Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Matthew 26:74
Then began he to curse and to swear, [saying,] I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.
Then began he to curse … – Peter was now irritated beyond endurance. He could no longer resist the evidence that he was known. It had been repeatedly charged on him. His language had betrayed him, and there was a positive witness who had seen him. He felt it necessary, therefore, to be still more decided, and he accordingly added to the sin of denying his Lord the deep aggravation of profane cursing and swearing, affirming what he must have known was false, that he knew not the man. Immediately then the cock crew – that is, the second crowing, or not far from three in the morning.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 74. Then began he to curse and to swear] Rather, Then he began positively to affirm – , from intensive, and , I lay down, place, affirm. But the common reading is , which signifies to wish curses on himself. The former reading is supported by almost every MS. of value, and is, beyond dispute, the true reading, and has been received by Griesbach into the text. The business is bad enough, but the common reading makes it worse. In Mt 26:72, Peter is said to deny with an oath; here, he positively affirms and swears, probably by the name of God, for this is the import of the word . This makes the fourth and final gradation in the climax of Peter’s fall. From these awful beginnings it is not unfair to conclude that Peter might have gone almost as far as Judas himself, had not the traitorous business been effected before. Yet all this evil sprung simply from the fear of man. How many denials of Christ and his truth have sprung since, from the same cause!
The cock crew] This animal becomes, in the hand of God, the instrument of awaking the fallen apostle, at last, to a sense of his fall, danger, and duty. When abandoned of God, the smallest thing may become the occasion of a fall; and, when in the hand of God, the smallest matter may become the instrument of our restoration. Let us never think lightly of what are termed little sins: the smallest one has the seed of eternal ruin in it. Let us never think contemptibly of the feeblest means of grace: each may have the seed of eternal salvation in it. Let us ever remember that the great Apostle Peter fell through fear of a servant maid, and rose through the crowing of a cock.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Then began he to curse, and to swear,…. He swore before, and now he began “to curse”; not Christ, as Saul compelled some to blaspheme him, who professed him, and as the Jews formerly cursed Christ, and his followers, in their synagogues: for Peter’s crime was bad enough, it need not be made worse than it was: he could never call Jesus accursed; in so doing he would have sinned the sin against the Holy Ghost; but he cursed himself; “he began to imprecate himself”, as the Arabic version renders it; he made dreadful imprecations and wishes; wished that all the miseries and calamities he could think of might fall upon him, if he was one of the disciples of Jesus of Nazareth, or knew anything of him: saying,
I know not the man; if I do, God do so to me, or more also: let vengeance light upon me; may I be the most miserable creature in the world, if I know anything of him;
and immediately the cock crew: as he was swearing and cursing in this manner; as soon as ever the words were out of his mouth, and he had in this sad and solemn manner three times denied that he knew Christ, or was ever with him, or a disciple of his. It is forbid, by a Jewish canon, to keep cocks at Jerusalem; it runs thus c:
“they do not bring up cocks in Jerusalem, because of the holy things, neither do the priests in all the land of Israel, because of the purifications.”
Whether this canon was then in being, or how it was dispensed with, or whether there was any particular providence in the cock being here now, and so nigh the high priest’s palace, is not certain; but one there was: nor can the Jews deny that there were cocks at Jerusalem; for they themselves speak of a cock, d, “that was stoned at Jerusalem”.
c Misn. Bava Kama, c. 7. sect. 7. T. Bab. Bava Kama, fol. 82. 2. Abot R. Nathan, c. 35. Maimon. Hilch. Beth Habechirah, c. 7. sect. 14. Shalshelet Hakabala, fol. 9. 2. d T. Hieros Erubin, fol. 26. 1. Caphtor, fol. 42. 1.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Then began he to curse and to swear ( ). He repeated his denial with the addition of profanity to prove that he was telling the truth instead of the lie that they all knew. His repeated denials gave him away still more, for he could not pronounce the Judean gutterals. He called down on himself () imprecations in his desperate irritation and loss of self-control at his exposure.
The cock crew ( ). No article in the Greek, just “a cock crew” at that juncture, “straightway” (). But it startled Peter.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
To curse [] . A new development of profanity. Hitherto he had merely sworn. Now he adds imprecation; invoking curses on himself if the case be not as he says.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
74. Then he began to curse and to swear. In this third denial, Peter’s unfaithfulness to his Master reached its utmost height. Not satisfied with swearing, he breaks out into cursing, by which he abandons his body and soul to destruction; for he prays that the curse of God may fall upon him, if he knows Christ. It is as much as if he had said, May I perish miserably, if I have any thing in common with the salvation of God! So much the more ought we to admire the goodness of Christ, who rescued his disciple from such fatal ruin, and healed him. Now this passage shows, that when a man falling through weakness of the flesh, denies the truth though he knows it, this does not amount to “blasphemy against the Holy Spirit” (Mat 12:31.) Peter had unquestionably heard from the mouth of the Lord how detestable treachery it is to deny him before men; and what dreadful vengeance, before God and before his angels, (Mat 10:39 Luk 12:9) awaits those who, through a cowardly dread of the cross, abandon the confession of faith; and not without reason had he, a little before, preferred death and every kind of torment to denying Christ. Now, therefore, he throws himself down knowingly, and after previous warning; but afterwards he obtains pardon; from which it follows that he sinned through weakness and not through incurable malice. For he would willingly have rendered to Christ the duties of friendship which he owed him, had not fear extinguished the sparks of proper affection.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(74) To curse and to swear.We may infer from the two words that he used some common formula of execration, such as, e.g., God do so to me and more also (1Ki. 19:2; 1Ki. 20:10), as well as the oath-formula, By Heaven, or By the Temple.
