Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

I'd say that we should learn from Peter to avoid conceited pride in our own abilities and to exercise humility in our attitudes and conduct with respect to God and others, while at the same time not allowing occasions when we sin, or disappoint other people (even if we do so severely), to draw us away from continuing to serve God.

Instead, we should admit and repent of our shortcomings and failures when they occur, seek God's forgiveness for Jesus' sake, reconcile ourselves with those whom we have let down, and continue to serve God and others in whatever capacity or role we can, or to which He calls us.

November 03 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

John Appelt

Peter was quite adamant that he would never deny the Lord, whatever may come, even death, Matthew 26:31-34. But the Lord predicted he would deny Him three times that night. 

Actually, Jesus predicted Peter’s denial three times. The first was in John 13:36-38 while, early on, everyone was in the upper room. The second was in Luke 22:31-34 shortly before leaving the upper room. The third was when Jesus and the disciples were on their way to the Mount of Olives, Matthew 26:30-35, Mark 14:26-31.

Then, Peter denied the Lord three times. Some, noting different people saying different things, believe there were six denials. But there were milling around in the courtyard, others voicing their comments, that the different gospel writers picked up on. Yet, Matthew 26:34 is clear that there were only three denials. They are listed here:

FIRST DENIAL: Matthew 26:69-70; Mark 14:66-68; Luke 22:55-57; John 18:17
At this denial, Mark records a rooster crowing. 

SECOND DENIAL: Matthew 26:71-72; Mark 14:69-70a; Luke 22:58; John 18:18, 25

THIRD DENIAL: Matthew 26:73-75; Mark 14:70b-72; Luke 22:59-62; John 18:26-27
Luke says this denial was about an hour after the second denial. John mentions a relative of the servant of the high priest, Malchus, whose right ear Peter had cut off, Mark 14:47, John 18:10, wondering if he saw him in the garden with Jesus. At the end of this denial, Peter heard the rooster crow. Remembering the words of Jesus, he went out and wept bitterly.

Only Mark records Jesus saying that the rooster would crow twice, Mark 14:30. This is not a copyist error as some suggest. He added the detail of a rooster crowing after the first denial, Mark 14:68, but he joins the other writers in saying the rooster crowed after the third denial. 

Irenaeus in his “Against Heresies” said, “...Mark, the disciple and interpreter of Peter, did also hand down to us in writing what had been preached by Peter.” Peter could have told Mark about it, who then mentioned it in his account. Matthew, Luke, and John could have missed that specific detail, but then, they do not say how many times roosters crowed during the denial. None of them say the rooster only crowed once. Also, they seem to concentrate on the one rooster that made Peter react in bitter regret in denying the Lord this third time. 

Peter meant to do well and to be faithful and strong, but he proves the saying of Jesus, “the Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Vigilance and prayer are needed to resist falling into temptation, Matthew 26:41.

But it all ends well. After His resurrection, Jesus purposefully got Peter’s attention three times: Mark 16:7, Luke 24:34 (I Corinthians 15:5), and John 21:1-21. At the third time, He brought him back to restoration by three questions to a 3-fold affirmation of his love, John 21:1-21. Such is the amazing grace by the Lord to restore one fallen in sin in the spirit of gentleness, Galatians 6:1.

July 26 2022 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht ABC/DTS graduate, guitar music ministry Baptist church

All who fear the Lord should take heed lest they suddenly fall, like Peter. 1 Corinthians 10:12 says, “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” Our lives might be threatened, but still we must stand firm. 

We must realize that our old nature is so prone to inconsistency, at least mine is, that when I had been so bold before, might tremble like a leaf now. I might even resort to cursing to prove my point, if my life was at stake. I could lie just like Peter did, but my conscience would smite me afterwards! We just need to ask for the Holy Spirit’s help, to help us not boast, but to be infused with His power to be bold, and if we fall, to humbly confess it and move on in our Christian lives. 

Here are the instances or cross-references of Peter’s confidence:

Confidence » Instances of » Peter

Matthew 26:33-35: But Peter said to Him, "Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away." Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." Peter said to Him, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You." All the disciples said the same thing too.

Luke 22:33-34: But he said to Him, "Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!" And He said, "I say to you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me."

Source: https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/themes/Matthew/26/34#thematic_title_9547

There’s a danger of false confidence: 1 Corinthians 10:12: “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.”

Peter responds pridefully. He believes that he is the most spiritual, the most faithful, the most committed disciple and he expresses his willingness to face any kind of punishment, even death, for his Lord. Is this good or bad? The willingness to suffer with Jesus is commendable. Peter has great confidence and indeed seems to really love the Lord. The problem is that his confidence is greatly misplaced. He has loads of confidence, but his confidence seems to be in himself. What should Peter have done?

It would have been better for Peter to throw himself on Jesus’ mercy and say, “Lord, I desperately want to serve you until the end, but I am so weak and so afraid, help me!”

Application: Pride goes before the fall. Don’t be overconfident. Don’t trust in yourself or your own spirituality. Thinking that you are immune to some sin and will never fall can be the quickest way to a devastating defeat. Instead, no matter how strong you feel, know that you are in fact a weak sinner in need of grace. Resolve yourself to continually pray to the Lord and seek His grace to cover over your own weakness.

Source: https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/themes/Matthew/26/33#thematic_title_9567

We should learn about the false confidence in self: 

Proverbs 26:12:
Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? 
There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Psalm 20:7: Some boast in chariots and some in horses,
But we will boast in the name of the Lord, our God.

Proverbs 3:5:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.

Source: https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/False-Confidence

Here are some examples of personal conceit in the Bible:

(In personal abilities)--

Matthew 26:33; Mark 14:29. See also Genesis 16:4; 1 Kings 20:11; Esther 5:10-12.

November 04 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report