‏ Matthew 26

The Plot of the Chief Priests

This passage describes two key events: Jesus informing his disciples about his coming suffering and death, and the religious leaders plotting against him. While Jesus prepared his followers for the trials ahead, his enemies secretly planned his betrayal and crucifixion. This contrast between Jesus’ obedience to God’s plan and the leaders’ wicked schemes highlights the unfolding of God’s purposes even through human sin.

v. 1-2: After Jesus finished teaching his disciples, he told them, You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified. Jesus had spoken about his suffering before, but now he pointed out that it was very near. He wanted his disciples to be prepared. This teaches us that even when trouble is close, we can find strength in remembering that Jesus suffered first and understands our struggles (Hebrews 4:15 ^a).

–

v. 3-4: Meanwhile, the chief priests, scribes, and elders gathered in the palace of Caiaphas, the high priest, to plan how they might kill Jesus. These leaders, who should have been examples of righteousness, united in their hatred of Jesus. Their plan was to arrest him secretly and use deceit to carry out their evil intentions. This shows how far their hearts were from God, as they sought to destroy the very one sent to save them.

–

v. 5: The leaders decided not to arrest Jesus during the feast, saying, Lest there be an uproar among the people. They were afraid of the crowd, who respected Jesus as a prophet, and did not want to cause a riot. Their decision was not based on respect for God or the holiness of the feast, but on fear of losing their own power. This reveals how their actions were guided by self-interest rather than genuine devotion to God (Proverbs 29:25 ^b).

Christ Anointed at Bethany

This passage tells the story of a woman who anointed Jesus with expensive ointment as an act of love and faith. Her actions were misunderstood and criticized by some, but Jesus praised her devotion and declared that her deed would be remembered wherever the gospel is preached. This story shows the importance of honoring Jesus with our best and being willing to endure criticism for acts of devotion to him.

v. 6-7: Jesus was in Bethany, at the house of Simon the leper, when a woman came with a very expensive alabaster jar of ointment. She poured the ointment on Jesus’ head as he sat at the table. Simon may have been healed by Jesus, and he showed his gratitude by hosting him. The woman’s act was a powerful display of love and respect for Jesus. It showed her faith in him as the Messiah, God’s anointed one (Hosea 1:11 ^c). She gave what was precious to her, believing that nothing was too valuable for Jesus.

–

v. 8-9: Some of the disciples were upset and said, Why this waste? This ointment could have been sold for a lot of money and given to the poor. They thought the woman’s act was unnecessary and impractical. Their reaction shows a lack of understanding of true devotion to Christ. While charity is important, they failed to see the spiritual significance of her actions. We must be careful not to criticize others’ expressions of love for Jesus, even if they seem unusual or extravagant (Ecclesiastes 11:1 ^d).

–

v. 10-11: Jesus defended the woman, saying, Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for me. You will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. Jesus explained that there are daily opportunities to help the poor, but this moment was special because it honored him before his death. He reminded them that devotion to him should take priority at certain times. This does not diminish the importance of charity but highlights the need to recognize unique opportunities to glorify Christ.

–

v. 12: Jesus explained that the woman’s act was preparation for his burial. He said, She did it for my burial. Whether she fully understood or not, Jesus interpreted her act as an anointing for his coming death. It was both a loving tribute and a prophetic act, showing that even in death, Jesus was the Messiah. This reminds us to honor Jesus not only in life but also in his sacrifice for us (Luke 7:46 ^e).

v. 13: Jesus declared, Wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her. Her love and devotion would be remembered and celebrated wherever the message of Jesus is shared. This shows that Jesus values acts of true faith and devotion, even when others criticize them. Her story continues to inspire believers to give their best to Jesus, knowing that our love for him will bring him glory (Hebrews 6:12 ^f).

