Matthew the apostle wrote how the high priest demanded of Jesus, “I adjure you by the living God, that you tell us whether you be the Christ, the Son of God”, and “Jesus said unto him, You have said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall you see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.” Matthew continued, “Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He has spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now you have heard his blasphemy. What do you think? They answered and said, He is guilty of death. Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands. Saying, Prophesy unto us, You Christ, Who is he that smote you?”, and in chapter twenty-six and verse sixty-nine of his book, Matthew wrote how, “Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him” where we read:
Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him,
saying, You also were with Jesus of Galilee.
The verse reads, “Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, ...” Matthew began word, “now Peter” which means “at that time Peter who was one of Jesus' twelve disciples whose name means little rock or stone” “sat without in the palace” or “was seated, fixed and established outside within the uncovered courtyard of the house”: “and a damsel” which means “and a young girl, female slave and maid servant who has charge of the door” “came unto him” or “approached and came forth unto Peter”. Matthew shared how a “young maiden” came to where Peter was seated.
The verse continues, “... saying, You also were with Jesus of Galilee.” Matthew continued with the word, “saying” or “uttering, declaring and proclaiming”, “you also” which means “you even so and indeed” “were with Jesus” or “were alongside Jesus who is the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate whose name means Jehovah is Salvation” “of Galilee” which refers to “belonging to the area of Galilee which belongs to Galilea”. Matthew shared how the damsel said that Peter was even so “alongside” Jesus who was from the “Galilee” area.
When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we see the first of three accusations against Peter being affiliated with Jesus. This “small servant girl” accused him of being “with” Jesus whom she knew was from “Galilee”. We can imagine the surprise upon Peter's face as he sought to be unrecognized as he looked for the outcome of Jesus' arrest, and when this girl indicted him, he was fully exposed before the others around him. Jesus knew Peter would “deny Him three times”, and yet, Jesus continued to desire a relationship with him that would save him for all eternity. Perhaps as we think this story through, we might wonder how we would have responded to this “little girl”, and come before the Heavenly Father with the truth in our hearts so He may establish enduring “faith” in us like He did with Peter.
Next time Matthew shares how Peter, “denied before them all”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
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Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
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