Matthew 26:69–27:10 Peter Denied Jesus & Judas Hung Himself examines the moment when Peter denied Jesus three times during the trial before the crucifixion. In this passage, Peter followed Jesus to the high priest’s palace but denied knowing Him when confronted. The story of how Peter denied Jesus reveals the pressure, fear, and human weakness that can cause even devoted believers to fail. This passage explains why Peter denied Jesus and what happened after Peter denied Jesus.
This study of Matthew 26:69–27:10 also contrasts Peter’s denial with Judas’s tragic end. While Peter denied Jesus and later wept bitterly, Judas repented with regret and took his own life. These events raise an important question about repentance, forgiveness, and the difference between sorrow and true repentance that leads to the kingdom of God.
GOSPEL OF MATTHEW BIBLE STUDY SERIES
This study of Matthew: Matthew 26:69-75 – 27:1-10 Peter Denied Jesus Judas Hung is part of a verse-by-verse teaching series through the Gospel of Matthew.
Previous: Matthew 26:47-68 Betrayal of Jesus
Next: Matthew 27:11-26 Jesus Before Pilate
Matthew 26:69–27:10 Peter Denied Jesus & Judas Hung Himself
Audio for Matthew 26:69–27:10 Peter Denied Jesus & Judas Hung Himself
Scriptures used in Matthew 26:69–27:10 Peter Denied Jesus & Judas Hung Himself
- Matthew 26:58, Matthew 26:69–70, Mark 14:68, Matthew 26:71–72, Matthew 26:73–75, Matthew 16:16, Matthew 27:1–2, Matthew 27:3–10, Matthew 3:2, Matthew 4:17, Romans 12:2, Matthew 5:21–22, Matthew 5:27–28, Matthew 5:38–39, Matthew 5:43–45, Matthew 26:28, Revelation 1:5, Romans 2:21–23, Zechariah 11:13
Peter Denied Jesus Three Times (Matthew 26:69–75)
Today, we will conclude Matthew chapter 26 with our study of Matthew 26:69-27:10. This will include Peter’s denial of Jesus three times and Judas hanging himself. We will see truths like this: Before we can point our finger at Peter, as we try to say every time we look at Peter, how many times have you and I denied the same Christ that Peter denied?
Let’s look at Matthew 26:58, and then Matthew 26:69-70.
Matthew 26:58
58 But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest’s palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.
Matthew 26:69–70
69 Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.
70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.
Mark’s gospel says,
Mark 14:68
68 But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.
First Time Peter Denied Jesus – Playing Dumb
It seems Peter was acting like he could not understand their dialect. In other words, he was playing dumb. He acted as if he did not know what they were saying.
The first denial happened as Peter followed Jesus to Caiaphas’s palace. When they approached him and said he was one of the disciples, he acted confused. Peter basically said he did not understand what they meant. He played dumb. That was his first denial. I ask if we have ever done the same thing to avoid answering a question. Most of us have. We can relate to that moment and see ourselves in it.
Many people have done this as Christians. Around certain friends, coworkers, or relatives, we sometimes avoid identifying ourselves with Christ. At gatherings such as Christmas parties or social events, we may act as though we do not belong to Him. Instead of standing openly as believers, we pretend not to understand or remain silent. That is the same pattern we see in Peter’s first denial.
Second Time Peter Denied Jesus – Denial With an Oath
The second denial is recorded in the next verses. Peter continued denying that he knew Jesus. This moves the story from the first denial into the second. (Matthew 26:71-72)
Matthew 26:71–72
71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.
72 And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.
Again, Peter denied knowing Jesus, but this time he did it with an oath. The first denial was simply playing dumb. Now he reinforced his denial by swearing he did not know the man. He acted as if he were insisting strongly that something was true. (Matthew 26:72)
I’ll share a hunting story. An acquaintance claimed that a monster buck deer had run past him, and a listener questioned the story’s authenticity. His wife, standing by, called him a liar, and he swore on his children’s lives that he saw the deer. I was listening and thought that was a dangerous thing to say. Why swear on your children’s lives? That kind of oath shows how strongly a person tries to convince others. Peter did the same thing. He swore in the name of God to make his denial believable.