Christ Anointed at Bethany

This section shows a sharp contrast between kindness and betrayal. Right after Jesus is honored, we see someone close to Him act with great unkindness. Among Jesus’ followers, there are both true friends and those who pretend. Here, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, makes a deal to betray Jesus. This story reminds us that even in the best groups, there can be people who do wrong.

v. 14: Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples, decided to betray Jesus. This makes his actions even worse, because he was part of Jesus’ closest group. Even when there were only twelve disciples, one of them turned out to be a traitor. This shows that no group on earth is perfect. The disciples had special privileges and were close to Jesus, but still, one of them betrayed Him. No amount of duty or gratitude can stop someone whose heart is not right with God (Mark 5:3-4 ^g).

v. 15: Judas went to the chief priests and asked, “What will you give me if I deliver him to you?” (Matthew 26:15 ^h). The priests did not approach Judas; he went to them. Sometimes, people who seem to follow Jesus can be worse than anyone expects, and only need a chance to show it. Judas promised to help the priests arrest Jesus quietly, away from the crowds. The priests wanted to arrest Jesus but were afraid of causing a riot (Matthew 26:4-5 ⁱ). Judas’ offer solved their problem. This shows that people who pretend to be religious can do the most harm if their hearts are not right with God. If Judas had not been an apostle, he could not have betrayed Jesus in this way.

Judas did not offer to be a witness against Jesus, even though the priests needed evidence (Matthew 26:59 ^j). If there had been anything wrong with Jesus, Judas would have known, but he could not accuse Jesus of any crime. This shows that Jesus was innocent, even His betrayer could not find fault with Him.

Judas asked, “What will you give me?” He betrayed Jesus only for money. Jesus had never treated Judas badly. In fact, Judas was trusted with the group’s money, even though he was a thief (John 12:6 ^k). Judas did not betray Jesus because he hated Him, but because he loved money. The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, and it can even lead people to turn away from Jesus, as happened with Demas (2 Timothy 4:10 ^l). Satan tempted Jesus with riches (Matthew 4:9 ^m), but Judas tempted himself by asking for money, as if Jesus was something to be sold.

Judas was not lacking anything. He had food, clothing, and was welcomed wherever Jesus went. He had just been honored at a supper in Bethany. Still, he was not satisfied and asked the priests, “What will you give me?” This shows that it is not the lack of money, but the love of money, that leads people to do evil.

The chief priests agreed to pay Judas thirty pieces of silver. This was the price of a slave according to the law (Exodus 21:32 ⁿ), and it shows how little they valued Jesus (Zechariah 11:13 ^o). Judas accepted the first offer, showing he was not used to getting much. The priests paid him right away to secure his promise.

v. 16: From then on, Judas looked for a good chance to betray Jesus (Matthew 26:16 ^p). He was always thinking about how to do it. It is very wrong to look for chances to do evil. After making the deal, Judas still had time to change his mind, but he did not. Now, he felt he had to keep his promise to the priests, even if it meant betraying his Master, just as Herod kept his oath and had John the Baptist killed.

The Treachery of Judas Foretold

This section describes Jesus keeping the Passover with His disciples. Jesus followed all the Jewish laws, including the Passover, which remembered Israel’s escape from Egypt. Many people believed that when the Messiah came, He would deliver His people on the same day they left Egypt. This came true because Jesus died the day after Passover, which was when Israel started their journey out of Egypt.

v. 17: Jesus and His disciples prepared to eat the Passover at the usual time, on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This year, it was on Thursday. The disciples asked Jesus where He wanted to celebrate it. Even though Jesus was in danger from the priests, the disciples knew He would not skip this important command.

The disciples assumed Jesus would keep the Passover, even with trouble around them. Jesus never let fear or danger stop Him from doing what was right. We should not use problems as excuses to avoid our duties to God, especially the Lord’s Supper, which is like our Passover (1 Corinthians 5:7-8 ^q).

The disciples knew they needed to get ready for the Passover and asked, “Where do you want us to prepare it?” Before important times with God, we should prepare ourselves.

Jesus did not have His own house for the Passover. He became poor for our sakes (2 Corinthians 8:9 ^r). Even though He was King, He had no palace in Jerusalem (John 1:11 ^s).

v. 18: Jesus gave special instructions. He told the disciples to go to a certain man and say, “My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples” (Matthew 26:18 ^t). “My time” meant the time of His death, which God had planned. Jesus knew exactly when it would happen. We do not know when our time will come, so we should always be ready (Ecclesiastes 9:12; John 7:6 ^u). Jesus invited Himself to this man’s house, showing His authority as the Master. He did not ask, He commanded. When we welcome Jesus into our lives, He brings His people with Him (John 14:21; Revelation 3:20 ^v).

