THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN JUDAS AND PETER

RETURN TO SYLLABUS

Matthew 26:69-27:10
Lesson #69

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN JUDAS AND PETER

• Memory verse: Rom 1:16
• Read Mat 26:69-75 Peter’s denial
  • The Old Testament prophesied the scattering of the disciples in Zec 13:7.
  • Remember that Jesus had predicted Peter’s denial in Mat 26:31-35.
    • Peter said it would never happen.
    • Usually when we are so convinced of our own moral strength, is the time when we are the most likely to fail.
      • Read 1Cor 10:12.
      • We all are vulnerable to human weakness and Satan’s temptations.
      • Like Peter we need to replace self confidence with faith in God. Only with God can we be strong enough to face any situation.
    • Peter had evidently followed the soldiers at a distance to see where they were taking Jesus. In fact, it took some courage to do that. All the other disciples ran away, but he followed them right into the courtyard of the house of the high priest and into the house where the servants were.
      • The wealthy home in Jerusalem was built with rooms around a square courtyard. Peter was right in the heart of the house. He did not even flee when the first maid recognized him. He was torn by fear for his safety and by his love for Jesus.
      • Peter was recognized a second time by his speech. The Galileans’ spoke with a heavy accent. Most Jews thought it so ugly that a Galilean was not permitted to say the benediction in the synagogue service.
      • This time Peter not only swore he did not know Jesus, but he also cursed his master’s name. Still he did not flee the house.
    • The crow of the cock
      • There is a possibility that the Bible does not mean that Peter heard a rooster crow.
      • The house of the high priest was in the center of Jerusalem where there was a Jewish regulation making it illegal to keep live roosters and hens in the city because they defiled holy things.
      • The hour of 3 a.m. was known as “the cock crow“. At that hour the Roman guard was changed in the Castle of Antonia. The sign of the changing of the guard was a trumpet blast. The Latin word for that trumpet call was gallicinium which means = “cock crow“.
    • After the fact, Peter told the rest of the disciples about his denial. He did not have to do that. It’s only because Peter was humble enough to admit his failures do we know about this incident at all.
      • Why did Peter tell it?
        • Peter told of his own sin so that we might know the cleansing power and the glory of the forgiving love of Christ.
        • It’s in humility that there’s strength, and it is in confession that there’s forgiveness.
        • Unlike Judas who never repented, Peter repented of his sin and failure. Because of repentance, Peter went on to be a stronger disciple, mighty for the Lord.
      • It was love for Jesus which gave Peter the courage to be in the courtyard. It was love which kept him there even though he had been recognized three times. It was love which made him remember the words of Jesus that predicted the incident. It was love which caused him to weep over his failure. It was love that covered a multitude of Peter’s sins.
• Read Mat 27:1-2 Trial #4 (The Roman trial before Pilate the first time.)
  • We already discussed this trial.
  • We discussed all 6 trials in your notes for Mat 26:57-68.
• Read Mat 27:3-10 The traitor’s end
  • Judas came to realize what he had done and was sorry. He returned the 30 pieces of silver. He went through the court of the Gentiles, through the court of the women, and into the court of the Israelites. He called to the priests inside to come out and get their money, but they would not. He cast the money through the doorway into the holy place where only the priest could go. Then he went out and hanged himself.
    • He did not seek God’s forgiveness and acceptance.
    • Instead he had no hope and saw no other option.
    • Discussion: Is suicide ever justified?
    • The priests could not return the money to the temple treasury because it was unclean blood money. Therefore, they bought a field to bury the unclean bodies of Gentiles who died within the city. It was called “potter’s field“.
      • The field was located in the Valley of Gahenna (Act 1:18-19) outside the city walls in a place which was the garbage dump for the city.
      • Jesus had likened hell to Gahenna because fires always burned in this valley and rats and vermin lived there.
    • The two death’s of Judas:
    • Read Act 1:16-20
      • Mat 27:5 says Judas hanged himself. However, Act 1:18 says Judas threw himself off a cliff and was broken by the rocks below.
      • While this seems contradictory, it is not. Judas hanged himself from a tree over a cliff. The tree broke and his body crashed down to the rocks below and split open.
      • Both accounts of his death fulfill prophecy. (2Sam 17:23 ; Psa 55:12-15,19-23 ; Psa 109:17-20)
    • The terrible thing about sin:
      • Once done you cannot undo it. The clock cannot be turned back.
      • You often come to hate the very thing you gained by sin.
    • The marvelous hope:
      • Sin does not have to end where Judas left it.
      • Because Jesus went to the cross, He purchased our forgiveness no matter what we have done.
      • We only need to throw ourselves on His mercy and ask for forgiveness. (1Joh 1:9)
• Summary and application:
  • This lesson gives a wonderful contrast between forgiven sin and unforgiven sin.
    • Peter’s sin was forgiven, and he went on to be a strong Christian. Gal 2:20 best describes the rest of Peter’s life.
    • Judas’ sin was unforgiven, and he saw no hope. He did not let Christ live through him. He took his life in his own hands and ended it.
  • We have the same choices in life. We can choose to be the master of our life and never seek forgiveness of our sin like Judas; or we can let Jesus be the master of our life and continually come to the cleansing fountain of forgiveness.

Homework

Matthew 27:11-32

• Application of Mat 26:69-27:10
  • Is there sin in your life that you have never ask God for forgiveness?
  • If so, write it on a separate piece of paper.
  • Pray, and ask God to forgive you. (1John 1:9)
  • Once you know in your spirit you are forgiven, tear up the piece of paper into tiny pieces and throw it away.
  • Then read Psa 103:10-13.
• Preparation for Mat 27:11-32
  • Read Mat 27:11-26
    • This is trial #6 before Pilate.
      • What do you learn about the character of Pilate?
      • What do you think Mat 27:25 meant to God?
      • How do you think God has responded to Mat 27:25?
  • Mat 27:27-32 Preparation for crucifixion
    • Read the following scriptures and write any details you never noticed before.
      • Mat 27:27-32
      • Mark 15:24-32
      • Luke 23:33-43
      • John 19:18-27
• Memory verse: 1Peter 2:24