Luke 22:34

And on the fifth day of the week, when we had eaten the passover with Him, and when Judas had dipped his hand into the dish, and received the sop, and was gone out by night, the Lord said to us: "The hour is come that ye shall be dispersed, and shall leave me alone;" and every one vehemently affirming that they would not forsake Him, I Peter adding this promise, that I would even die with Him, He said, "Verily I say unto thee, Before the cock crows, thou shall thrice deny that thou knowest me."

In the passion of his zeal, Peter professed steadfastness and endurance to the last extremity, saying that he would courageously resist the terrors of death and count chains as nothing. In so doing, he erred from what was right. When the Savior told Peter that he would be weak and contradict the Lord, he should not have loudly protested the contrary. The Truth could not lie. Peter should have rather asked strength from Christ, either that he might not suffer this or that he might be rescued immediately from harm. He was fervent in spirit, warm in his love toward Christ, and of unrestrained zeal in rightly performing those duties which fit a disciple in his service to his master. Peter declares that he will endure to the last extremity. Christ rebuked him for foolishly speaking against what was foreknown and for his unreasonable haste in contradicting the Savior's words. For this reason he says, "Truly I tell you, that the rooster will not crow tonight, until you have three times denied me." This proved true. Let us not think highly of ourselves, even if we see ourselves greatly distinguished for our virtues. Let us rather offer the praises of our thanks to Christ who redeems us and who grants us even the desire to be able to act correctly.

Now the Lord, seeing that Peter spoke boastfully, reveals the nature of his temptation, namely, that he would deny Him; I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou thrice deny, &c. From hence we draw a great doctrine, that human resolve is not sufficient without the Divine support. For Peter with all his zeal, nevertheless when forsaken of God was overthrown by the enemy.

And therefore this presumption had to be checked, and for this reason it is added: And he said: I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow today until you deny three times that you know me. Chrysostom: "He permits him to fall, teaching that …

He said to him: "Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death." But he said: "I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow today until you deny three times that you know me." Because the Lord had said …

But the Lord, seeing that he speaks thoughtlessly (for, having once heard from the self-existent Truth, who told him that he would undergo temptation, he should not have continued to contradict), declares to him also the form of the temptation, namely: denial. From this we …

It shall not be the time of cock crowing this day - The common time of cock crowing (which is usually about three in the morning) probably did not come till after the cock which Peter heard had crowed twice, if not oftener.

And he said,....

It is well for us that Christ knows where we are weak better than we do, and therefore where to come in with grace sufficient; that he knows how far a temptation will prevail, and therefore when to say, Hitherto shall it come, and no further.

The cock shall not crow this day - Mat 26:34, and Mar 14:30, say, this night; both expressions are right, because the Jewish day, of twenty-four hours, began with the evening, and ended at the evening of the following day. On Peter’s denial, see the notes on Mat 26:31-35 (note).

2:1-6), whom he solicited and obtained that he might sift him as wheat, insinuating as "the accuser of the brethren" (Re 12:10), that he would find chaff enough in his religion, if indeed there was any wheat at all. you--not Peter only, but them all.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens

We learn, from these verses — what a fearful enemy the devil is to believers. We read that "the Lord said: Simon, Simon, Satan has desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat." He was near Christ's flock — though they saw him not. He was longing to accomplish their ruin — though they knew it not. The wolf does not crave the blood of the lamb — more than the devil desires the destruction of souls! The personality, activity, and power of the devil are not sufficiently thought of by Christians.

We learn, from these verses — what a fearful enemy the devil is to believers. We read that "the Lord said: Simon, Simon, Satan has desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat." He was near Christ's flock — though they saw him not. He was longing to accomplish their ruin — though they knew it not. The wolf does not crave the blood of the lamb — more than the devil desires the destruction of souls! The personality, activity, and power of the devil are not sufficiently thought of by Christians. This is he who brought sin into the world at the beginning, by tempting Eve. This is he who is described in the book of Job as "going to and fro in the earth, and walking up and down in it." This is he whom our Lord calls "the prince of this world," a "murderer," and a "liar." This is he whom Peter compares to a "roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour ." This is he whom John speaks of as "the accuser of the brethren." This is he who is ever working evil in the churches, catching away good seed from the hearts of hearers, sowing tares amid the wheat, stirring up persecutions, suggesting false doctrines, and fomenting divisions. The world is a snare to the believer. The flesh is a burden and a clog. But there is no enemy so dangerous, as that restless, invisible, subtle, experienced enemy — the devil! If we believe the Bible, let us not be ashamed to believe that there is a devil. It is a dreadful proof of the hardness and blindness of unconverted men — that they can jest and speak lightly of Satan. If we profess to have any real religion, let us be on our guard against the devil's evil schemes. The enemy who overthrew David and Peter, and assaulted Christ Himself — is not an enemy to be taken lightly. He is very subtle . He has studied the heart of man for six thousand years. He can approach us under the garb of an "angel of light."