Giving an oath like that often shows someone is trying to hide something. When people say things like that to me, I suspect they are trying to cover the truth or impress me. A person’s word should be enough. Jesus taught that we should not swear by oaths. (Matthew 5:34-37)
Third Time Peter Denied Jesus
After that came Peter’s third denial.
Matthew 26:73–75
73 And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.
74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.
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.
Third Time Peter Denied Jesus – Cursing and the Rooster Crow
After a while, the people standing nearby confronted Peter again. They said he must be one of them because his accent gave him away. The text says his speech bewrayeth him. Peter then began to curse and swear, insisting that he did not know the man. Immediately, the rooster crowed. (Matthew 26:73-74)
Peter then remembered what Jesus had told him. Jesus said that before the rooster crowed, he would deny Him three times. Peter went out and wept bitterly. His Galilean accent had exposed him. The people recognized where he was from by the way he spoke (Matthew 26:75). This moment when Peter denied Jesus became one of the most sobering lessons in the Gospel account.
The phrase “Peter began to curse and swear” does not mean he used profanity. The word curse here means to invoke a curse or calamity upon oneself. Peter called down judgment on himself to convince the crowd he did not know Jesus. He likely said something like, “May God strike me if I know this man.” That act completed Peter’s third denial. When the rooster crowed, the realization struck him, and he broke down in bitter tears.
Why Peter Denied Jesus Three Times
What amazes me is that this same man had earlier declared who Jesus truly was. When Jesus asked the disciples who men said He was, Peter boldly answered that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God. (Matthew 16:13-16)
Matthew 16:16
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Some of the disciples answered that people believed Jesus was Elijah, John the Baptist raised from the dead, or Isaiah. Then Jesus asked who they believed He was. Peter answered clearly that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God. (Matthew 16:14-16)
From Thou Art the Christ to I Know Not the Man
Peter moved from that moment in Matthew 16:16 to the place in Matthew 27 where he said he did not know the man. He went from full identification with Christ to denying Him. I began to ask what changed. Who was Peter around when he boldly confessed that Jesus was the Christ? He was around Jesus, the disciples, and people of like precious faith.
Later, Peter stood among the world and religious people and denied even knowing Him. (Matthew 26:72)
The Power of Environment and Pressure
Situations, circumstances, people, and pressure affected how he spoke about Christ. The same thing often happens to us.
When believers gather together in prayer, revelation flows easily. We talk about Scripture and the things of God. Once we go back into the world, those conversations often disappear. Many Christians, including myself at times, may not deny Christ openly like Peter did. Yet actions or words could still make someone say that we do not know the man.
This shows a powerful principle. The people around us, the situations we enter, and the pressures we accept will influence how boldly we identify with Jesus Christ. Before pointing at Peter, we must remember the times we have denied Christ in our own way. Peter knew better, yet pressure and environment influenced him. We must guard our associations, situations, and pressures because we can move from saying thou art the Christ on Sunday to saying I know not the man on Saturday.
Be honest with yourself. We know it is very possible to move from saying thou art the Christ to saying I do not know the man. That is the principle I saw in this passage.
Why Peter Denied Jesus After Following Afar Off
Another truth I noticed is this – at least Peter was there. The other disciples were hiding far away after fleeing from Gethsemane. (Matthew 26:56) Peter still followed Jesus and came to the high priest’s palace. He was not standing in bold glory identifying Christ, but he was present.
That forces me to ask where I would have been. Would I have been hiding in Gethsemane, or standing in the palace where Jesus was being tried? Peter may have followed afar off, but he still came close enough to be there.
We must also remember that the disciples had not yet received the power of the Holy Spirit. We talked about this a few lessons back. Receiving the Holy Spirit is what changed them and gave them power to be witnesses/martyrs (Acts 1:8).
I haven’t been with Charlie to go to an abortion clinic in a good while. He calls and asks me to come, but I haven’t gone. I have been thinking about civil disobedience and the arrests happening at abortion clinics. When I prepared this lesson, I questioned myself. Am I avoiding going because I lack the Holy Spirit’s power? Am I hiding in Gethsemane?
