Matthew 26:33-35

Peter Protests That He Will Certainly Remain Faithful. He will Not Be One Who Is Scattered (26:33-35).

This is the final part of the Matthaean sandwich which began at Matthew 26:20 (betrayal, Lord's Supper, denial), bringing home that God's wonderful provision in salvation has come to a world steeped in denial. And yet these three verses also form a sandwich in themselves, in that we have Peter says, Jesus says, Peter says, emphasising Peter's failure. Mention of ‘the others' is almost an afterthought. The failure of Peter mirrors the whole, for by the time that this was written Peter was the acknowledged ‘first among equals', and probably to large parts of the church representative of them all.

Analysis.

a But Peter answered and said to him, “If all shall be offended in you, I will never be offended” (Matthew 26:33).

b Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you, that this night, before the cock crow, you will deny me three times” (Matthew 26:34).

a Peter says to him, “Even if I must die with you, yet will I not deny you”. Likewise also said all the disciples (Matthew 26:35).