v. 19: The disciples did everything Jesus told them and prepared the Passover meal (Matthew 26:19 ^w). They got the lamb, herbs, bread, and wine ready for this special feast. When we want to experience Jesus’ presence, we must follow His instructions carefully.

v. 20: That evening, Jesus sat down to eat the Passover with all twelve disciples, including Judas (Matthew 26:20 ^x). In the first Passover in Egypt, the meal was eaten ready for travel, but now they sat together calmly. The law said a lamb was to be shared by a household, and here Jesus’ disciples were His household (Exodus 12:3-4 ^y). This reminds us that families should serve God together.

v. 21: During the meal, Jesus said, “One of you will betray me” (Matthew 26:21 ^z). Jesus knew exactly what would happen to Him and who would do it. This shows He is all-knowing. Even though He knew He would be betrayed, He still went forward to save us. He told the disciples so they would not be surprised and would trust Him more when it happened (John 13:19; 14:29 ^aa).

v. 22: The disciples were very sad when they heard this (Matthew 26:22 ^ab). They were shocked their Master would be betrayed, and even more upset that it would be by one of them. Each wondered if he might be the betrayer, saying, “Lord, is it I?” Even though they did not think they could do such a thing, they were honest about their own weakness. It is wise for us to be humble and search our hearts, especially before communion (2 Corinthians 11:29; 2 Kings 8:13 ^ac).

v. 23-24: Jesus explained further: the betrayer was someone eating with Him, even sharing the same dish (Matthew 26:23-24 ^ad). This made the betrayal even worse. Sharing a meal was a sign of close friendship. Jesus also said these things happened as the scriptures predicted (Psalm 41:9 ^ae). Even though God’s plan would be fulfilled, it would be terrible for the traitor. Jesus said, “Woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for him if he had not been born.” Betraying Jesus brings great ruin, and it would be better never to have existed than to betray Him.

–

v. 25: Judas, the one who would betray Jesus, also asked, “Is it I?” He tried to hide his guilt, even though he knew the truth. Some people pretend to be innocent when their hearts condemn them (Psalm 94:7 ^af). Jesus replied, “You have said so.” This was a gentle but clear answer, like saying, “Yes, it is you.” Even when people try to hide their sin, God knows the truth. In the end, those who plan to betray Jesus will be found out, often by their own words.

Institution of the Lord's Supper

This section describes the beginning of the Lord's Supper, a very important gospel ordinance established by Jesus. It was given to replace the old Passover feast and to remind us of a greater deliverance than Israel’s escape from Egypt.

v. 26: While they were eating the Passover meal, Jesus took bread. This was a special loaf, probably unleavened bread. He took it carefully so the disciples would notice. Jesus blessed the bread, setting it apart by prayer and thanksgiving. Then He broke it. This breaking shows two things: first, that His body would be broken for us, like the bruising described in Isaiah 53:5 ^ag; second, that His broken body is given to us, like a father breaking bread for his children. Jesus gave the bread to His disciples, not just the apostles, because all true followers of Christ have the right to this ordinance. He said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” This means we should accept Christ fully, believe in Him, and receive the benefits of His sacrifice (John 6:35 ^ah). The bread represents His body spiritually and sacramentally. It is not the bread itself, but what it signifies. This rejects the idea that the bread literally becomes Christ’s body, which is a misunderstanding. Instead, we partake of Christ’s grace, like receiving sunlight without holding the sun itself.

v. 27-28: Jesus then took the cup of wine, which was part of the Passover tradition. He gave thanks and gave it to the disciples, telling them to all drink from it. This cup represents His blood, the blood of the New Testament. Unlike the old sacrifices of bulls and goats, His blood would be shed once for all (Hebrews 9:19-20 ^ai). His blood was about to be poured out for many people, not just for Israel but for the whole world (1 John 2:2 ^aj). This blood brings forgiveness of sins, which is the foundation of all blessings and comfort for believers (Ephesians 1:7 ^ak). Jesus told them to drink it with joy because it is a rich blessing.

–

v. 29-30: After the meal, Jesus said He would not drink this wine again until He drinks it new with them in His Father’s kingdom. This could mean the times after His resurrection when He ate with His disciples, or the future joy believers will share with Him in heaven. The meal ended with a hymn, probably one of the psalms traditionally sung at Passover. Singing praises to God is an important part of worship, even in times of sorrow. After this, Jesus and the disciples went to the Mount of Olives to pray and prepare for what was coming (2 Samuel 15:30 ^al). This shows the importance of prayer and quiet reflection after receiving the Lord’s Supper.

