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Explanation for:
Matthew
26
:
74
Then he began to curse and to swear that he knew not the man. And immediately the cock crew.
12
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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":"He was not immediately aware of his downfall. According to Luke, Jesus looked at him (Luke 22:61), indicating that not only did he deny his connection to Christ, but also that when the rooster crowed, he did not recall the event on his own; he needed his Master to remind him again: Jesus’ gaze spoke where words failed. In that moment, he was overwhelmed with fear! Mark notes that the rooster crowed at Peter’s first denial and then crowed again after his third (Mark 14:68-72), illustrating both the disciple's frailty and his disorientation due to terror. Mark, having been a companion of Peter, learned this firsthand from him. Thus, it is remarkable that he did not attempt to hide his teacher’s failure, but rather emphasized it. He recounted the events with greater clarity than others because of his close discipleship."},{"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":"In a different Gospel, we find that following Peter's denial and the rooster's crowing, the Lord turned His gaze upon Peter, which led him to weep profoundly. It was inconceivable that someone who had witnessed the light of the world could stay enveloped in the shadow of denial. Therefore, he exited and wept painfully. While sitting outside Caiaphas' residence, he found himself unable to repent; he left the assembly of the unrighteous in order to cleanse the stain of his fearful denial with heartfelt tears."},{"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 occurrence! When Peter observed the Lord being arrested, he became so agitated that he took a sword and severed the ear of one of the assailants. Yet, when he ought to have been enraged and more incensed by the insults hurled at Christ, he instead denies his connection to Him! Who among us would not feel angered by such events? However, the disciple, paralyzed by fear, demonstrates no outrage and ultimately disowns his relationship with the vulnerable maiden questioning him. This renunciation happened not just once, but twice and a third time in quick succession and not in front of the authorities, as he was merely in the courtyard when the servant girl questioned him as he exited through the gate. He did not initially comprehend the gravity of his betrayal. Luke recounts that Jesus turned and looked at him (Lk. 22:61), indicating that not only did he deny Christ, but even as the rooster crowed, he remained oblivious to his fall. It was necessary for the Master to remind him with a glance, rather than a spoken word, stirring him to awareness. Fear had indeed engulfed him! Mark narrates that the rooster crowed after Peter's first denial and again after his third (Mark 14:68-72), emphasizing the disciple's frailty and his astonishment born from dread; Mark learned these details from his mentor, as he accompanied Peter. It is thus even more remarkable that he did not seek to hide the failure of his teacher; rather, he articulated it more transparently than others due to his status as a disciple. Yet, how can Matthew's account be reconciled when he relays 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 mentions the rooster crowing a second time in relation to the triple denial (Mark 14:72)? This is indeed rational, and no contradiction exists. It is customary for a rooster to crow multiple times in a span, and Mark alludes to this, illustrating that even the sound of the rooster did not prevent Peter from faltering or prompt him to recall his vow. Consequently, both accounts are accurate. Before the rooster could complete its first crow, Peter had already denied Christ three times. And when the Lord reminded him of his transgression, he was too frightened to weep openly, fearing that his tears might lead to accusations, so he exited and wept profoundly."},{"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 again denied, swearing that he did not know this man. I have encountered individuals who, due to their reverence for the apostle Peter, interpret this moment to mean that Peter did not reject God, but instead, humanity. They suggest that he was stating, 'I do not know this man, for my knowledge of God remains intact.' However, the discerning reader understands how superficial such an interpretation is because those who defend Peter in this manner inadvertently accuse the Lord of deceit. If Peter truly did not deny Him, 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.\\" Observe that He specifically states, \\"You shall deny Me,\\" not merely man. Undoubtedly, you are one of them, for your speech betrays you. Peter did not speak a foreign language, nor did he belong to another nation; they were all Jews—both the one questioning and the one questioned. Yet, each region had its own distinct accents and dialects, which revealed the speaker’s identity through their specific way of speaking. As an example, the Ephraimites in the Book of Judges could not pronounce the word \\"shibboleth.