Mark 14:71

But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak. BUT HE BEGAN TO CURSE, [ anathematizein (G332)] -'to anathematize,' or wish himself accursed if what he BUT HE BEGAN TO CURSE, [ anathematizein (G332)] - 'to anathematize,' or wish himself accursed if what he was now to say was not true, AND TO SWEAR - or to take a solemn oath, "saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak....

66-72 Peter's denying Christ began by keeping at a distance from him. Those that are shy of godliness, are far in the way to deny Christ. Those who think it dangerous to be in company with Christ's disciples, because thence they may be drawn in to suffer for him, will find it much more dangerous to be in company with his enemies, because there they may be drawn in to sin against him. When Christ was admired and flocked after, Peter readily owned him; but will own no relation to him now he is deserted and despised. Yet observe, Peter's repentance was very speedy. Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall; and let him that has fallen think of these things, and of his own offences, and return to the Lord with weeping and supplication, seeking forgiveness, and to be raised up by the Holy Spirit....

See this fully explained in the notes at Matthew 26:57....

EXPOSITION MARK 14:1 NOW AFTER TWO DAYS WAS THE FEAST OF THE PASSOVER AND THE UNLEAVENED BREAD; literally, _the passover and the unleavened _τό πάσχα καὶ τὰ ἄζυμα. It was one and the same festival. The killing of the Paschal lamb took place on the first of the seven days during which the festival lasted, and during the whole of which they used unleavened bread. Josephus describes it as "the festival of the unleavened, called _Phaska _by the Jews." THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND THE SCRIBES. St. Matthew (Matthew 26:3) says, "The chief priests and the elders of the people." The two classes in the Sanhedrim who actually combined to put our Lord to death were those here mentioned by St. Mark. They sought how th

BUT HE BEGAN TO CURSE AND TO SWEAR,.... To wish the most dreadful things upon himself, and to swear by the living God; [SAYING], I KNOW NOT THIS MAN OF WHOM YE SPEAK: Matthew 26:74....

Mark 14:27. _And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee. But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I._ There was love in that utterance, and so far it was commendable; but there was also much self-trust in it, but there was great presumption, for Peter dared even to contradict his Master to his face; and, at the same time, he contradicted the inspired Scripture, for Jesus had told the disciples that it was written that the sheep should be scattered. Yet Peter boldly denied both what God had written and what Christ had said. Alas! there is nothing of evil which proud self-confidence will not make us do. God save us from such a spirit as that!...

PART IV. GIVING HIS LIFE A RANSOM FOR -- CHAPTER S 14-15. Chapter 14 _ 1. Seeking by Craft to put Him to Death. (Mark 14:1 .Matthew 26:2; Luke 22:1 .)_ 2. The Anointing. (Mark 14:3. Matthew 26:6; John 12:1) 3. Judas offers to betray Him. (Mark 14:10 .Matthew 26:14;...

PETER'S DENIAL. Peter had followed into the inner court of the chief priest's palace (Mark 14:54). Here he is challenged by a maid-servant. He denies all knowledge and understanding of her meaning. The redundancy of the sentence befits his embarrassment. Later, in the porch that gave access to the courtyard, the maid repeats her challenge. Peter denies again. The third denial is accompanied with oaths. Mk. retains his second cock-crow. MARK 14:72. The word rendered when he thought thereon * is obscure. It may also mean answering. Peter recalled the word of Jesus, and his tears were his answer (see Swete). [J. H. Moulton points out that the verb is found in the papyri _in_ the sense to set about doing a thing. So here he set to and wept, which is practically equivalent to RV. See also Allen's note

THE LAST ACT BEGINS (Mark 14:1-2)...

TO CURSE AND TO SWEAR. cursing and swearing. The verb _anathematizo_ is not peculiar to Biblical Greek, as alleged; for Deissmann shows, from the _Papyri,_ that it is of pagan origin, first coined by Greek Jews. (See _Light from the Ancient East,_ pp Mar 92:93.)...