Those thoughts challenge me. Am I making excuses and dodging something? Am I hiding in Gethsemane or standing where Christ is being confronted? Peter at least showed up. He was there and even faced arrest.
That’s how Matthew chapter 26 ends. Peter denied Jesus three times, and he wept bitterly. We begin studying Chapter 27.
Judas Hung Himself and True Repentance
Today, we will get through Judas hanging himself. I also believe we will move through the next couple of chapters fairly quickly. The crucifixion and resurrection are very familiar to us. There are still principles and truths that I will bring out as I write and teach. My goal is to draw out insights that may help us see these passages in a fresh way.
Because these events are so well known, there may not be a need to examine every verse in the same detailed way we have done before. We will likely move through the final chapters of Matthew more quickly. Even so, I want to proceed carefully.
Judas Hung Himself After Betraying Jesus (Matthew 27:1–10)
The focus tonight is on Judas and his death.
Judas Repented With Regret
Judas repented, but it was not the type of repentance that brings entrance into the kingdom of heaven. The emphasis is on understanding true biblical repentance. I want us to clearly see the difference between what I call Judas’s repentance and the repentance that brings us into the kingdom of God.
John the Baptist and Jesus Preached Kingdom Repentance
John the Baptist preached repentance because the kingdom of heaven was at hand. (Matthew 3:2) Jesus preached the same message. (Matthew 4:17) We must understand the difference between Judas’s repentance and kingdom repentance.
The Thirty Pieces of Silver and the Potter’s Field
Judas threw down the pieces of silver in the temple. Those same coins had been used to betray Jesus. Yet the religious leaders said the money was unclean for the treasury. That reveals a contradiction. How could money be acceptable to kill Jesus but unacceptable to return to the treasury? Judas hanged himself, and the silver he received did him no good. (Matthew 27:5)
Israel rejected Jesus. Pilate was placed in his position for that moment by God. In the same way that Pharaoh was raised up for a purpose, Pilate stood where God had placed him (Romans 9:17). Pilate repeatedly tried to release Jesus. Yet he could not escape the situation. Ultimately, it was not Pilate who allowed Jesus to be crucified. The Father allowed it as part of His redemptive plan (Isaiah 53:10).
Pilate was like clay in the hand of God. The blood of Jesus came upon the heads of Israel and their children, but that moment spoke of judgment rather than salvation. Pilate washed his hands and declared he would have nothing to do with this just man. The people answered, saying that His blood should be on them and on their children (Matthew 27:24-25).
That raises an important question about our own nation. Which way is the blood of Jesus upon us? It may mean that judgment is near, or it may be a call to repentance and salvation. That possibility is frightening and serious.
Outline of Matthew Chapter 27
Chapter 27 has a clear outline. Jesus is brought before Pilate in Matthew 27:1-2. Judas’s death appears in Matthew 27:3-10. Christ is rejected by Israel in Matthew 27:11-25. The mockery of Jesus is recorded in Matthew 27:27-31. The crucifixion is described in Matthew 27:32-56. The burial and the posting of guards come in Matthew 27:57-66.
This chapter is another large section of Matthew with sixty-six verses.
Matthew 27:1–2
1 When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:
2 And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
This was the third ecclesiastical trial before the Jewish leadership. The events happened early in the morning. The leaders needed a conviction before six a.m. Their day ran from six a.m. to six a.m. Jewish law (Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:1, Mishnah Sanhedrin 5:5) said a man could not be condemned and executed on the same day. They had to reach their decision before the new day began. They rushed to get their verdict.
Once they secured their conviction, they immediately brought Jesus to Pilate. The purpose of the Sanhedrin was never justice. They were not trying to determine guilt or innocence. Their goal from the beginning was to put Jesus to death. The entire trial was a formality designed to reach that result. That is why they delivered Him to Pontius Pilate, the governor (Matthew 27:2).
The Character and Rule of Pontius Pilate
Pilate governed the southern half of Palestine. He was a civil ruler responsible for state matters, not religious ones. History does not speak well of him. The writings of Josephus describe him as unpredictable. At times, he would back down from the Jews. At other times, he would violently suppress them.
