The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 2 — Section 213

Vers. 33, 34(with 55-62).-Tli.e apostle's/all. From this most memorable incident, recorded with noticeable candour by all the evangelists, many lessons spring. I. How IGNORA~'T OF HIMSELF EVEN A GOOD MAN MAY Pll0VE I (Ver. 33.) Peter believed himself to be capable of daring and enduring the very last extremity in the cause of his Master. He would have utterly ridiculed the idea that the sneer of a servant-girl could draw from him a denial of bis Lord. The event showed how entirely be mist-Oak himself. We ought to know ourselves well; but, in fact, we do not. We suppose ourselves to be strong and steadfast, when we are feeble and unreliable; or to be hum hie-minded, when we are proud of heart; or to be generous, when we are essen- tially self-seeking; or t.o be devout, when we are really unspiritual; to be neo.r to God, "hen we are afar off (Rev. iii. 17; 1 Cor. x. 12; Ps. xix. 12, 13; c:xxxix. 23, 24). II. How PERFECT TBE KNOWLEDGE OUR MASTEB,BAS OF OUR HEART AND LIFE! (Vrr. 34.) Jesus knew how weak bis disciple was, and he foresaw his speedy failure. He knows us altogether. He knows our heart; how sincere is our purpose, how frequent are our efforts, bow many our disappointments, how faulty is our nature, how wounded and weak is our spirit. He knows also our life. He sees it as it lies before his all- beholding eye; he "knows the way we take," the path we are about to pursue. It is to One who has a thorough and complete knowledge of us that we belong, and it is to him we draw nigh in our best hours. III. !<'ROM WlIAT A BEIGIIT A GOOD MAN' MAY FALL! This erring one is no other than the Apostle Peter, the very man who had made the great confession, and upon whom or upon whose testimony Christ would build his Church (Matt. xvi. 13-19). It is he who had been admitted to such close fellowship with ChriHt, and been allowed the high privilege of rendedng him constant personal service. '!'here is no office, however high it may be in the Christian Church, which will ensure to its occupant spiritual integrity. And even he who hae been "raised up to heavenly places," and has known even the raptures of an exalted spiritual experience, may fall under the power of temptation. It is not the lofty but the lowly that stand on safe ground in the kingdom of God. 1V. lJ ow STEEP IS THE DESCENT OF SIN"! From a presumptuous and blind self-con- fidence Peter fell to a half-hearted following (ver. 54); from that he fell to untruth- fulness and denial of his Lord (ver. 67); from that to a more deliberate and repented denial (vers. 58, 59), accompanied even (as :Matthew tells ue) with profanity. Sin is a slope which seems slight at the summit, but it becomes steeper and yet steeper as we go on our downward way. And it too often happens that we reach a point where we cannot arrest ourselves, but are compelled against our own desira to continue. Shun the first step in the downward course I V. How MERCIFUL IS CBmsT's METHOD OF CONVICTION I (Ver. 61.) Not a blow that smote him to the ground; not even burning words of condemnation that should sounJ ernr afterwards in his soul ; but one reproachful glance-the look of wounded love. So n,ercifttl and so pitiful is our Lord when we are unfaithful or disloyal to hiDl uow, 1le c!rr, x:;:1. 1-71.) THE GOSPEL ACCOUDING '10 ST. LUKE.