–

The Apostles' Cowardice Foretold.

As Jesus and his disciples walked to the Mount of Olives, he spoke to them about the difficult trial they were about to face. Jesus warned them that a time of testing was coming for both him and his followers. He wanted them to be prepared for what would happen that very night.

v. 31: Jesus predicted that all his disciples would be offended and abandon him that night. He said, “All you shall be offended because of me this night” (Matthew 26:31 ^am). This meant they would be so frightened by his suffering that they would not have the courage to stay with him. Even though only Judas would betray him, all the others would desert him. Jesus wanted them to be alert and ready, because trials can come suddenly, even after a peaceful evening. The cross of Christ is a stumbling block for many, both the cross he bore for us (1 Corinthians 1:23 ^an) and the one we are called to bear for him (Matthew 16:24 ^ao). He also said this would fulfill the scripture, “I will smite the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered” (Zechariah 13:7 ^ap). When Jesus was arrested, his disciples would run away in fear.

v. 32: Jesus gave them hope by saying, “After I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee” (Matthew 26:32 ^aq). Even though they would leave him, he would not leave them. He promised they would meet again after his resurrection. This shows that Jesus, like a good shepherd, would gather his scattered followers back together.

v. 33: Peter spoke up and said, “Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended” (Matthew 26:33 ^ar). Peter was very confident and thought he was stronger than the others. He promised he would never leave Jesus, not just that night, but ever. If Peter had made this promise while depending on Jesus’ strength, it would have been good. But he was too sure of himself and thought he could not fall, even if others did. We should not think we are safe from temptation just because others fall (Galatians 6:1 ^as).

v. 34: Jesus warned Peter directly, “Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice” (Matthew 26:34 ^at). Jesus knew Peter better than Peter knew himself. He told Peter that not only would he be offended, but he would also deny Jesus three times before morning. Temptation can come quickly, and we may fall into sin before we realize it (Ephesians 6:16 ^au).

v. 35: Peter insisted, “Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee” (Matthew 26:35 ^av). He thought he would rather die than deny Jesus, which is what Jesus asks of his disciples (Luke 14:26 ^aw). But it is easier to say brave words than to act bravely when the time comes. All the other disciples said the same thing. This shows that even good people can be too confident in their own strength. Those who are most sure of themselves often fall the hardest (1 Corinthians 10:12 ^ax).

The Agony in the Garden

This section describes the deep sorrow and struggle that Jesus experienced in Gethsemane just before his arrest. Here, Jesus prepares for his suffering by praying to his Father. He brings his closest disciples with him, but they are unable to stay awake and support him. In this moment, Jesus feels the weight of what is about to happen—bearing the sins of the world and facing separation from God. He submits himself fully to his Father’s will, showing both his real human emotions and his perfect obedience.

v. 36: Jesus goes with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, which means “olive press.” This garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives is where Jesus begins his final suffering. He tells his disciples to sit there while he goes to pray. This shows us that Jesus wants to spend time with his Father in prayer before facing the cross.

v. 37: Jesus takes Peter, James, and John with him deeper into the garden. He begins to feel very sorrowful and troubled. These three disciples had seen his glory at the transfiguration; now they see his deep sorrow. Jesus wants close friends nearby as he faces this difficult moment.

v. 38: Jesus tells them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death.” He feels intense sadness and distress. He asks his friends to stay and keep watch with him. Jesus is open about his feelings, showing that he is truly human and understands deep pain and fear.

v. 39: Jesus goes a little farther, falls on his face, and prays, “O my Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” He calls God his Father and asks if there is any way to avoid the suffering that is coming. But he also submits himself completely to God’s will, not his own. This teaches us to trust God and obey him, even when it is very hard.

v. 40: Jesus returns to his disciples and finds them sleeping. He says to Peter, “Could you not watch with me one hour?” Even though Jesus is in great distress, his friends cannot stay awake with him. This shows how weak people can be, even when they want to help.

v. 41: Jesus warns them, “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” He tells them to pray so they will not fall into sin when they are tested. Our human nature is weak, even if we want to do what is right. We need God’s help through prayer.