Josephus records incidents where Pilate acted harshly. On one occasion, a group followed a false prophet who claimed sacred items were hidden on a mountain. Pilate sent soldiers against them, and many were killed. His behavior caused constant tension and eventually led to serious complaints to Caesar.
Because of these accusations, Caesar Tiberius summoned Pilate to Rome to answer charges about his conduct. Pilate had proven to be an unstable and ineffective governor over the Jews.
History records that Pilate was eventually forced to become his own enemy. Political pressure surrounded him, and rather than embarrass the Roman state, he was pushed toward taking his own life. The same man who stood in authority during the trial of Jesus was a ruler placed in that position for that moment. In reality, he was in God’s hand, as all men ultimately are.
The Political Charge Against Jesus Before Pilate
Jesus was delivered to Pilate by the Jewish leaders. They convicted Jesus of blasphemy among themselves, but that’s not the charge they brought to Pilate. Instead, they brought a political accusation, claiming that Jesus said He was a king. When Pilate asked Jesus if He was the king of the Jews, Jesus answered that Pilate himself had said it (Matthew 27:11).
Many other accusations were presented against Jesus. They claimed He told people not to pay taxes and made other charges against Him. Jesus did not answer those accusations. He would not be crucified for false charges. He would be crucified only for the truth – that He was the Christ and the King.
Matthew Turns to Judas and His Death in Matthew 27:3-10
Matthew 27:3–10
3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
6 And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.
7 And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in.
8 Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.
9 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value;
10 And gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord appointed me.
Judas saw that Jesus was condemned and “repented himself.” He returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders and confessed that he had betrayed innocent blood. The chief priests and elders refused responsibility and told him that it was his problem. Judas threw the silver into the temple, departed, and hanged himself. The priests took the money but would not return it to the treasury because it was the price of blood. They used it instead to purchase the potter’s field as a burial place for strangers. This fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet about the thirty pieces of silver and the potter’s field (Matthew 27:3-10).
Judas Repentance vs Kingdom Repentance
The Bible says that Judas “repented himself,” which raises an important question. Does that mean Judas was saved, or is there more than one kind of repentance? I believe the Spirit wants us to understand this clearly. We must see what true biblical repentance really is. By examining Judas’s repentance and comparing it with what John the Baptist and Jesus taught, we can understand the repentance that brings a person into the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 27:3).
The word translated as “repented” for Judas carries the idea of caring afterwards or feeling regret. It describes the sorrow that comes after the act. This kind of repentance centers on self and regret over what has already happened. Many Christians define repentance this way. If you asked several believers what repentance means, most would describe it as being sorry after doing wrong. That understanding reflects the repentance shown by Judas.
This kind of repentance is regret after the fact. It is sorrow once the sin has already been committed and exposed. That is why I refer to it as Judas repentance or Old Testament repentance. To understand the difference, we must compare it with the repentance preached by John the Baptist and Jesus. John called people to repent because the kingdom of heaven was at hand (Matthew 3:2).
Kingdom Repentance
Matthew 3:2
2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matthew 4:17
17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
There is a repentance we must understand for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. This is the repentance preached by John the Baptist and by Jesus, and it is the repentance required to enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 3:1-2).
Jesus later began preaching the same message, saying that people must repent because the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Matthew 4:17). The word “repent” used here is different from the word used in reference to Judas. This word means to think differently or to reconsider. Kingdom repentance involves a change in thinking, not sorrow.
The repentance shown by Judas was different. Judas felt sorrow after the act. He betrayed Christ and afterward regretted it (Matthew 27:3-5). That type of repentance is regret after sin has already taken place. Kingdom repentance deals with correcting the mind so that a person does not fall into that kind of regret.
Kingdom Repentance Changes the Mind
The repentance spoken of by John and Jesus concerns a change in how we think. The repentance shown by Judas reflects regret without a change in thinking. Many Christians understand repentance only as being sorry after doing wrong. That view resembles Judas’s repentance, which centers on regret rather than transformation.
