Pride Comes Before A Fall

Although this incident is also recorded in Mark’s gospel, the word “never” (oudepote) is unique to Matthew not found in other gospel denials. The Greek word “not” is used 1,567 times but “never” is used only 17 times in the Bible. “No” is strong, but “never” is proud, passionate and powerful. The intense “never” word is used by Jesus on professors and not confessors of His name and doers of His word (Matt 7:23), saying, “Many will say to me on that day, ’Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ’I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’“ (Matt 7:22-23) It was used for dramatic effect to great effect. The prodigal’s brother protested twice to his father, “All these years I’ve been slaving for you and ‘never’ disobeyed your orders. Yet you ‘never’ gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.” (Luke 15:29) Of course, Peter had heard the story many times with great interest. Peter was the only original apostle to ever use this word; he would object dramatically again in Acts when the Lord commanded him to kill and eat unclean four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air: “Surely not, Lord! I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” (Acts 10:12-14)

Be Pious, But Do Not Be Presumptuous

34 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” 35 But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same. (Matt 26:34-35)

One night at sea, a ship’s captain saw what he thought were the lights of another ship heading towards him. He had his signalmen blink to the other ship, “Change your course 10 degrees south.” The reply came back, “No, you change your course 10 degrees north.”

The ship captain answered, “I am a captain. Change your course south.” Another reply came, “Well, I’m a seaman first class. Change your course north.”

The captain was mad now. “Darn, I said change your course south. I’m on a battleship!” To which the reply came back, “And I say change your course north. I’m in a light house.” (Adapted from Speaker’s Library of Business 48, Joe Griffith, Englewood Hills, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1990)

Jesus did not have the last word in this conversation, but his last sentence provoked Peter to swear to die with Jesus. What did Jesus say to provoke such a strong reaction in Peter? Jesus used the more forceful Greek word for “deny” that occurs 13 times and not the general word for “deny” that occurs 31 times in the Bible.

The regular “deny” (arneomai) means to contradict, disavow, reject, abnegate: but the “disown” (ap-arneomai) means to “deny utterly,” with the preposition “apo” added, meaning “off” or “away.” The contrast is to deny (the former) versus to disown (the latter), to reject versus to renounce Him, which was what Peter did. The former is rational - business, the latter is more emotional - personal. The best contrast for the uses of this word is in Luke 12:9, where Jesus says, “He who disowns (general “deny” - arneomai) me before men will be disowned (strengthened form: “deny utterly - ap-arneomai)” before the angels of God.” This is the word for “denying oneself” as a follower of Christ (Matt 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23).