Matthew 26:33Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

What do you respond, Peter? The prophet declared, ‘The sheep will be scattered’; Christ affirmed this statement; and you retort, ‘No’? Is it not sufficient for you to recall what occurred previously, when you urged, Be merciful to yourself (Matthew 16:22) - and received a rebuke? Christ allowed Peter to stumble in order to teach him obedience in all matters and to recognize His wisdom as superior to his own understanding. Others also gained insight from his rejection, learning the frailty of humanity and the veracity of God’s word. When God has prophesied something, there is no longer a need to contest it or to rebel against many. As the apostle states, you shall have praise in yourself, not in him (Galatians 6:4).

Due to his immense self-assurance, Peter boldly declares his unyielding commitment to resist temptation. Consequently, Christ allows him to stumble, aiming to guide him in placing his faith not in his own strength, but in God, and to view Christ's words as more reliable than his own awareness. Additionally, Peter's statement “If all are tempted, I will not be tempted” reflects a sense of arrogance, exposing his pride and lack of understanding regarding his vulnerability. The Lord predicts that "this very night, before the cock crows," he will deny knowing Him, specifying that he will do so "three times."

This is neither foolishness nor deception, but rather the deep faith of the Apostle Peter and his passionate devotion to the Lord and Savior, as previously mentioned.

At a moment when he ought to have earnestly called out, “Lord, assist us!” he committed three serious wrongs: first, he contradicted both the prophet and Jesus Christ; second, he placed his own interests above those of others; and third, he depended solely on his own strength rather than seeking divine assistance. Consequently, the opportunity for his downfall was allowed, prompting him to cultivate humility and understand the limitations of self-reliance, so that others may also learn this lesson. Concerning the words noted by Luke (22, 31): “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asks you,” the Savior uttered these at a different time, specifically before He departed for the Mount of Olives, indicating a distinct purpose for them.

The passionate Peter refuses to entertain any doubts about his loyalty to the Master, whom he holds in deep affection and esteem. He may believe that others among the disciples could turn away from Christ the Lord, but he sees himself as incapable of such betrayal. He confidently declares that not only will he resist temptation tonight, but he will never succumb to it. How blinding is the darkness that pride casts over our spiritual vision when we allow it to persist!

PETER REPLIED TO HIM, EVEN IF EVERYONE ELSE IS TEMPTED BECAUSE OF YOU, I WILL NEVER BE TEMPTED. “What are you saying, Peter?” questions St. Chrysostom. The prophet foretold, “The sheep shall be scattered.” Christ affirmed this prophecy, yet you deny it. Isn’t it enough that you were warned before when you declared, “You are merciful, O Lord,” and faced reproof? What does this signify? When Christ announced, “One of you will betray Me,” you feared you might be that traitor. Yet now, as He plainly states, “All of you shall be tempted,” you not only contradict Him but do so repeatedly, as noted by Luke. What was the cause of this in him? It stemmed from deep affection and fervent zeal.

What profoundly impacted the disciples, leaving a lasting impression on them, were His remarks regarding His impending departure. Peter, perplexed, inquired, "Where are You going, Lord?" Jesus responded by clarifying His statement, saying, "Where I am going, you cannot follow Me now, but you will follow afterwards," signifying that Peter would eventually gain the strength to emulate Him in His sufferings, a strength he did not yet possess. Zealous and eager to make sacrifices, Peter found this future promise unsatisfactory.

The Apostle Peter exhibited great assurance, dismissing Jesus' forewarnings concerning him. He vehemently opposed the Lord’s words, declaring, “If all are led astray because of You, I will never be led astray.”

He had little time remaining with them, and just as He had previously informed the Jews, He now stated that the place He was going, they could not follow. At the same time, He imparted a new commandment, which would establish a community wholly distinct from the world, instructing them to love one another. However, Peter was dissatisfied and desired to accompany the Master. When the determined disciple fervently asserted that nothing could hinder him from following his Lord, even claiming that he would ‘lay down his life for Him,’ the Savior addressed his overconfidence by prophesying that before the rooster crowed, he would deny Him three times. The Savior, having made evident the suffering that awaited Him, also foretold that all of them would abandon Him that very night and disperse, but assured them that He would see them again in Galilee following His resurrection.

"I will never be tempted": this confidence and presumption of Peter undoubtedly stemmed from his deep love for the Lord; however, it required a strong warning, as it could lead to arrogance and hubris. Peter's statements contained two faults: first, he contradicted the Lord, and second, he placed himself above others, or more accurately, a third fault was that he credited all strength to himself. To remedy this, Christ permitted his stumble. In this way, the Lord sometimes allows His devoted followers to falter so that they may recognize their own vulnerabilities, learning not to depend solely on their own strength but to place their trust in God's assistance.

Peter, expressing undue confidence, declared to Him, “If everyone else stumbles, I will remain steadfast.” In this self-assured assertion, St. John Chrysostom identifies two transgressions: first, Peter's contradiction, and second, his tendency to elevate himself above others. It could also be noted that a third fault lies in his claim of self-sufficiency.