People may come to the altar and express sorrow, and there is nothing wrong with that experience. Yet repentance must go beyond sorrow. The mind must be renewed. The kingdom of heaven involves righteousness, peace, and joy, and that begins with the renewing of the mind. The Holy Spirit works to change the way we think.
Judas’s repentance means caring afterward and regretting the sin committed. Kingdom repentance means a renewed mind that produces different thinking. A renewed mind is necessary because we do not naturally know God’s will. Our thinking must be changed so we can understand what is good, acceptable, and perfect in God’s will (Romans 12:2).
Romans 12:2
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Why the Mind Must Be Renewed (Romans 12:2)
Why do you need to have your mind renewed? So you can know what God wants you to do, know what his will is for you. There is only one will of God. That will is good, acceptable, and perfect. God does not have three different plans. There is one will, and our minds must be renewed so we can understand it. Biblical repentance is learning to think differently so that we can know the will of God (Romans 12:2).
I begin to think like God because I have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives in us and brings life to our mortal bodies (Romans 8:11). Because of that Spirit, we can think differently. The purpose of biblical repentance is to get our minds straight. The real battle is not demons behind every bush. The battle is in the mind.
Renewing the mind helps us understand God’s will. That is why biblical repentance matters. When the mind changes, our thinking begins to align with God.
Renewing the Mind Prevents Sin
This becomes clear when we return to Matthew chapter five and the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus teaches what a renewed mind looks like. Judas’s repentance is sorrow after the fact. Kingdom repentance does not allow the fact to occur.
Judas’s repentance means sin happens first, and regret follows. That was the pattern under the Old Covenant. People sinned and then brought a sacrifice. Kingdom repentance deals with the mind before the act. The mind is renewed, so the sin does not occur.
Jesus Explains Kingdom Thinking (Matthew 5)
Jesus begins to explain this in Matthew chapter five. He refers to the command given long ago: “You shall not kill” (Matthew 5:21).
Matthew 5:21–22
21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
Old Testament repentance says, “Do not kill.” If a person kills, he becomes sorry afterward. That is repentance after the act. Jesus then moves deeper and addresses the root of the action.
Kingdom repentance deals with the heart before the act occurs. If anger is removed, the act of killing will not follow. A renewed mind prevents sin before it happens. Kingdom repentance changes the way we think, so we do not have to sin.
Judas Regretted Betraying Innocent Blood
This teaching shows that sin can be prevented when the mind is renewed. Judas regretted his betrayal afterward. He realized he had betrayed innocent blood. In that sense, he understood something about the seriousness of the blood, even though he never partook of it as believers do.
Jesus continues the same teaching pattern in another command. The law said long ago that a person should not commit adultery (Matthew 5:27).
Matthew 5:27–28
27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Judas repentance says do not commit adultery, and afterward regret the act. That kind of repentance comes after the sin. Jesus teaches something deeper. He says that whoever looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery in the heart (Matthew 5:28).
Kingdom Repentance Changes How We Think
Kingdom repentance addresses the mind before the act. If a person refuses to look with lust, adultery will not occur. A renewed mind prevents the sin before it happens. Repentance in the kingdom means changing the way we think.
Many people describe repentance as simply changing direction. Yet the emphasis Jesus gives is learning to think differently. The kingdom of heaven deals with a renewed way of thinking. People in the kingdom do not think the same way the world thinks.
You can often recognize whether someone understands the kingdom by the way they think and speak. A short conversation can reveal it. Kingdom life is revealed through renewed thinking.
Jesus continues this teaching with another example. The law once said an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, which pointed toward retaliation (Matthew 5:38).
Matthew 5:38–39
38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Kingdom Repentance Rejects Retaliation
Judas repentance follows the pattern of retaliation. It reflects the idea of responding in kind. Kingdom repentance teaches something different. Instead of retaliation, we are told to turn the other cheek and not respond with revenge (Matthew 5:39).
The same contrast appears again in another command. Judas repentance says love your neighbor and hate your enemy. Kingdom repentance calls us to love our enemies, bless those who curse us, do good to those who hate us, and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:43-44).
