Mat 26:33 | KingComments | STEP | The Lord knows His disciples both in their desires and in their weakness. They love Him, but are not able to follow Him on the way to the cross. In this night, when he is captured, they will flee from Him. They cannot bear the opposition with Him. They show their weakness in the hour of trial. He warns them in advance. He has written it down in His Word Himself. They flee not because the Word has to be fulfilled, but because they are afraid. At the same time it is apparent that the Lord knows them and His Word bears witness to this. He also testifies that He will gather the scattered sheep again and that He will go ahead of them to Galilee ( ). That will be when He is risen and all the work, in which they could not participate, is accomplished. His death is not the end and the disciples’ unfaithfulness is not the end. Peter testifies that he does not believe the Lord. The reason is that he does not know himself. Sincere, but without self-awareness, he swears his absolute faithfulness to Him. He relies on His own strength to stand, detached from the Lord. However, we will only stand if we do not rely on ourselves, but only on Him. The Lord must reprove him. He tells Peter in advance how he will deny him three times. He also gives an additional sign: if Peter has denied him, the rooster will crow. But Peter maintains his attitude. He disputes the Lord’s truth in favor of his own faithfulness. He is supported in this by all the disciples. The Lord does not go into it any further.

‏ Matthew 26:33

The Falling Away Foretold

The Lord knows His disciples both in their desires and in their weakness. They love Him, but are not able to follow Him on the way to the cross. In this night, when he is captured, they will flee from Him. They cannot bear the opposition with Him. They show their weakness in the hour of trial. He warns them in advance. He has written it down in His Word Himself. They flee not because the Word has to be fulfilled, but because they are afraid. At the same time it is apparent that the Lord knows them and His Word bears witness to this.

He also testifies that He will gather the scattered sheep again and that He will go ahead of them to Galilee (Mt 28:7 ; 16). That will be when He is risen and all the work, in which they could not participate, is accomplished. His death is not the end and the disciples’ unfaithfulness is not the end.

Peter testifies that he does not believe the Lord. The reason is that he does not know himself. Sincere, but without self-awareness, he swears his absolute faithfulness to Him. He relies on His own strength to stand, detached from the Lord. However, we will only stand if we do not rely on ourselves, but only on Him.

The Lord must reprove him. He tells Peter in advance how he will deny him three times. He also gives an additional sign: if Peter has denied him, the rooster will crow. But Peter maintains his attitude. He disputes the Lord’s truth in favor of his own faithfulness. He is supported in this by all the disciples. The Lord does not go into it any further.