Peter’s self confidence.
{vi 24088-24090}Matt. 26:33-35.
Self confidence in a child of God is a very serious evil, and yet it is a very common failing. It is when we learn, and continually remember, that we have no strength in ourselves that we get deliverance from this dangerous evil. Peter loved His Lord and Master. Of this, there can be no question. And he thought he could, stand by him in the darkest hour. But he thought to do this in his own strength, and in this he was quite mistaken, He needed to learn his own weakness, and as we shall see a little further on in the history, he had to learn it in a most painful way.
Jesus had just told the disciples that they would all be “offended,” or stumbled, because of Him that night. It was the night in which He was to be betrayed into the hands of sinners, and the dreadful hour was drawing near. It was Satan’s hour, and the hour of Jesus’ enemies. Anti the poor weak disciples, when tested, could not stand in the presence of the “power of darkness.” And Jesus warned them of this, and it was this warning that brought out the expression of Peter’s self-confidence. Peter answered and said unto Him, “Though all should be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.” Peter was sure he could stand by Him, but he did not know his own weakness. And when he declared his confidence that he would never be offended, Jesus further warned him, by assuring him that that very night, before the crowing of the cock in the early morning, he would deny him three times; and in another article we shall see that this is just what Peter did. But notwithstanding this double warning, Peter was still confident and in still stronger words showed out his self-confidence. saying, “Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee.” And this, too. was the feeling of all the disciples, only Peter was more forward, and more pronounced than the others.
Now, let us see if we can gather up any lessons in connection with this incident. It is true that Peter had not yet been stumbled, and had not yet denied His Lord, but it is true that he did deny Him later, and it was then that Peter’s weakness became apparent. But his self-confidence was already plain, and it was so strong that he trusted himself rather than believe the words of His divine Lord and Master. Twice over Jesus warned him, first telling him that he would be offended, or stumbled, and then telling him that he would deny him. Was it not very sorrowful that Peter should thus refuse to believe what Jesus said to him? Had he ever known Jesus to be mistaken, or to speak untruthfully? Certainly not. And yet here he speaks as if Jesus was mistaken. Peter sinned a great sin when he denied Jesus, later on, but was not this also a great sin, when he refused to believe the words of Jesus? But Peter’s self-confidence was at the bottom of all this. It was the root sin, and all the rest grew out of it. And does not this show how great a sin self-confidence is?
The Scriptures tell us that pride goes before a fall, and pride is abominable in the sight of God, so that he who exalts himself shall be abased. God must bring down the proud looks, and abase the heart that is lifted up in pride.
There is another Scripture which says, “Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall.” Peter thought he could stand, but he fell. And this ever the way. God will not allow His people to continue in pride and self-confidence. They have to be brought clown, and learn that they are nothing in themselves, and that they have no strength. We must learn that our strength is only in the Lord, and not in ourselves. Peter afterward learned this, and then his strength was real. And happy are we when we have learned to say: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble,” Ps. 46:1. And again, “The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” Heb. 13:6.
ML 02/04/1906