Matthew 5:43–45
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
Jesus teaches that these commands are given so that we may be children of our Father and enter the kingdom. If a person still lives by retaliation, adultery, or murder, then the mind has not yet been changed. Repentance is required because the kingdom of God is at hand. Jesus calls us to get our thinking straight so that we can enter the kingdom (Matthew 5:45).
Judas Repentance vs Kingdom Repentance
Judas repentance is sorrow after the fact. Kingdom repentance is having the mind renewed so that sin does not happen. The difference is clear. Judas was sorry after what he had done. That kind of repentance did not bring him into the kingdom. It was regret after the act.
Many Christians define repentance as being sorry for what they did. Most believers would describe repentance that way. Yet that definition reflects Judas repentance rather than kingdom repentance. Biblical repentance means the mind is renewed so that sin does not take place.
Kingdom repentance changes the way we think. When the mind is renewed, lust, anger, and other sins no longer control us. Judas was sorry after betraying innocent blood (Matthew 27:3-4). Kingdom repentance changes the mind so that we never experience that kind of regret.
When Judas confessed that he had betrayed innocent blood, he acknowledged the seriousness of his act (Matthew 27:4). When we sin, we betray the same innocent blood. That is why repentance must deal with the mind. The blood of the new covenant was given for the remission of sins (Matthew 26:28).
Matthew 26:28
28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
The Meaning of Remission of Sin
The word “remission” in the Greek carries several meanings. It speaks of freedom, pardon, deliverance, forgiveness, and liberty. Many believers understand the pardon from sin but have not grasped the freedom from sin. Sin no longer has dominion over us (Romans 6:14). The blood of Jesus has washed us from our sins (Revelation 1:5).
Revelation 1:5
5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Because of that, we do not have to sin. When we do sin, we betray the same innocent blood that Judas betrayed.
Judas confessed that he had betrayed innocent blood (Matthew 27:4). The religious leaders responded by saying that it was his problem. Judas was looking for help, consolation, and counsel. Instead, he turned to the wrong people. Religious acquaintances who do not truly know Christ cannot help in times of spiritual crisis.
Seeking Counsel From the Wrong People
Many believers make the same mistake. They seek guidance from people who are themselves struggling with the same problems. Someone experiencing marital trouble may seek advice from someone who has repeatedly failed in marriage. That kind of counsel cannot provide true help. People who do not know Christ may listen, but their response often reflects the same attitude shown to Judas. They say the problem belongs to the person who is suffering.
Judas then threw the pieces of silver into the temple and went out and hanged himself (Matthew 27:5). Those were the same thirty pieces of silver he had received for betraying Jesus (Matthew 26:15). The priests had taken that money from theTemple treasury to pay Judas for the betrayal. When Judas returned the same silver pieces, they declared that the money was unlawful to place back into the treasury because it was blood money.
The hypocrisy is clear. The same coins were acceptable when used to betray Jesus. Those coins suddenly became unlawful when returned to the temple. Jesus had spoken about this kind of religious hypocrisy when He said that some strain at a gnat and swallow a camel (Matthew 23:24).
This principle appears in many religious practices. People allow certain actions outside the church but forbid them inside the church. They may celebrate, shout, and applaud at public events, but consider those same expressions unacceptable in worship. This reveals the same inconsistency seen with the pieces of silver.
Music may be acceptable outside the church but rejected within it. Dancing, clapping, shouting, and excitement may be accepted in public events but criticized in worship. Many leaders condemn expressions of joy in church, yet shout and cheer at sporting events later the same day.
The Hypocrisy of the Thirty Pieces of Silver
This reveals the same principle seen with the pieces of silver. Something is acceptable when it serves a person’s purpose, but rejected when it does not. People may even use their words to harm another ministry or speak against another church while claiming righteousness. This reflects religious hypocrisy and the same attitude behind the pieces of silver.
Scripture addresses this kind of contradiction by asking whether someone who teaches others actually lives by the same standard (Romans 2:21).
Romans 2:21–23
21 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?
Scripture asks an important question. If a person teaches others, does he not teach himself? Someone may preach that people should not steal or commit adultery, yet practice the same things and dishonor God (Romans 2:21-23). That principle exposes religious hypocrisy.