\\" Then Peter began to swear that he did not know this man. At that moment, a rooster crowed. In another Gospel, we learn that after Peter's denial and the crowing of the cock, the Savior looked at him, and this gaze caused him to weep bitterly. It is inconceivable that Peter, upon whom the Light of the world cast His sight, could remain in the shadows 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":"Ultimately, as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, when confronted about his association with Jesus of Nazareth, Peter responded, \\"I do not know the Man\\" (Matt. 26:72). Both Matthew and Mark narrate that on the third occasion, he emphatically swore he did not know Him (Matthew 26:72; Mark 14:71). Peter’s denial signified that he rejected the identity of Jesus as the One he recognized as God. When promises are made, they are met with careful considerations. Although Peter denied knowing Jesus, he did not violate his promise, as the Lord Himself did not hold it against him. If Peter found the vows ambiguous, the implications for others would be even more perilous."},{"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":"Mark recounts that when Peter denied knowing Jesus for the first time, a rooster crowed; and after his third denial, the rooster crowed once more. This detail highlights that the first crowing did not alert him to his actions. In a similar account, Luke notes that after the rooster crowed, the Lord turned and looked at Peter, using that gaze to stir his memory. Overwhelmed by fear, Peter felt as if he might perish; not only did he fail to recognize the significance of the first crowing, but even the second did not register until the Savior's compassionate look prompted realization. This illustrates Peter's frailty, as he denied Christ three times in quick succession, responding to casual inquiries rather than intentional interrogation."},{"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":"The rooster symbolizes the message of Christ, urging us not to grow complacent or doze off, but to \\"awake\\" and \\"arise from sleep.\\" With this call, much like a rooster's crow, the awakened Peter stepped out from the archbishop's courtyard, representing his emergence from a state of spiritual dullness, and cried out, breaking free from his prior numbness. While he remained in the courtyard of ignorance, he did not express himself, as he was unaware; however, upon leaving that place, he became aware and responsive."},{"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":"He began to utter oaths and exclamations of astonishment, expressing something most unusual. Immediately upon the arrest of the Master, he was overcome with passion, drawing a sword to sever an ear. Instead of displaying further outrage upon hearing such accusations, he chose to disavow his connection more than once. Yet, he denied it once again, not long afterward, and not in front of the authorities. Thus, he was gripped by fear."},{"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 profoundly troubled; the mere idea of being captured and subjected to torment filled him with dread. Initially, he acted as though he did not grasp what was being said to him (Luke 22:60); soon after, he \\"began to swear and assert that he did not know the man\\" (Matthew 26:71). As soon as Peter completed his oaths, the rooster crowed for the second time. Simultaneously, as the Lord was led into the courtyard, He turned and looked at Peter. This loving gaze of Jesus drew Peter away from the enticing shadows of sin."},{"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 then began to vehemently deny any knowledge of the Man. Just as the fearful disciple was scarcely able to complete his denials, the herald of repentance, the rooster, sounded its call a second time: And immediately the rooster crowed. At that moment, the Lord, present among the guards in the courtyard, turned towards Simon Peter amidst the clamor of the argument and gazed at him intently. This gaze alone was sufficient to reach Peter’s heart."},{"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 was once again gripped by fear, and he started to curse and insist, ‘I do not know the man you are talking about’ (Mark 14:71). At this point, Jesus’ trial had concluded, and He was led from the court into the courtyard. In that moment, the rooster crowed a second time, and Christ turned to look at 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":"As the multitude gathered around Him, many started to declare, “Certainly, you are one of His followers; your speech betrays you.” A servant of the high priest, who was related to Malchus, even confronted Peter directly, asking, “Did I not see you with Him in the garden?” Overwhelmed with fear, Peter began to deny vehemently that he knew this man. At that moment, the rooster crowed, signaling the arrival of dawn. Peter was taken aback by this commonplace sound."}]}
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