Immediately the cock crew.St. Mark alone records the first cock-crow. The Greek has no article; a cock crew. We find from Mar. 13:35 that cock-crowing had become a familiar phrase, as with us, for the earliest hour of dawn.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
74. Curse and to swear No doubt he first swore, to show that he belonged not to the prophet of Nazareth; but now a real and insane rage seems to have complete mastery, and Satan is sifting him like wheat. But it was in this very depth of abandonment that the voice of convicting mercy reached him. It was the time for the monitory cock to crow for Peter, and he crew.
At this moment of gross denial and profanity Peter was in a state of mortal sin and condemnation. He had fallen from grace; and death, in his present impenitent condition, would have consigned him to remediless woe.
Luke tells us that “the Lord turned and looked upon Peter,” and that Peter thereupon reflected upon his Lord’s warning. Probably our Lord cast this glance as he was led from Annas to Caiaphas. Or at this third denial the door of the apartment where Jesus and Annas were may have been opened upon the court, and Peter may have painfully found himself denying and swearing under his Lord’s glance. That glance doubtless was turned full upon him with a significance that called Peter to his recollections. It does not appear that Peter came into the examination room or was present with his Lord.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘Then he began to curse and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the cock crowed.’
So he began to deny Jesus vehemently, reinforcing his words with oaths and curses. His denial had reached its ultimate depth. And at that point the cock crowed. In fact cocks would have crowed at various times through the night, so the point here is that this was the cock that heralded morning, and which he noticed. It was the one that had awoken his conscience.
There are no grounds here for suggesting that it was Jesus Whom he cursed. Had he done that it would surely have been brought out as being more than a denial. He rather cursed either himself, or some of those who were, in his view, glaring at him.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Mat 26:74 . ] for previously he had not resorted as yet to the , but had contented himself with the simple (Mat 26:72 , ). Whereas before he had only sworn , he now takes to cursing as well. “Nunc gubernaculum animae plane amisit,” Bengel. The imprecations were intended to fall upon himself (should he be found, that is, to be telling an untruth). For the word , which was in all probability a vulgar corruption, comp. Rev 22:3 ; Iren. Haer . i. 13. 2, 16. 3; Oecolampadius, ad Act. xxiii. 12.
] recitantis , as in Mat 26:72 .
] a cock . There are Rabbinical statements (see the passages in Wetstein) to the effect that it was not allowable to keep animals of this sort in Jerusalem; but as there are other Rabbinical passages again which assert the opposite of this (see Lightfoot, p. 483), it is unnecessary to have recourse (Reland, Wolf) to the supposition that the bird in question may have belonged to a Gentile , may even have been about Pilate’s house, or some house outside the city.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying , I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.
Ver. 74. Then began he to curse and swear ] This he had learned belike of the ruffianly soldiers, with whom, usually, execrations are but expletives, and horrible oaths interjections of speech. But though Israel play the harlot, yet why should Judah offend? come not ye to Gilgal, neither go ye up to Bethaven, nor swear “The Lord liveth,” Hos 4:15 . David swore once such an oath, and it was enough of that once, 1Sa 25:22 . But Peter swears and forswears again and again, and that after warning; as Aaron went down and did that in the valley which he heard forbidden in the Mount, and then excuseth it by his fear of the people. That cowardly passion is the mother of many sins, of lying especially,Zep 3:13Zep 3:13 , and swearing too, to save the life. But better die than lie: and better bear than swear. We may not break the hedge of any commandment to avoid any piece of foul way, but go in a right line to God. Quas non oportet mortes praeeligere, quod non supplicium potius ferre, imo in quam profundam inferni abyssum non intrare, quam contra conscientiam attestari? saith holy Zuinglius in his third Epistle. What should not a man suffer, rather than sin? Peter sinned to some purpose, if it were, as some have thought, that he not only cursed himself, if he knew Christ, but also cursed Jesus Christ, that so he might appear to be none of his disciples.
