Peter Will Deny Jesus Three Times - Matthew 26:34

Matthew the apostle wrote as Jesus and His disciples, “All of you shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of you, yet will I never be offended”, and in chapter twenty-six and verse thirty-four of his book, Matthew writes how Jesus told Peter, “this night, before the cock crow, you shall deny me three times” where we read:

Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto you, That this night, before the cock crow,

you shall deny me three times.

The verse reads, “Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto you, That this night, before the cock crow, ...” Matthew began words, “Jesus said” which means “Jesus uttered, declared and proclaimed” “unto him” or “to Peter”, “Verily” which means “truly and surely”, “I say” or “Jesus utters, declares and proclaims” “unto you” which means “to Peter”, “that this night” or “that the very night that Peter made his bold statement”, “before the cock crow” which means “in advance of the rooster crowing”. Matthew shared how Jesus told Peter with certification that the very night he made his declaration, before the “rooster crowed” the following would occur.

The verse goes on to say, “... you shall deny me three times.” Matthew continued with the words, “you shall deny me” which means “Peter would affirm that he had no acquaintance or connection with Jesus” “three times” or “three different times”. Matthew shared how Jesus declared Peter would “swear” three different times that he had “no connection” with Jesus.

When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we understand how Jesus not only knew His own fate, but He also knew Peter's. Though Peter boastfully declared he would not “be offended” because of Jesus, Jesus told him he would “deny” that he had any affiliation with Him. Three different times Peter would declare that he did not know Jesus, and Jesus knew it. God desires to save every person from their sins, and the first step for “salvation” is to admit that one is a “sinner”. Romans chapter three and verse twenty-three says, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”, and Romans chapter six and verse twenty-three says, “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord”. Until a person acknowledges they are a “sinner” and need “salvation” from God, they will go on as Peter making bold declarations, but when pressed with trials, they will “deny” the very God who came them.

Next time Matthew shares how Jesus says, “though I should die with you, yet will I not deny you”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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