Matthew the apostle wrote about the religious leaders and elders condemning Jesus to be “guilty of death”, and he added that, “Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, You also were with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what you are saying. And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely you also are one of them; for your speech bewrays you. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew”, and in chapter twenty-six and verse seventy-five of his book, Matthew wrote how, “Peter remembered the word of Jesus … and went out, and wept bitterly” where we read:
And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him,
Before the cock crow, you shall deny me three times. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
The verse reads, “And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, ...” Matthew began words, “and Peter” which refers to “one of Jesus' twelve disciples whose name means a little rock or stone” “remembered” or “recalled, returned to his mind and was reminded of” “the word” which means “the utterance, declaration and proclamation” “of Jesus” or “belonging to Jesus whose name means Jehovah is Salvation and is the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate”, “which said unto him” or “who uttered, declared and proclaimed to Peter”. Matthew shared how Peter “recalled” the following words of Jesus concerning him.
The verse continues, “... Before the cock crow, you shall deny me three times. And he went out, and wept bitterly.” Matthew added the words, “before the cock crow” or “in advance of and preceding the rooster crowing”, “you shall deny me three times” which means “Peter would abnegate, abjure, reject and refuse Jesus on three occasions”. Matthew shared how Jesus told Peter he would “deny” Him on three occasions.
When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we can only imagine how Peter felt when he was reminded of Jesus' words to him about “denying” Him. Jesus said it, and it came true. Though Peter boasted and proclaimed he would never “deny” Jesus, and would even die with him, he “denied” Jesus anyway. Jesus loved Peter through his proclamation and failure, and He is willing to “save” every person who will humble themselves, recognize their sin and call upon Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”. May all who read these words consider the “denial” and “rooster crowing” of Peter, and should they find themselves like Peter, let them repent and receive Jesus today.
Next time we begin a new chapter and see Matthew write, “When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
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Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
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