v. 42: Jesus goes away a second time and prays, “O my Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” He continues to submit to God’s plan, even though it will be painful. He puts God’s will above his own desires.

v. 43: Jesus comes back and finds the disciples sleeping again. Their eyes were heavy, and they could not stay awake. This is a warning to us not to become careless or lazy, especially in serious times.

v. 44: Jesus leaves them again and prays a third time, saying the same words. He shows that it is okay to pray about the same trouble more than once, but always with an attitude of surrender to God’s will.

v. 45: Jesus comes to his disciples and says, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.” He tells them that the time has come for him to be arrested. It is too late to prepare now; the moment has arrived.

v. 46: Jesus says, “Rise, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.” He wakes his disciples and tells them to get up, because Judas and those who will arrest him are approaching. Jesus faces his suffering bravely, ready to fulfill God’s plan.

Jesus Betrayed and Arrested

This section describes the moment when Jesus is betrayed by Judas and arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. It shows how Jesus is handed over to his enemies, how his disciples react, and how Jesus submits willingly to what is about to happen. The story highlights Jesus’ courage, his fulfillment of scripture, and the weakness of his followers in a time of great danger.

v. 47: While Jesus was still speaking to his disciples, Judas—one of the twelve—arrived with a large crowd. The crowd was armed with swords and clubs and had been sent by the chief priests and elders. Judas took the lead, guiding them to Jesus. Even though he had been a close disciple, he now led Jesus’ enemies straight to him, showing how far he had turned away from his Master. The presence of such a large and armed group shows how much the religious leaders feared Jesus’ influence among the people.

v. 48–49: Judas had arranged a signal with the group: the man he kissed would be Jesus. He approached Jesus, greeted him with “Hail, Master!” and kissed him. This was a sign of friendship, but Judas used it as a sign of betrayal. His actions are an example of how someone can seem close to Jesus on the outside but be far from him in their heart. Judas’ kiss was meant to identify Jesus to the soldiers so they would arrest the right person.

–

v. 50: Jesus responded to Judas by calling him “friend” and asking why he had come. Even though Jesus knew Judas was betraying him, he did not use harsh words. Then the men with Judas stepped forward, grabbed Jesus, and arrested him. Jesus allowed himself to be taken, showing that he was willing to suffer for others and that he was in control, even as he was being captured.

v. 51: One of Jesus’ followers (we know from other Gospels that it was Peter) tried to defend Jesus by drawing his sword and cutting off the ear of the high priest’s servant. Peter wanted to protect Jesus, but he acted without thinking. Jesus’ followers did not understand that Jesus had to suffer and die as part of God’s plan.

v. 52–54: Jesus told Peter to put away his sword. He said that those who use violence will be destroyed by violence. Jesus reminded Peter that he could ask God for help—more than twelve legions of angels would come to defend him if he wanted. But if he did that, the Scriptures about the Messiah’s suffering would not be fulfilled. Jesus chose not to fight back, because he knew this was God’s will and the only way to save people from sin.

– –

v. 55: Jesus spoke to the crowd, asking why they came with swords and clubs as if he were a criminal. He pointed out that he taught openly in the temple every day, and they never arrested him there. But this was happening to fulfill what the prophets had written about the Messiah. Jesus showed that he was not hiding or running away; he accepted what was happening as part of God’s plan.

v. 56: All of Jesus’ disciples deserted him and ran away. Even though they had promised to stay with him, they became afraid and left him alone. This shows how weak and fearful people can be, even when they want to do what is right. It also fulfilled Jesus’ earlier words that his followers would abandon him when trouble came.

In summary, this section tells of Jesus’ betrayal and arrest. It shows that Jesus was not taken by surprise, but willingly submitted to God’s will. The disciples’ failure is a warning about relying on our own strength, and Jesus’ calmness is an example of faith and obedience, even in the face of suffering and injustice.

