How Peter denied the Lord in Caiphas' house for the third time.
Matth. 26, 69-76.
But Peter was outside in the palace; and a maid came to him, saying, And thou also wast with JEsu of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying: I know not what thou sayest. And as he went out at the door, another saw him, and said unto them that were there: This also was with JEsu of Nazareth. And he denied again, and sware unto them: I know not man. And after a little while they that stood by came and said unto Petro, Verily thou also art one of these: for thy speech betrayeth thee. Then he began to curse himself and to swear: I know not man. And straightway the cock crowed. Then Peter remembered the words of Jesus, saying unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out and wept bitterly.
1 This is an excellent history, because of which the evangelists all four give special account of it. But it serves two main purposes. First, that we may learn to be humble and not presumptuous, since Peter so easily falls into such a great case, who before had risked life and limb so little for the sake of the Lord Christ. Second, that when we have fallen into sin, we may learn how to turn again to grace. For in Petro we will find a fine example of Christian repentance, what it actually is and how we are to be delivered from sins. But first we will tell the story of how it happened.
002 When Jesus was taken captive in the garden, and was led first to Annas the brother-in-law of Caiphas, and by Annas to the high priest, he was brought to the king.
John writes that he followed Caiphas from afar, went to Caiphas' house (because he had a customer there), and also took Peter with him; he sat down with the other servants inside the house by the fire and warmed himself. A maid asked him if he was a disciple of the man who had been captured. But he strongly denied it. And then the cock crowed for the first time.
(3) Matthew and Mark report that Peter went out from the fire into the courtyard, where he encountered something like this: first, another maid said to those who were standing around Peter: This is one of the disciples of Jesus that was taken captive. But Lucas says that it was a man who said this about Peter.
392- 2.2,63-ks. How Peter denied the Lord for the third time. W. xm. 943-950. 393
But it is probably to be thought, since the maid began to speak of Petro, that others also said theirs to it and have given the maid right. Then Peter denies for the second time.
4 Third, and about an hour later, as Lucas reports, there comes one of the high priest's servants, who, as John says, was a friend of the one whose ear Peter cut off in the garden; he attacks Peter more severely than the previous ones, and says publicly that he saw him in the garden with Jesus. Peter did not want to let this happen to him, because he was afraid of the skin and therefore began to curse himself and swear: I know not the man of whom ye say. Soon after this denial the rooster crowed. The Lord looked at Peter and struck his heart so hard that he now saw what he had done. Soon he runs away from Caiphas' house and weeps bitterly. This is roughly the story as it is written by all four evangelists.
(5) First of all, as mentioned above, we should learn from the pious man Petro our weakness, that we should not rely on other people or on ourselves. For our hearts are so utterly weak and unstable that they change every hour, as the Lord says, John 2:24, 25. Who would want to be always provided with such unstableness and weakness in Petro? When the Lord warns him, Luc. 22, 31, that Satan desires him and wants to sift him like wheat, how Peter has such a strong courage! how defiant and undaunted he is! "Lord," he says, "I will go with you to prison and to death." But since the Lord further warns him not to be too presumptuous; before the cock crows twice, he will have denied him three times, one sees that Peter thinks it is a fair fable. He thinks it is impossible, he wants to stand by him, should his life be lost. And he proves it with action. For when the Jews were in the greatest earnest, and caught the Lord in the garden, Peter was the first to go, and smote into the multitude, notwithstanding that the latter were so many and well armed, but they were but two that had weapons.
Who would believe that such a courageous man, who is so faithful to his Lord, would so shamefully deny him? For here no one desires to do anything to Petro or to any of his fellow disciples. The Lord had pleased them when he said, "Let these go." And especially here in Caiaphas' house no one desires to do them any harm. When now, without any danger, and perhaps out of compassion, the little thormaid said to Petro, "Were you not also with Jesus of Nazareth?" his heart and courage failed him, and he was afraid that if he said yes, it would be the same for him as for his Lord. Denies therefore. And when he was asked the second and third time, he cursed himself: "God give me this and that," he said, "if I know him or have ever seen him.
