After the high priest and religious leadership condemned Jesus to death, Matthew the apostle wrote how, “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 in chapter twenty-six and verse seventy-three of his book, Matthew wrote people who stood by Peter said, “surely you also are one of them, for your speech bewrays you” where we read:
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.
The verse reads, “And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, ...” Matthew began words, “and after a while” which means “and after a short or brief time” “came unto him” or “approached Peter” “they that stood by” which means “the other people who were standing in the midst and presence of Peter”, “and said” or “and uttered, declared and proclaimed” “to Peter” which refers to “one of the twelve disciples whose name means a little rock or stone”. Matthew shared how the other people who were “standing” around Peter came to him after a short time and made the following proclamation.
The verse continues, “... Surely you also are one of them; for your speech bewrays you.” Matthew added the word, “surely” or “truly and of a truth, indeed” “you also” which refers to “Peter even and indeed” “are one of them” which means “are one of Jesus' disciples”; “for your speech” or “because Peter's dialect and pronunciation” “bewrays you” which means “makes you clearly, evidently and manifestly one of His disciples”. Matthew shared how the people around Peter were convinced that he was one of Jesus' disciples because his “dialect” gave him away.
When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we see this “third” attempt to align Peter with Jesus. This time they referred to his “dialect” which must have been from “Galilee”, and his “speech” indicated he was with Jesus. Though Peter had many accusers, and they were correct in their assessments, Jesus was willing to continue a relationship with Peter even with foreknowledge that these things would occur. God loves “imperfect” people, and even when they believe themselves to be more than they are like Peter, He longs for a personal relationship with them through His Son Jesus. May all who read these words identify with Peter and yield their lives to Jesus who loves them more than their “speech” will ever tell.
Next time Matthew shares how Peter, “began … to curse and swear”, 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
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
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