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You are here: Home / J.C. Ryle / J.C. Ryle on Peter’s denial of Christ

J.C. Ryle on Peter’s denial of Christ

July 26, 2010 by Christina

“It was a great sin.

We see a man, who had followed Christ for three years, and had been forward in professing faith and love towards Him, – a man who had received boundless mercies, and loving-kindness, and been treated by Christ as a familiar friend,-we see this man denying three times that he knows Jesus!- This was bad. – It was sin committed under circumstances of great aggravation.

Peter had been warned plainly of his danger, and had heard the warning.  He had just been receiving the bread and wine at our Lord’s hand, and declaring loudly that though he died with Him, he would not deny Him! – This also was bad.-It was sin committed under apparently small provocation.

Two weak women make the remark that he was with Jesus.  They that stood by say, “Surely thou are one of them.”  No threat seems to have been used.  No violence seems to have been done. But it was enough to overthrow Peter’s faith.  He denies before all.  He denies with an oath.  He curses and swears. – Truly it is a humbling picture!”

“Let us mark this history, and store it up in our minds.  It teaches us plainly that the best of saints are only men, and men encompassed with many infirmities.

A man may be converted to God, have faith, and hope, and love towards Christ, and yet be overtaken in a fault, and have awful falls. It shows us the necessity of humility.

So long as we are in the body we are in danger. The flesh is weak and the devil is active. We must never think, “I cannot fall.”

It points out to us the duty of charity towards erring saints. We must not set down men as graceless reprobates, because they occasionally stumble and err.

We must remember Peter, and “restore them in the spirit of meekness.”

“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1)

J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, page 376.

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Filed Under: J.C. Ryle, Quotes

Comments

  1. Oscar Colon says

    July 26, 2010 at 8:25 am

    Thank You…..I’ts a great reminder to all of us that we in all we do for the Lord, are still only men. Thanks Again!

    • Christina says

      July 26, 2010 at 8:57 am

      Right!

      “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (1 Cor. 10:12)

      May we never lose sight that it is ALL of grace! Blessings, Oscar!

  2. Petra Hefner says

    July 26, 2010 at 8:56 am

    “So long as we are in the body we are in danger.” So true! Thank you for the stern reminder. May we always remember to, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour;” even on our most sunny days (or perhaps especially on our most sunny days). And let us always remember our own weaknesses and the planks in our own eyes before we disparage another. Blessings and love!

    • Christina says

      July 26, 2010 at 9:01 am

      That’s a good point, Petra! Sometimes it’s our areas of strength, the areas where we are NOT as guarded, that we would do well to be mindful of!

      Blessings to you too, Petra! Have a beautiful day! And, thank you, as always, for your thoughtful comments!

  3. Diane says

    July 28, 2010 at 9:36 pm

    “We must not set down men as graceless reprobates, because they occasionally stumble and err. We must remember Peter, and “restore them in the spirit of meekness.”

    A blessed reminder that we are all but poor dust. Truly, falling on our own faces should cause us to be more willing to extend grace to others.

    Thank you for this Christina!

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