Consider the scripture: "Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice." ~Matthew 26:33-34 KJV
And himself Jesus told us... "But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." ~ Matthew 10:33 KJV
Jesus also said... "If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;" ~ John 10:35 KJV
So did Jesus deny Peter before our Heavenly Father, for not only did Peter deny knowing Jesus he did it three times. And we know that scripture cannot be broken that means that Jesus will deny Peter before the Father according to his word. And yet we also know that Jesus will build his church upon Peter and that he was also given the keys to kingdom of heaven.
"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." ~ Matthew 16:18-19 KJV
How then is this to be reconciled on Peters denial of Jesus and Jesus's word that he shall deny all before the Father for doing such an act? What keys are we missing in the scriptures to resolve this conundrum?
I do not know if you know already know the answer but for me it was a amazing revelation to understand this great mystery and so I pass it to you for you to briefly meditate on.
And in asking the Lord for an answer to this conundrum I was lead down the proverbial "rabbit hole" to the following scriptures...
"He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." ~ 1 John 4:8 KJV
"And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins." ~ 1 Peter 4:8 KJV
Here now the KJV of the bible throws us yet another "curve ball" in the translation from the original Greek or Aramaic into Middle English used in time of King James. For the original Greek word of "agape" (i.e. love) is originally written but has been translated into the English word "charity". Yet another reason we should question some of the KJV translations from the original text languages of Hebrew and Greek. Sometimes we have to dig deep to uncover the truth.
--> charity (G26 in Strong’s Concordance) Greek: ἀγάπη Transliteration: agapē Pronunciation: ag-ah'-pay
Definition: From G25; love that is affection or benevolence; specifically (plural) a love feast: - (feast of) charity ([-ably]) dear love.
Then I was lead to these scriptures... "So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest (G25) thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love (G5368) thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest (G5368) thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest (G5368) thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love (G5368) thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep." ~ John 21:15-17 KJV
--> lovest G5368 Greek: φιλέω Transliteration: phileō Pronunciation: fil-eh'-o
Definition: From G5384; to be a friend to (fond of [an individual or an object]) that is have affection for (denoting personal attachment as a matter of sentiment or feeling; while G25 is wider embracing especially the judgment and the deliberate assent of the will as a matter of principle duty and propriety: the two thus stand related very much as G2309 and G1014 or as G2372 and G3563 respectively; the former being chiefly of the heart and the latter of the head); specifically to kiss (as a mark of tenderness): - kiss love.
So yes...Peter did deny Jesus three times BUT Jesus much later asked Peter if he loved him three times. This occurred when Jesus was having breakfast with His disciples soon after His resurrection.
And since scripture tells us that "charity" (agape) shall cover the multitude of sins" and that we know that "God is love" then God covered Peters sin of three denials of Jesus for three confessions of love to Jesus.
Wow...what a revelation!
“All Praise and Glory to God. Peace and Blessings to All”
Your humble Brother in Jesus Christ our LORD and savior.
~ Marc