Mark 14:66-72

4. PETER'S DENIALS 14:66-72

TEXT 14:66-72

And as Peter was beneath in the court, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest; and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked upon him and saith. Thou also wast with the Nazarene, even Jesus. But he denied, saying, I neither know, nor understand what thou sayest: and he went out into the porch; and the cock crew. And the maid saw him and began again to say to them that stood by. This is one of them. But he again denied it. And after a little while again they that stood by said to Peter, Of a truth thou art one of them; for thou art a Galilean. But he began to curse, and to swear, I know not this man of whom ye speak. And straightway the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word, how that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 14:66-72

850.

Please attempt a picture in mind of the Court of Caiaphaswhat is meant by the expression beneath the court or below in the courtyard?

851.

Why had Peter followed Jesus? What were his feelings about Jesus at this time?

852.

Since it was dark (in the early morning hour) how could the maid recognize Peter?

853.

Read John 18:16could we identify this maid with the one mentioned by John?

854.

What tasks were performed by these maids of the high priest?

855.

Why was Peter so quick in his denial? Wouldn-'t it have been easier to ignore the accusation? Discuss.

856.

Of what did Peter have to be ashamed in his association with Jesus?

857.

What was the porch or vestibule into which Peter went? Where was the cock? Why go into the vestibule?

858.

Read Matthew 26:29-75; Luke 22:55-62 and discuss who the second maid was in the second denial by Peter.

859.

Who accused Peter in his third denial? Why? Cf. Luke 22:59.

860.

What caused the by-standers to join in the verbal attack? Cf. Matthew 26:73.

861.

Please attempt a careful explanation as to what is involved in curse and to swearit is not profanity.

862.

Read Luke 22:61 for a reason for the weeping of Peter.

863.

What is meant by the word having thought thereon? i.e. in what manner did Peter think thereon?

864.

Why was Peter willing to defend his Lord in Gethsemaneface a mob armed with swords and clubs and yet wilt before a maid who pointed her finger at him?

865.

Attempt an explanation of the depth of repentance in the weeping of Peter.

COMMENT

Time.Early Friday morning, April 7, A.D. 30, between one and six o-'clock.

Place.The palace of Caiaphas, the high priest in Jerusalem. The exact location of the palace of Caiaphas is unknown, but it was probably not far from the temple.

Parallel Accounts.Matthew 26:69-75; Luke 22:55-62; John 18:15-18; John 18:25-27.

Outline.1. The first denial, Mark 14:66-68. Mark 14:2. The second denial, Mark 14:69-70 a. Mark 14:3. The third denial, Mark 14:70 b - Mark 14:71. Mark 14:4. Peter's repentance, Mark 14:72.

ANALYSIS

I.

THE FIRST DENIAL, Mark 14:66-68.

1.

The place of the denialbeneath in the courtyard.

2.

The accuser in the denialthere cometh one of the maids of the high priest.

3.

The light for the denialthe fire of the enemies of Jesusseeing Peter warming himself.she looked upon him.

4.

The accusation of the denialThou also wast with the Nazarene, even Jesus.

5.

The hasty, embarrassed denialI neither know, nor understand what thou sayest.

6.

Peter's retreathe went out into the porch.

7.

The sermon of the cockand the cock crew.

II.

THE SECOND DENIAL, Mark 14:69-70 a.

1.

Either the same maid or another one again accused Him. Cf. Matthew 26:71; Luke 22:58.

2.

He again denied it.

III.

THE THIRD DENIAL, Mark 14:70 b - Mark 14:71.

1.

Made by those who stood byperhaps aroused by the words of the maid.

2.

Peter bound himself under an oath that he did not know Jesus.

IV.

PETER'S REPENTANCE, Mark 14:72.

1.

The second crowing of the cock immediately after the third denial.

2.

The promise of Jesus called to mind.

3.

The meaning of what he had done broke his heart.

EXPLANATORY NOTES

I.

THE FIRST DENIAL.

Mark 14:66. beneath in the palace.) Or below in the court. Matthew, without in the hall. The chamber in which the Sanhedrim met was an upper room.

Mark 14:68. neither understand I.) Mark is careful to give every word; even this slight addition aggravates Peter's sin.

And he went out into the porch.) The exact place designated was a small forecourt in the open air. There the crowing of the cock might be heard more easily than in the inner court; this crowning was about one or two o-'clock,see note on Mark 14:30some three or four hours before the second crowing, giving therefore some intimation as to the length of the proceedings. According to the late Jewish tradition cocks were not kept in Jerusalem, being considered unclean; but there are distinct proofs to the contrary in the Talmud.

And the cock crew.) This is omitted by B, but is found in MSS of the highest authority, and in most ancient versions. It should certainly be retained.

II.

THE SECOND DENIAL.

Mark 14:69. And a maid.) This might give an impression that the same maid is meant; but Peter was then near the gate or outer door, and the person who would naturally see him was the portress. We know from John, chapter John 18:16, that a female kept the door. She could speak positively to his identity. Then came the second denial. There was an interval, it might be of two hours, between this and the preceding denial: another interval of about an hour (Luke Mark 14:59) passes and the bystanders, who had been present at the arrest, one recognizing him as the smiter of Malchus, unanimously charged him.

III.

THE THIRD DENIAL.

Mark 14:71. curse and to swear. Matthew has the same strong, expression, which Luke, the Pauline Evangelist, omits. But Mark adds a few sharp painful words, this (contemptuous), and the expression, whom ye speak of, as though he knew Him only from their statement.

The oldest MSS have immediately before the second time, which one omits.

IV.

PETER'S REPENTANCE.

Mark 14:72. the second time. This was about an hour before dawn. The trial was then just over: our Lord was now in the court passing towards the porch, bound and in the hands of the attendants, and turned, as Luke alone tells, to cast a look on the denier, That look Peter could not forget, but he could hardly bear to speak of it; it told too of unbroken affection, and that in relating his own great sin he might scarcely dare to record. What he does relate is the sudden reaction at the second cock-crowing, and when he thought thereon he wepthe will not even dwell on the bitterness of his anguish, which the other Synoptists record with natural sympathy. He omits also the words, he went out. He will say nothing of himself save what concerned the greatness of his fall, and the simple fact of his grief (a long weeping,) on the awakening of conscience. The rendering when he thought thereon, is correct; the Greek word implies exactly that when he turned his thought and recalled those words, he began to weep, and continued weeping. Other explanations are doubtful and unsatisfactory. N. B. Grimm (Lex. s.v.) gives good authority for this (Antonin. 10, 30; Plut. Plac. Philippians 4:1), and adds, absol. sc. quum perpendisset effatum Christi. Rather, quum animum advertisset ad effatum Jesu.

Thus terminates the preliminary inquiry. The sentence of death is not pronounced in a formal and legal way, but the decision that death was the proper penalty has been given; the only question that remains is how it is to be executed. On the illegality of the whole proceeding, see note on Matt. xxvii. I. (F. C. Cook)

FACT QUESTIONS 14:66-72

1069.

What slight addition in the report by Mark aggravates Peter's sin?

1070.

What intimation do we get of the length of the proceedings?

1071.

What was the total time involved in the three denials?

1072.

How is the word this used in Mark 14:71?

1073.

How do we learn of the unbroken affection between Jesus and Peter?

1074.

On what did Peter think that made him weep?