Self-Confidence Finds No Courage (Matthew 26:69-75).
length: 78:03 - taught on Mar, 15 2026
Class Outline:
Sunday March 15, 2026
Main idea: Wisdom and strength only come to a person through faith and submission to God and never by self-confidence; a lesson for us in the parallel trials of Jesus and Peter.
Intro:
There is a literature to the Bible, and a beautiful one. The gospels were a new way of literature that the world had not yet seen.
“A scene like Peter’s denial fits into no antique genre. It is too serious for comedy, too contemporary and everyday for tragedy, politically too insignificant for history - and the form which was given it is one of such immediacy that its like does not exist in the literature of antiquity.” [Erich Auerbach]
Matthew blends several themes together. He blends two parallel scenes together and jumps back and forth from one to the other.
Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant-girl came to him and said, "You too were with Jesus the Galilean." 70 But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you are talking about." 71 When he had gone out to the gateway, another servant-girl saw him and said to those who were there, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth." 72 And again he denied it with an oath, "I do not know the man." 73 A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "Surely you too are one of them; for even the way you talk gives you away." 74 Then he began to curse and swear, "I do not know the man!" And immediately a rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, "Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.
The “trial of Peter” darkly mirrors the trial of Jesus.
While Jesus testifies courageously and truthfully before the highest court in the land, Peter cowers before lowly strangers.
Matthew resumes Peter’s experience from where he left him sitting in the courtyard in vs. 58.
Peter was brave enough in his own self-confidence to go this far, but self-confidence will get him close enough to enter his own trial.
Lesson 1: Self-confidence will enter us into trial for which we have no power to overcome.
Everyone in Scripture who has trusted in themselves has had a great fall.
None of us escape this failure. But this will lead us to face a very important lesson. Self-confidence is a flawed foundation since every human is weak. Peter will learn this and become strong in the only way that mankind can.
This is the beginning of Peter’s real retreat from the Lord. Imagined power in self is penetrated by the real power from above, and then self does what it always does in that situation - flee.
Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked at Peter.
Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. [it is the power of pure holiness]
While Jesus testifies before the whole council and the high priest, Peter shrinks before the powerless servant girl and a few bystanders.
Would you be scared to say that you were “with Jesus?”
a servant-girl came to him and said, "You too were with Jesus the Galilean."
One of Christ’s names, Immanuel, means God with us (MAT 1:23; 28:20). The title and its meaning bookends the gospel of Matthew. Him “with us” is our source of power and courage.
God is meant to be with us, which obviously means that we are meant to be with Him. “With” in this case means communion, fellowship, walking and talking with, having the same mind. That is exactly what Jesus Christ is displaying in His own humanity while Peter is trying to go it alone.
Lesson 2: If you are human, you are weak. But you are not to remain so; you are to attach yourself with the One who made you.
For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, 29 so that no man may boast before God. 30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, 31 so that, just as it is written, "LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD."
Peter’s sudden trial:
The young girl (Greek confirms female and young) was heard by the wider audience. “He denied it before them all…”
Hence in a moment Peter finds himself in a courtyard that is now his own court of law.
While Jesus advanced to meet His enemies (26:46), Peter retreats by going “out to the gateway” of the courtyard. But his retreat only brings another.
When he had gone out to the gateway, another servant-girl saw him and said to those who were there, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth." 72 And again he denied it with an oath, "I do not know the man."
This girl gets more specific - Nazareth - meant as an insult.
"Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?"
“Blessed are you when people insult you”
Part of this blessing (being insulted and having to respond with love) is further progress on the journey to loss of self-confidence.
Peter falls into the trap of making an oath so that he can give weight to his lie.
"Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, 'YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FALSE VOWS, BUT SHALL FULFILL YOUR VOWS TO THE LORD.' 34 "But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,
Matthew’s hope is that we remember the scene inside the palace when Jesus was put to an oath by Caiaphas.
"I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God." 64 Jesus said to him, "You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN."
There is no safer place to be than in the will of God.
Safety is the glorification of God in the midst of opposition.
Peter is given a reprieve only to have it all crash down
A little later
A little reprieve. Luke tells us it was about an hour (he would have interviewed an eyewitness or Peter himself). Is it not like God to give us some time to think our scheme was successful before tearing it down like the house of cards that it is?
He simply wants you to stop delaying your full communion to Him in submission as a bride to a groom.
Delight [anag - to be delicate] yourself in the Lord;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.
PSA 45:10-11 [The wedding psalm of the King:]
Forget your people and your father's house;
Then the King will desire your beauty.
Because He is your Lord, bow down to Him.
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained;
4 What is man that You take thought of him,
And the son of man that You care for him?
Yet You have made him a little lower than God,
And You crown him with glory and majesty!
6 You make him to rule over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet,
Where is our love and longing for Him? Where?
He reveals your own weakness to you, in whatever way it takes, so that you will bow down to Him as His bride (PSA 45:11). That is the love story of the ages!
Third denial - unmistakable weakness.
Peter’s reprieve is soon over. The night air grows colder as his third denial draws nigh.
A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "Surely you too are one of them; for even the way you talk gives you away."
That darn Galilean accent.
The Lord Jesus was not afraid because the will of the Father is the way of safety. Peter thought only of his own safety.
Peter survives but his conscience dies for a while. He has not saved himself.
Then he began to curse and swear, "I do not know the man!" And immediately a rooster crowed.
Why three denials when one would be enough? He and we have to know without doubt -we’re weak and only He is strong.
The rooster crows right on cue. The drama is heightened. The Lord wants Peter to remember the prophecy and see clearly how weak he is.
He makes his final removal from the presence of Christ and flees while weeping bitterly.
In Jesus’ trial they mocked His prophetic powers.
"Prophesy to us, You Christ; who is the one who hit You?"
And simultaneously, His prophecy of Peter’s denials, down to the detail of number and a cock crowing, proves He is the Prophet of Israel.
Conclusion:
You are weak and God is going to show you that (insults, trials, thorns in your side). Stop delaying the inevitable - complete dependence on your Creator through Jesus Christ.
Self-confidence will bring no courage.
Our trials are going to come in unexpected ways, small and large.
Safety is the glorification of God in the midst of opposition.
You cannot save yourself.
When I am afraid,
I will put my trust in You.
In God, whose word I praise,
In God I have put my trust;
I shall not be afraid.
What can mere man do to me?
The Lord completely forgives Peter. [more on this to come]
Connect
Subscribe to our mailing list |
Grace and Truth Bible Church of Salem 1900 Hines S.E. Salem, Oregon 97302 |
 |
letters@cgtruth.org |
|
© Grace and Truth Bible Church of Salem All Rights Reserved. |