Morning Bible Study: Luke 22:54-62

Peter Denies His Lord

54 They seized him, led him away, and brought him into the high priest’s house. Meanwhile Peter was following at a distance. 

55 They lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, and Peter sat among them. 

56 When a servant saw him sitting in the light, and looked closely at him, she said, “This man was with him too.”

57 But he denied it: “Woman, I don’t know him.”

58 After a little while, someone else saw him and said, “You’re one of them too.”

“Man, I am not!” Peter said.

59 About an hour later, another kept insisting, “This man was certainly with him, since he’s also a Galilean.”

60 But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. 

61 Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter. So Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” 

62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Commentary

(the following is from Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary, 1706 -- www.christianity.com)

"Peter's fall was his denying that he knew Christ, and was his disciple; disowning him because of distress and danger. He that has once told a lie, is strongly tempted to persist: the beginning of that sin, like strife, is as the letting forth of water. The Lord turned and looked upon Peter. 

• 1. It was a convincing look. Jesus turned and looked upon him, as if he should say, Dost thou not know me, Peter? 
• 2. It was a chiding look. Let us think with what a rebuking countenance Christ may justly look upon us when we have sinned. 
• 3. It was an expostulating look. Thou who wast the most forward to confess me to be the Son of God, and didst solemnly promise thou wouldest never disown me! 
• 4. It was a compassionate look. Peter, how art thou fallen and undone if I do not help thee! 
• 5. It was a directing look, to go and bethink himself. 
• 6. It was a significant look; it signified the conveying of grace to Peter's heart, to enable him to repent. The grace of God works in and by the word of God, brings that to mind, and sets that home upon the conscience, and so gives the soul the happy turn. Christ looked upon the chief priests, and made no impression upon them as he did on Peter. It was not the mere look from Christ, but the Divine grace with it, that restored Peter."