Anyone is Capable of Betrayal | Anita Mathias: Dreaming Beneath the Spires

Matthew 26 69-75 Blog Through the Bible Project

Among Scripture’s saddest and most terrifying episodes.

What? Is this Peter? The brave, the bold, the impetuous, the plain-talking, the honest Peter? Him with his foot in his mouth? What’s up?

Fear can overpower anyone.

We just have to be gentle and forgiving with those who betray us.

And remember that we ourselves are capable of betrayal.

Peter Disowns Jesus

⁶⁹ Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said. ⁷⁰ But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.
Peter demonstrates his courage by his presence in that hostile environment, but then, suddenly, panic, irrational fear, hits brave, impetuous Peter. Anyone is capable of fear and betrayal.

⁷¹ Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
⁷² He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”
⁷³ After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.”
⁷⁴ Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!”
Again, Peter’s irrational fear takes over.
His Galilean accent was conspicuous in Jerusalem.
His Galilean accent was conspicuous in Jerusalem.
Immediately a rooster crowed. ⁷⁵ 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.
He sins, he betrays his Lord, he repents.