Modern Examples of Religious Hypocrisy
The same pattern appears in many traditions. A person may teach that music is wrong yet listen to music. Another may preach that dancing is evil while allowing it elsewhere. Someone may condemn shouting and excitement in worship but celebrate loudly in other settings. These contradictions reveal doctrines used to control others while excusing ourselves. That is the same hypocrisy seen in the pieces of silver.
The deeper issue is misunderstanding the temple. Many people think the church is a building. Scripture teaches that we ourselves are the temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16). What we are outside the building is what we are inside it. The church is not limited to Sunday or a location. The church is the people of God living every day.
Because of that, we must examine our own hypocrisy before condemning others. The same spirit that condemned the pieces of silver can appear in our own attitudes. Religious hypocrisy often becomes a way of resisting the anointing or opposing what God is doing.
Matthew also records that the purchase of the potter’s field fulfilled prophecy spoken through the prophets. The thirty pieces of silver and the field of blood were foretold and came together in this event (Zechariah 11:13; Jeremiah 19:1-11; Matthew 27:9-10).
Zechariah 11:13
13 And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.
God Is Sovereign Over These Events
All of this shows that God remains in control of events. Even the buying of the potter’s field happened within His plan. We do have a will, as Jesus Himself spoke about yielding His will to the Father’s will (Luke 22:42). We can choose the path of blessing or the path of cursing (Deuteronomy 30:19). Yet God ultimately works through those choices to accomplish His purposes.
I believe the Lord is pressing this truth upon us. God is God. He is Lord, and He rules over everything. I believe Pilate stood in that position at the appointed time. I believe Pharaoh also stood where God placed him. The Jewish leaders said they would not crucify Jesus during the feast, but the events still unfolded exactly in that season (Matthew 26:5).
The timing of these events was under God’s control. Not even a sparrow falls to the ground without the Father knowing it (Matthew 10:29). Every hair on our heads is numbered (Matthew 10:30). The more I learn about God, the more I see that He truly is in control. That realization even makes me think more deeply about my own will.
Lessons From Peter and Judas
The moment when Peter denied Jesus reminds believers how easily pressure and fear can influence even devoted disciples.
When we understand that truth, we should not want pieces of silver. We should desire true biblical repentance. The Lord is emphasizing two things to us. The first is understanding true kingdom repentance. Kingdom repentance happens before the sin. It comes through a renewed mind that thinks differently. The moment when Peter denied Jesus reminds believers how easily pressure can affect even strong disciples.
If a person continues to think as the world thinks, sin will follow, and regret will come afterward. Kingdom repentance changes the mind so that sin does not occur.
The second lesson concerns the pieces of silver. What is lawful outside the church should also be lawful inside the church. We should not be hypocrites, being something outside we are not inside. Those two truths stand before us as we seek to follow the Lord.
Summary of Matthew 26:69–27:10
Matthew 26:69–27:10 records two powerful events surrounding the trial of Jesus. Peter denied Jesus three times while standing among the servants in the high priest’s palace. Fear and pressure caused him to deny knowing the very Christ he had earlier confessed as the Son of the living God. When the rooster crowed, Peter remembered the words of Jesus and went out weeping bitterly.
The passage also records how Judas repented with regret after betraying innocent blood. Judas returned the thirty pieces of silver but found no comfort from the religious leaders and eventually hanged himself. The contrast between Peter and Judas highlights the difference between sorrow after sin and true kingdom repentance that renews the mind. Even in these tragic events, God’s plan was fulfilled through the prophecy of the thirty pieces of silver and the potter’s field.
Questions About Why Peter Denied Jesus and What Happened After
Why did Peter deny Jesus three times?
Peter denied Jesus three times during Christ’s trial because of fear, pressure, and the hostile environment around him (Matthew 26:69-75). Even though Peter had earlier confessed that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16), the pressure of the moment caused him to deny Jesus before those standing in the high priest’s palace. This shows how easily believers can fail when surrounded by opposition.
Where in the Bible does Peter deny Jesus?
