Mt 26:69-27:14

• vv69-75: Peter Disowns Jesus:
• 3 times:
1. in the court yard to one servant girl, "I don't know what you're talking about.'
   
2. out to the gateway to another girl, "I don't know the man!"
3. after a while to those standing there, "I don't know the man!"

• v74b: a rooster crowed;
• v75b: he went outside and wept bitterly; he did fall away--exactly as Jesus had predicted and as he claimed he never would; how shameful and yet he could not undo it; Peter probably would never forget this for the rest of his life. And he did spent the rest of his life as a minister for the Gospel. The shame had turned into a motivationg factor for him. Excellent example of 'in all things God works for the good of those who love him.' (Rom 8:28)
• 27:1-10: Judas Hangs Himself:
• v1: in the morning--Friday, the day of Jesus' crucifixion;
• v2: turned Jesus to Governor Pilate (a Roman); Jesus had not rest all night;
• v3: Judas' remorse;
• v4b: the high priests and elders didn't want any part of it;
• v5: Judas threw the money into the temple and went away and hanged himself; some argue that Judas must be a part of God's plan, but in 26:24 Jesus explained that he 'will go ust as it is written about him; but woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man.' Clearly God did not select which man to do the betrayal. Instead, Satan was out there 'prowling around' (1 Pet 5:8) looking for the weak links. One must 'resist him, standing firm in the faith' (1 Pet 5:9).
• v8: field of blood (see also Acts 1:18-19);
• vv11-14: Jesus Before Pilate:
• v11: Jesus admitted he is the king of Jews;
• v12,14: before the high priests and elders, Jesus kept silent to the testimony against him; now before Pilate he gave no explanation; he only admitted that he was the Christ and 'king of Jews', respectively;
• v14: Pilate was amazed;
  
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