Matthew 26:70Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

An extraordinary and unforeseen occurrence! When Peter witnessed the Master being arrested, he was so consumed with zeal that he took up a sword and severed the ear of the servant. Yet, in a moment when he should have been filled with righteous anger at the insults hurled, he instead denies his association with Christ! Who among us would not feel a surge of fury at the injustices unfolding at that moment? Nevertheless, the disciple, paralyzed by fear, not only fails to express any outrage but also disowns his Lord, cowering before the threats posed by a mere servant girl. And this happens not just once but twice and even a third time; all the while, he remains in the courtyard, answering the maid's inquiries as he exits through the gate.

Overcome by overwhelming fear, Peter abandoned his vows and yielded to human frailty, appearing as though paralyzed by terror and unaware of his own words. Yet you should grasp from my perspective, in a profound manner, that Peter is accused by a servant, representing human weakness—something lowly and characteristic of servants; he remained in this state of accusation until the rooster crowed, awakening his awareness.

Peter's treacherous denial serves as a testament we must acknowledge, for the Lord forewarned, “Thou shalt deny Me thrice” (Matt. 26:34). I find it easier to accept that Peter faltered rather than conclude that the Lord erred. But what exactly did he proclaim as false? In his impulsive vow, Peter relied on his faithfulness, overlooking the frailties of human nature. He paid dearly for his hasty commitment to lay down his life (see Jn. 13:37). This was no mere human shortcoming; it was a matter of divine command. If Peter suffered so profoundly for his reckless pledge, what then will be the consequence for those who do not believe?

Observe how the individual who had previously exhibited such great pride was now filled with fear in the presence of a vulnerable servant girl, having been abandoned by the favor of the Lord.

Peter was unsettled by the woman's inquisitiveness, as he sought to remain unrecognized. Referring to Jesus as “Jesus the Nazarene,” a title used by His skeptics and adversaries, the gatekeeper only deepened Peter's confusion. "I do not understand; I do not know what you are saying," Peter replied to her probing (Luke 22:57). How could it be that Peter, once so bold against powerful foes and insistent on his willingness to lay down his life for Christ, now chose to deny Him in front of a woman? The events in the Garden of Gethsemane had instilled a sense of fear in Simon's heart. The woman's inquiry heightened his bewilderment and trepidation, causing him to forget all that had occurred before, including the Lord's admonitions—culminating in his outright refusal of Jesus.

He replied, "I don’t know, and I’m uncertain about what you are saying." Feeling ashamed by both the inquiry and his response, Peter exited the inner courtyard and moved into the outer courtyard, possibly seeking to be less noticeable. At that instant, the first crowing of the rooster, the herald of the night, was heard; yet Peter either did not hear it or disregarded this admonition predicted by the Lord. In the meantime, the prophecy of the Lord was on the verge of being realized.

In this account, Peter denies knowing Jesus, a narrative captured by John, who was present. His first denial comes during the inquiry of the gatekeeper (John 18:16), followed by a second denial regarding a servant (Luke 22:58; Matthew 26:71; Mark 14:69), and finally a third denial when confronted by a relative of Malchus (John 18:26). It was at this moment that the rooster crowed for the second time (Mark 14:30, 42). Jesus then glanced towards where His devoted follower stood, and Peter wept profoundly. - Why did Peter yield to temptation so quickly? - In a situation of clear peril, he might have found more resolve. Yet, it is likely that had he displayed such bravery, he would have been arrested. The Lord permitted his faltering to prepare him for future ministry.

Regarding the account of Peter’s denial, the Gospel of John adds details to the story provided by the first Hebrews, noting that Peter was not alone in following Jesus from Gethsemane but was accompanied by ‘another disciple,’ which facilitated Peter’s access to the high priest’s courtyard. Additionally, the first three Gospels, while not strictly adhering to a chronological order of events, aim to present both the trial of Christ and Peter’s fall distinctly. They either tackle the trial first and then focus solely on Peter’s denial (as seen in Matthew and Mark), or the reverse (as Luke does). In contrast, the Gospel of John attempts to clarify the temporal connection between the two events.

Peter, feeling perplexed, remarked, “I do not comprehend what you are saying” (Mark 14:68). With these words, he stood up and exited to the courtyard; as he neared the entrance, a rooster crowed. The prophecy Jesus made regarding Peter’s denial is recorded by all the Gospel writers, yet Matthew, Luke, and John do not mention how many times the rooster crowed during Peter's three denials of Christ. In contrast, Mark, who crafted his Gospel based on Peter's testimony and was therefore well-versed in the details of this sorrowful occurrence, conveys Jesus’ prediction in this manner: “Verily I say unto thee, that now, this night, before the cock crows twice, thou shalt deny me three times” (Mk. 14:30).

In the midst of the throng, a young servant girl spotted the unfamiliar man and abruptly inquired, "Were you not also one of the disciples of Jesus from Galilee?" The unexpected nature of this question caught Peter off guard, leaving him no moment to reflect on his predicament. Thus, he responded with a gloomy and unwilling, "I do not know what you are talking about."

Peter not only refuted being a follower of Jesus Christ but also claimed ignorance of Him, even seeming confused by the inquiry of the maid. This was a falsehood, and Peter recognized that he was not being truthful.

The servant girl, taken aback by Peter's request to enter the courtyard where Jesus was being held, opened the entrance and inquired, "Are you a follower of this man too?" Peter replied, "I am not." Steadfast and determined as always, this chosen apostle was unaware that his brief response marked the onset of the significant downfall he had been warned about just moments earlier.