Peter and said, “You were also with Jesus of Galilee, the Nazarene.” This passionate and devoted disciple, who had recently declared his willingness to die for the Master (John 13:37) and had attempted to defend Him with a sword (John 18:10), now found himself paralyzed by fear, forgetting his vows and succumbing to human frailty. The maid's words drew everyone's attention, and Peter, eager to escape danger, acted in what he thought was the most prudent manner under the circumstances: he denied Christ publicly and replied to the woman, “I do not understand, I do not know what you are saying.” Once the crowd was calmed by his denial and the initial threat seemed to have passed, the apostle, determined to avoid further inquiries, quietly withdrew from the group and stepped into the outer courtyard. Here, he faced the foretold warning of the Lord, which, in his confusion and fear, he overlooked: the rooster crowed for the first time."}]}
Support this project and get full access for only 4$/month
Commentarie text can’t be scrolled on PC at the moment. Please use your phone. We’re working on a fix.