And immediately the cock crew ] Gallicinium complevit Christi vaticinium. The cock proved a preacher to Peter. Despise not the minister though never so mean; it is the foolishness of preaching that must bring men to heaven. Cocks call men out of their beds, and there hence have their name in the Greek tongue, a They constantly keep the law of crowing at those set times that nature hath enjoined them; they cry loud and thick against a storm. So do faithful ministers, when gotten upon their battlements; they clap their own sides first, and then constantly call up others. They cry aloud, and spare not, but lift up their voice like a trumpet, to tell Judah of their sins, &c. The roaring lion of hell trembleth at their note: and the world’s Sybarites cannot bear their disturbances, and therefore wish them banished. But wisdom is justified of her children, and though fierce before, and untamable, yet now “a little child shall lead them,”Isa 11:6Isa 11:6 .
a , quod nos excitet e lecto.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
74. ] . is a corrupted form, belonging probably to the class of vulgarisms. occurs Rev 22:3 . ‘Nunc gubernaculum anim plane amisit,’ says Bengel.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Mat 26:74 . (here only, . in T. R., probably belonging to vulgar speech, Meyer), to call down curses on himself, sign of irritation and desperation; has lost self-control completely. : just after this passionate outburst a cock crew . “Magna circumstantia,” Beng.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
curse: i.e. to call down curses on himself if what he said were not true. Greek. katanathematizo. Occurs only here. See App-160.
the = a. No Art. See note on Mat 26:34 and App-160.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
74.] . is a corrupted form, belonging probably to the class of vulgarisms. occurs Rev 22:3. Nunc gubernaculum anim plane amisit, says Bengel.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Mat 26:74. , …, he began, etc.) Hitherto He had not gone so far: now he altogether lost command of himself.-,[1166] to curse) others read :[1167] that double compound, however, is nowhere to be met with: whereas Irenaeus (Book I., ch. 13, 2) has [the participle first aorist active of ]. Justin Martyr also says, , it is a cursed thing to be joined with them that curse. And again he joins together [an universally recognised word] and [a derivative of ]. cumenius, on Act 23:12, says, , i.e., The word is used with an intensive force, as also the word [from which is derived]: for it is placed together with that which is opposed, and is condemned together with it. The word is always taken in an evil sense as in Rev 22:3; whereas is also used in a good sense.- , the man) compare however ch. Mat 16:16.-, immediately) An important circumstance (magna circumstantia).-, crowed) Sins committed in the early morning are heinous.
[1166] In his App. Crit., Bengel says in loc., . Comp. Al. Aug. 1, 2, 4; Byz. Cant. Gehl. Mosc. Steph. omn. Wo. 1, 2: et quindecim et riginti quinque alii, Orig. ut videtur () Er. et Al. vid. Gnom.-(I. B.)
[1167] Such is the reading of E. M.-(I. B.)
is supported by the oldest uncial MSS. ABCD Vulg. has detestari; abc, devotare se; which latter probably is the rendering of of the Rec. Text, as this word expresses more strongly than , extremis diris aliquem devovere; to make himself anathema.-ED.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
began: Mat 27:25, Jdg 17:2, Jdg 21:18, 1Sa 14:24-28, Mar 14:71, Act 23:12-14, Rom 9:3, 1Co 16:22
saying: Mat 10:28, Mat 10:32, Mat 10:33, Joh 21:15-17, Rev 3:19
And: Mar 14:30, Mar 14:68, Mar 14:72, Luk 22:60, Joh 18:27
Reciprocal: Num 5:21 – an oath 2Sa 11:6 – Send me Psa 22:11 – none to help Psa 31:11 – a fear Pro 16:18 – General Pro 30:9 – and take the name Mat 26:72 – I do not Mar 14:70 – a little Luk 22:34 – the cock Luk 22:59 – confidently Joh 21:17 – the third Jam 3:9 – therewith curse
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
6:74
This time Peter thought he should make his denial still more emphatic than he had the first two instances. Curse is from KATANATHE-MATIZO which Thayer defines, “to call down direct evils on, to curse vehemently.” Swear is from OMNURUI and the same lexicon defines it, “to swear; to affirm, promise, threaten, with an oath.” The sentence means that Peter expressed the wish that some great misfortune would come to him if what he said was not true. And to give force to his declaration he made an oath in connection with it. As soon as he had concluded his statement the cock crew. Mar 14:30 says the cock would crow twice, but that Peter would make his third denial before the second crowing. Verse 72 of that chapter says the cock crew the second time after this third denial.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mat 26:74. Then began he to curse, or to call down curses on himself, if what he said was not true.
And to swear, to call God to witness that it was true. Probably at this time he was recognized by the kinsman of Malchus (Joh 18:26), who had been in the garden of Gethsemane, and doubtless in the audience room, until our Lord was brought out after the examination, or he would have seen Peter before.
And immediately a cook crew. The second cock-crowing, about three oclock in the morning. Just then, according to Luke (Luk 22:61), our Lord turned and looked on Peter. We infer that this occurred as He was led out after the examination. Peter was in the porch, not the court. This view accounts for the fact of so many having recognized Peter there, and agrees with the requirements of time.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
26:74 Then began he to {i} curse and to swear, [saying], I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.
(i) He swore and cursed himself.