Matthew 26:69-75 & Matthew 27:1-10
Q.1. Who challenged Peter’s connection to Jesus? Why? How strongly did Peter deny knowing Jesus? What made Peter deny Jesus? How was his failure driven home? How did Peter react? – (Mt.26:69-75)
The Bible doesn’t cover up. It exposes the truth about the heroes of the faith. At least two of the people to challenge Peter about his relationship with Jesus were servant-girls. When he vehemently denied it, a bystander commented – even the way you talk gives you away (Mt.26:73). How could he deny with an oath – I do not know the man (Mt.26:72)? To understand his actions, we need to understand his expectations. Peter was a child of his day and had a clear bias toward the Anointed One being a Messiah ben David (Reigning Ruler), rather than a Messiah ben Joseph (Suffering Servant). It was inconceivable to him that One with such power would meekly submit Himself to the Cross. Peter had much to learn about the nature and character of God. In spite of the warnings from Jesus, the events of the last day were incomprehensible to Peter. The lesson for us is to make sure our expectations line up with God’s. Peter was spiralling out of control, and his third denial was the outcome (Mt.26:73-74). Then he heard the cock crow – and Peter remembered the word Jesus had said – ‘Before a rooster crows, you will deny three times that you know Me’ (Mt.26:75). Peter was broken and confused with his failure – and he went out and wept bitterly (Mt.26:75).
Q.2. Why did the Sanhedrin take Jesus to Herod? How did Judas try to atone for his betrayal? What did he do? Why did the chief priests refuse to take the betrayal money? What did they do? Why? – (Mt.27:1-10)
Though the Sanhedrin had decided that the blasphemy of Jesus in claiming to be God deserved a death sentence, they had no authority to make it a reality (Mt.27:1 c.f. Jn.18:31). They sought for that authority from King Herod, and eventually the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate. Matthew then related the story of the remorse of Judas, and his attempt to – … return the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.”… (Mt.27:3-4). Judas wasn’t the only person to realize that no amount of monetary gain is worth betraying a friend. This would have been accentuated by the perfect way in which Jesus had loved him – 1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. 2 During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him (Jn.13:1-2). However, the chief priest refused to take it back so – he threw the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and departed; and he went away and hanged himself (Mt.27:5). Though the chief priest would happily condemn an innocent man, he wouldn’t take the silver, since it was ‘blood-money’ (Mt.27:6). They used it to buy the Potter’s Field as a burial place for paupers. In doing this, they fulfilled the prophecy in Zechariah 11:12-13.