7 Let this example be a command to you, so that you may learn to recognize yourself and other people correctly and beware of presumption. For this can happen to Petro, who had a special heart for the Lord Christ above all other disciples, and who was so enlightened with God's grace that Christ himself says: "Blessed are you, Simon, flesh and blood has not revealed these things to you, but my Father in heaven"; and he gives him the name and calls him a rock: what will it be like with us poor people, who are much weaker in gifts, and otherwise far weaker and more frail? Therefore beware, be not presumptuous, think not, I am over the ditch, there is no more need. For your flesh is corrupt and worthless. Satan does not celebrate in this way; he is watching behind and in front, to see if he can bring us down and grieve our hearts. Therefore it is not to be trusted, but keep thee in the fear of God, and beware of all things.
(8) And as Christ warned Peter, Jacob and John above, saying, "Watch and pray, lest ye fall into temptation," so do thou also, watch, do not snore, be not sure, as if there were no more need; remember, my greatest enemy is nearest to me, I bear him in my bosom. Therefore, if God does not sit with me with His Holy Spirit, it is over. I cannot govern myself for a few hours, nor can I hold on.
ten. For this reason I will ask God for His Holy Spirit, so that He may govern and guide me through it, and either protect me from temptation, or graciously help me and not let me fall. This is the first thing that is held out to us in this history.
(9) And this also the Lord saith of Luc. 21:34, That the heart be not weighed down with eating and drinking. For this is our wickedness, that, like cattle, our food stings us. He who is full and has enough soon forgets God and His word, or does not take much notice of it. Then it is soon done, before one dares, that one gets into the devil's yarn. Therefore, all three things must be together, that you fear God, watch and be sober, and pray without ceasing, and there will be no need. For even though we cannot be completely overcome by temptation and sometimes fall because of weakness, God will lead us out again through His Holy Spirit so that we will not remain in it.
(10) Secondly, this history serves to comfort us, that the fruit of the suffering of our Lord Christ can be seen finely here; and we not only find in Petro a special example of God's grace and mercy, but also learn that when it comes to us that we have done wrong and sinned, how we should send ourselves and seek mercy.
(11) The fall of Petro is terrible and heavy, as he feels most of all, and because of it he must no longer stay among the people, but hide himself away and weep bitterly. But then it is seen that the Lord not only told him of such a case beforehand, but afterwards accepted him graciously and did not let such sin be repaid. For on Easter day, before the Lord Christ was revealed, the angel who was sitting by the tomb commanded the women to tell his disciples, and especially Petro, that the Lord had risen. And the Lord Himself, soon after revealing Himself to Magdalene and the other women, appears to Petro and comforts him. All these things are comfort to us, though we are glad that we should not let the confidence of grace depart from our hearts, but that we should not be deceived.
as the Lord showed himself against Peter, do not doubt that he died for our sake; his suffering should be a comfort and help to us, even though we are poor sinners. For if sinners were not to enjoy such suffering, his disciples, and especially Peter, would have been the first to be rejected by him, and he would never have taken care of them, because they had fled from him and denied him so shamefully. But the merciful Lord does not do this: they are still dear disciples to him, although they had behaved badly. Mark this and comfort your heart with it, for the same will the gracious God do with you.
012 Yea, sayest thou, but how is poor Judah? There you can see that all grace is gone. Whether we shall hear of such things hereafter, yet it is necessary to have good instruction, which Peter hath promoted and preserved, but Judah hath hindered and brought into despair: that we may learn rightly from Peter, and beware of that which Judah hath met with.
(13) First of all, we must make a distinction between Peter and Judah, also because of their sins. For although they both go against God's will by sinning and thus incur eternal damnation, Judah's sin is still greater than Peter's. Judas goes after his sin voluntarily and thoughtfully, and although the Lord warns him so often and faithfully, sin loves him more. This is not the case with Petro; it comes about, and is not a superior will, but an accidental stupidity or weakness, that he denies Christ. If he had been afraid that this would happen to him, he would never have come to Caiphas' house.
14 Such a difference in sin is evident, that though they both sin, Peter and Judas, and fall into God's judgment, yet Judas' sin is greater than Peter's. Just as the Lord makes a distinction between Pilate and the Jews, John 19, and says, v. 11: "He who delivered me to you has the greater sin! Therefore Judas has a more fearful conscience and greater suffering than Peter. For the burden that is upon him is heavier, and makes it harder for him to bear.
Peter deserved to die because of his sin, just as much as Judas. Thus Paul says of himself: that he persecuted Christ and his believers, he did so ignorantly; thus he also points out such a difference that his persecution, although it was a damnable, deadly sin, was not the same as the persecution of the chief priests and Pharisees. Such a difference is useful to notice, and to beware of such wanton, willful sins, as of a burden that will be hard upon us, and that we must fear to go down under it.
