Chapter

Matthew 26:75

ESV And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.
NIV Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: 'Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.' And he went outside and wept bitterly.
NASB And Peter remembered the statement that Jesus had made: 'Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.' And he went out and wept bitterly.
CSB and Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly.
NLT Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: 'Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.' And he went away, weeping bitterly.
KJV And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

What does Matthew 26:75 mean?

An unpleasant realization has come back to Peter in a rush, in a single moment. Christ had told Peter he would deny Jesus three times before the rooster crowed (Matthew 26:30–35). Peter had boldly and brashly declared that he would die with Jesus before such a thing could happen. He'd wielded a sword in a misguided attempt to prevent Jesus' arrest (Matthew 26:51; John 18:10). Now the rooster had called out and Peter is painfully aware of his denials: three, just as Jesus had said.

Peter had the chance to follow through on his earlier pledge of loyalty. He was in the courtyard of the home where Jesus was condemned to die, where Jesus was being beaten (Matthew 26:64–69). All Peter had to do was admit that, yes, he was one of Jesus' disciples. He could declare he did in fact believe that Jesus was the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:15–17). That would have been honest, even if it might have resulted in being taken for death, rather than denying the Lord.

Peter finally got away from danger after his third denial. This is not a clean escape, however. The crushing weight of his own disloyalty, cowardice, and lies is crashing down around him. Eventually, Peter will come to know that Jesus did not want him to die that night (John 18:8). He would experience Jesus' forgiveness and learn that he would one day die for Jesus, after all (John 21:18–19). Tonight, though, Peter would suffer in knowing that he was not as strong in himself as he thought he was. He would need that humility to carry out what God had next for him in the coming weeks, months, and years.
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