Christ in the High Priest’s Palace

This section describes what happened to Jesus after he was arrested. He is brought before the Jewish religious leaders for a trial at night in the house of Caiaphas, the high priest. The leaders are determined to find a reason to sentence Jesus to death. Peter follows at a distance, and the scene shows both the hostility of Jesus’ enemies and the weakness of his friends.

v. 57: Jesus is taken to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and elders are assembled—even though it is late at night. They are so eager to accuse Jesus that they stay up all night. The religious leaders gather together to judge Jesus, showing how determined and united they are against him.

v. 58: Peter follows Jesus “afar off,” right into the courtyard of the high priest. He sits with the servants to see what will happen. Peter wants to stay close, but not too close. He is curious, but afraid. This “following at a distance” shows his confusion and fear—and prepares us for his later denial of Jesus.

v. 59-61: The religious leaders look for false witnesses to testify against Jesus so they can put him to death. Many false witnesses come forward, but their stories do not agree. Finally, two witnesses claim Jesus said, “I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days” (Matthew 26:61 ^ay). They twist Jesus’ words to make him sound dangerous, but even these accusations do not really prove he is guilty.

– –

v. 62-63: The high priest stands up and asks Jesus to answer the charges. Jesus remains silent, fulfilling prophecy that he would not defend himself (Isaiah 53:7 ^az). Then the high priest puts Jesus under oath and demands to know if he is the Christ, the Son of God.

–

v. 64: Jesus answers, “You have said so,” meaning, “Yes, it is as you say.” He also says that soon they will see “the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Jesus is openly declaring that he is the Messiah and will one day return in glory as Judge (Psalm 110:1; Daniel 7:13 ^ba).

v. 65-66: The high priest tears his clothes and accuses Jesus of blasphemy. The council agrees that Jesus deserves to die. They claim he has insulted God by calling himself the Son of God, and so they condemn him to death.

–

v. 67-68: Then they spit in Jesus’ face, strike him, and mock him, saying, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is it that struck you?” They treat Jesus with great cruelty and disrespect, fulfilling prophecies that the Messiah would be despised and abused (Isaiah 50:6 ^bb).

–

Christ Denied by Peter.

This section tells the story of Peter denying Jesus. It is part of the suffering that Jesus experienced during his trial. While Jesus was questioned in the High Priest’s hall, Peter was the only friend nearby, but his presence did not bring comfort. Instead, Peter’s actions teach us lessons about both failure and repentance. We see how Peter fell into sin and how he later turned back to God with sorrow.

v. 69: Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard among the servants of the High Priest. Being in bad company put him in danger of sin. Often, being with the wrong people tempts us to do wrong things. Peter learned this lesson and later warned others to avoid such situations (Psalm 119:115 ^bc).

v. 70: A servant girl noticed Peter and said, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee” (Matthew 26:69 ^bd). Peter denied it. He replied, “I do not know what you are talking about.” He pretended not to understand, which was not honest. It is wrong to hide our beliefs or to pretend we do not know Jesus when we are asked. This is a form of lying, and God knows the truth in our hearts (Proverbs 24:12 ^be).

v. 71-72: Peter moved to the gateway, but another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth” (Matthew 26:71 ^bf). Again, Peter denied it, this time with an oath: “I do not know the man.” He was trying even harder to convince them he was not a follower of Jesus. This was serious because Peter had known Jesus very well, followed him closely, and even confessed him as the Christ before (Matthew 16:16 ^bg).

–

v. 73-74: Later, others came and said, “Surely you are one of them; your speech gives you away” (Matthew 26:73 ^bh). Peter began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the man!” (Matthew 26:74 ^bi). This was the worst denial. He used strong language to convince them he was not a disciple. Cursing and swearing showed he wanted to prove he was not like Jesus’ followers, but this was not the language of someone who follows Christ. Often, when people use harsh words or oaths, it is a sign they are hiding the truth. We must be careful not to deny Jesus in any way, either by our words or actions.

–

v. 75: Right after Peter’s third denial, a rooster crowed just as Jesus had said it would happen (Matthew 26:74 ^bj). This simple event reminded Peter of Jesus’ warning, and his conscience was awakened. He remembered Jesus’ words and realized how wrong he had been. This made him very sad, and he went outside and wept bitterly. Peter’s sorrow was real and deep. He left the courtyard to be alone and cried over what he had done. True repentance means feeling sorry for our sins and wanting to change. After this, Peter never denied Jesus again, but instead, he became a bold witness for him (Acts 2:36 ^bk). When we truly repent, we show it by living differently and standing up for Jesus, even when it is difficult.