The moment when Peter denied Jesus is recorded in several places in the Gospels. In this study, the focus is on Matthew 26:69-75. Other accounts include Mark 14:66-72, Luke 22:54-62, and John 18:15-27. Each account describes how Peter denied Jesus three times before the rooster crowed, fulfilling what Jesus had said earlier.
What happened after Peter denied Jesus?
After Peter denied Jesus the third time, the rooster crowed, and Peter remembered what Jesus had told him. Realizing what he had done, Peter went out and wept bitterly (Matthew 26:75). This moment reveals the deep sorrow Peter felt after denying Jesus and recognizing his failure.
What is the difference between Judas repentance and kingdom repentance?
Judas repented with regret after betraying Jesus and returning the thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 27:3-5). His repentance was sorrow after the act. Kingdom repentance, preached by John the Baptist and Jesus, involves a change in thinking that transforms the mind before the act occurs (Matthew 3:2; Matthew 4:17; Romans 12:2). True repentance changes how a person thinks, so that sin does not occur.
What can we learn from when Peter denied Jesus?
The story of how Peter denied Jesus reminds believers that pressure, fear, and environment can influence how boldly we stand for Christ. Peter moved from declaring “Thou art the Christ” (Matthew 16:16) to saying “I know not the man” (Matthew 26:72). The lesson is to guard our environment and renew our minds so that we remain faithful to Christ in every situation.
Did Peter recover after he denied Jesus?
Yes. Although Peter denied Jesus three times, his story did not end in failure. After the resurrection, Jesus restored Peter and later used him powerfully to preach the gospel and lead the early church (John 21:15-17; Acts 2:14-41). Peter’s life shows that failure is not final for one who returns to Christ.
Truths From When Peter Denied Jesus and Judas Hung Himself
Even strong believers can fail under pressure
When Peter denied Jesus, he was not a weak or unbelieving man. He had already declared that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16). Yet fear, environment, and pressure caused Peter to deny Jesus three times. This reminds us that believers must guard their surroundings and remain spiritually alert, as pressure can affect how boldly we identify with Christ.
Following Jesus from a distance leads to spiritual weakness
Before Peter denied Jesus, Scripture says he followed Jesus afar off to the high priest’s palace (Matthew 26:58). That distance became dangerous. When believers begin to follow Christ from a distance rather than staying close to Him, fear and compromise can grow. The story of how Peter denied Jesus shows the importance of staying near to the Lord.
Regret is not the same as kingdom repentance
Judas repented with regret after betraying Jesus and returning the thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 27:3-5). His sorrow came after the act had already taken place. Kingdom repentance, preached by John the Baptist and Jesus, involves a change in thinking that renews the mind before sin occurs (Matthew 3:2; Matthew 4:17; Romans 12:2). The contrast between Judas and Peter reveals the difference between regret and true repentance.
The environment around us influences our confession of Christ
When Peter stood among believers, he boldly confessed that Jesus was the Christ. Later, when Peter stood among hostile religious leaders, Peter denied Jesus and said he did not know the man (Matthew 26:72). This shows how situations, people, and pressure can influence how we speak about Christ. Believers must guard their environments so they do not drift from bold faith to silent denial.
God remains sovereign even in betrayal and failure
Even in the events where Peter denied Jesus and Judas hung himself, God’s plan continued to unfold. The betrayal, the thirty pieces of silver, and the purchase of the potter’s field fulfilled prophecy (Matthew 27:9-10; Zechariah 11:13). These events show that God remains sovereign and works through human choices to accomplish His purposes.
Failure does not have to be the end of a believer’s story
Although Peter denied Jesus three times and wept bitterly (Matthew 26:75), his story did not end there. Jesus later restored Peter and used him to preach the gospel with great power. The lesson from when Peter denied Jesus is that failure does not have to define a believer’s future when there is true repentance and restoration in Christ.
Other Related Sermons:
Apostle Peter Do You Love Me More Luke
Christ of God Two Questions Luke 9:18-25
Find Life and Relationships sermon
Breaking or Blessing a Father’s Heart
Judas Iscariot part 2 Luke 6:12-16 audio video notes
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