Matthew 26:75
And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
Matthew 26:75
Peter’s memory is jolted by Jesus’ ironclad prediction: “Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.” The verse culminates in Peter’s genuine sorrow as he “went out, and wept bitterly.” The public denials now yield to private remorse. The geographical and emotional arc from the courtyard to outside the gate reveals the process of repentance beginning in the heart.
This moment anchors the biblical message that God’s grace meets us in our deepest remorse. Peter’s weeping is a prelude to restoration; the Gospel of John will later recount Jesus’ restoration of Peter (John 21). It demonstrates that failure is not the final word for followers of Christ but rather a doorway to deeper reliance on grace.
When you realize you’ve fallen short, allow honest lament to lead you back to God. The exercise: name the failure, bring it to God, and plan a corrective action—apologize to anyone affected, seek reconciliation, and adjust future behavior to align with your professed commitments. Let remorse propel you toward renewed trust in God’s mercy.
Cross-References: John 21:15-19; Psalm 51:1-4; Luke 22:62; Proverbs 28:13