📖 Biblical Definition
On the night of Christ's arrest, Peter followed at a distance and entered the courtyard of the high priest. Three times in succession he was identified as a follower of Jesus; three times he denied it, the third time with cursing. The cock crew; Christ turned and looked at Peter (Luke 22:61). Peter remembered Christ's prediction and went out and wept bitterly. The denial was specifically pre-warned by Christ at the supper (John 13:38) and is the heaviest fall in the Gospels by a major disciple.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
PETER'S DE, n.
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A scriptural event; Peter's threefold denial of Jesus.
📖 Key Scripture
Luke 22:33 — "Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death."
Luke 22:61 — "And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord."
Luke 22:62 — "And Peter went out, and wept bitterly."
Mark 14:72 — "And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern Christianity assumes vows ensure faithfulness; Peter's vow was the most confident and his fall the deepest.
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Peter's denial is one of the most pastorally important falls in Scripture. The man who had walked on water, confessed Christ as Messiah, and vowed to die with Him — cursed and denied his Lord three times in a single night. Modern Christianity often assumes that strong vows ensure faithfulness. Peter's vow was the most confident in the room; his fall was the deepest. The flesh promises; the flesh fails.
The grace of the story is the look. Christ turned, and looked upon Peter. He did not write him off. The look broke Peter; bitter tears followed; restoration would come at breakfast on the lakeshore in John 21. If you have denied your Lord, the look is still on you; the cock has crowed; weep bitterly; receive the restoration that follows.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Greek roots below.
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G720 — arneomai — to deny
G220 — alektor — cock
Usage
"Modern Christianity assumes vows ensure faithfulness; Peter's vow was the most confident; his fall the deepest."
"The flesh promises; the flesh fails; the look of Christ broke Peter."
"If you have denied your Lord, the look is still on you; weep bitterly; receive restoration."