(15) Although there is such a difference in sin, that one is less and the other greater, and without doubt the greater one weighs down and presses the conscience more, yet God's word and promise stands, that because of sins no one should despair nor despair, but have all grace toward God through the Lord Christ, His only begotten Son.
16 Now Judas and Peter are separated in this play. Judas has a heavier burden on his back than Peter, as reported; therefore he falls into despair and thinks that there is neither help nor counsel in eternity. But why? Because he had diligently listened to God's word, despised it, and nothing of it improved. Since he was in need of comfort and did not have the word, it was impossible that he could have been helped. Peter also wept bitterly, fearing and trembling because of his sins, but he had heard the word of the Lord more diligently and had better knowledge of it. Therefore, since the trouble is now at hand, he takes it before him and keeps to it, comforting himself with it and hoping that God will be merciful to him. This is the right help in such distress, which poor Judah lacks. That this is what happened to Petro, and that he kept God's word and grace, is testified by the Lord, Luc. 22, where he says, v. 32: "I have prayed for you, that your faith may not cease. When he denies Christ, there is not a speck of faith in his heart; but when conscience comes and troubles him, faith is found again and sustains him.
such word of Christ that he may not fall into despair.
Therefore, learn here what is the right repentance. Peter weeps bitterly. This is the beginning of repentance, that the heart may rightly know sin, and be sorry for it; that there may be no desire or love for it, and that one may continue in sins, but be grieved from the heart that one has not kept God's will and has sinned.
18 But we cannot do this of ourselves; the Lord must look upon us as he looks upon Peter here. For our nature is such that we love sin and continue in it with pleasure forever. As we see here with Peter: since he has once denied Christ, he continues always and cares for nothing. But when the cock crows and the Lord looks around for Petro, he first strikes himself and thinks about what he has done. Now sin, according to its nature and ours, cannot do otherwise than to frighten, to threaten with God's wrath and to make the heart full of fear; as can be seen in both Judah and Petro. Judah, when he realizes his sin, becomes so afraid that he does not know where to stay. Petro is also so frightened that he has to get away from people and cannot cry enough; his sin frightens him so much.
(19) In such anguish and heartache, it is best that you first humble yourself before God and freely confess your sin: O God, I am a poor sinner, and can no more sin than you can put away from me with your grace. After that, you should abide by God's word and promise and say: "But be merciful to me for the sake of your Son Christ Jesus. When the heart is thus comforted by God's word, and certainly hopes that God will be merciful for the sake of His Son, then the fear must subside and comfort will certainly follow. This then is a true and complete repentance, to humble oneself because of sins and to take comfort in the Lord Christ and His suffering.
20 Thus Peter no doubt comforted himself with the word that the Lord had spoken to him over the table, Luc. 22:31: "The devil hath desired thee; but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith cease not."
For though his heart was full of anguish and sorrow, he did not despair as Judas did. But because the reason for such small consolation was God's word and promise, he increased wonderfully, and on the holy Easter day, when he saw Christ again, he grew so great that all displeasure disappeared, and only heartfelt humility remained, so that he had to confess his weakness and admit his guilt as a poor sinner. Apart from this humility and confession, sin left nothing in his heart. Consolation, like a strong bosom of clouds, quenched and extinguished the fire that had been burning in his heart.
(21) Therefore, since we cannot live without temptation, we should prepare ourselves in time to hear, practice and remember God's word diligently, so that we may have comfort like Peter.
22 Therefore this example of St. Peter is here for our instruction and comfort, that we should learn both: first, not to be sure, but to keep ourselves in the fear of God, because it can happen so soon that even great saints fall so hardly; and second, whether we have fallen, that we nevertheless keep God's word, so that it comforts us, and do not despair because of sins, as Judas did. For just as God does not want anyone to rise up because of his gifts; we are all to fear, watch and pray: so also he does not want anyone to despair because of sins. For it was to ward off such evil that the Son of God became man and died on the cross. Therefore it is said: If you want to be a true Christian, fear God and trust in his grace and word, and you will find comfort, salvation and help here and there. May our dear Father in heaven, through his Holy Spirit, grant this to us all, and for the sake of our dear Lord and Savior Christ, amen.