Peter Denies Knowing Jesus - Matthew 26:70

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? Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, You also were with Jesus of Galilee”, and in chapter twenty-six and verse seventy of his book, Matthew wrote how Peter, “denied before them all” where we read:

But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what you are saying.

The verse reads, “But he denied before them all, ...” Matthew began word, “but” which means “nevertheless, nonetheless, moreover and” “he denied” or “Peter abnegated, abjured, rejected and refused” “before them all” which means “in front and in the presence of each, every, the whole and everyone of the people who were in the courtyard of the palace”. Matthew shared how Peter rejected the “young girl's” accusation before all the people who were sitting around him.

The verse goes on to say, “... saying, I know not what you are saying.” Matthew continued with the word, “saying” or “uttering, declaring and proclaiming”, “I know not” which means “I do not acknowledge, understand or perceive” “what you are saying” or “that which the little girl is uttering, declaring or proclaiming”. Matthew shared how Peter lied as he said he knew nothing about what the little girl was declaring.

When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see how the fear of Peter took over, and he lied as he “denied” knowing Jesus. Jesus knew the true heart of the once “brave” and “boastful” Peter who said he would never “deny” Him, but when he was put to the test, this “small girl” put him to flight. God knows us, and He is well aware of our own weaknesses even when we think we are strong. This is why He sent Jesus. Jesus was to “suffer and die” for the “sin” of mankind, and when a person puts their “faith and trust” in Him, they acknowledge who He is and become less inclined to “deny” Him. May all who read these words acknowledge their own weaknesses and submit their lives to Jesus Christ who alone knows the deep recesses of the heart within every person.

Next time Matthew shares when Peter, “was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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