Matthew 26:35 kjv
Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.
Matthew 26:35 nkjv
Peter said to Him, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!" And so said all the disciples.
Matthew 26:35 niv
But Peter declared, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the other disciples said the same.
Matthew 26:35 esv
Peter said to him, "Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!" And all the disciples said the same.
Matthew 26:35 nlt
"No!" Peter insisted. "Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!" And all the other disciples vowed the same.
Matthew 26 35 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 26:31 | Then Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away because of me..." | Jesus' initial prophecy of disciples scattering |
| Matt 26:33-34 | Peter answered and said to Him... "Truly, I say to you, this very night... you will deny Me three times." | Jesus specifically predicts Peter's denial |
| Mk 14:27-31 | "You will all fall away,"... "before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times." Peter spoke... | Parallel account, including Peter's strong denial |
| Lk 22:31-34 | "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded to sift you like wheat... but I have prayed for you..." | Jesus' warning and prayer for Peter's faith |
| Jn 13:36-38 | Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, where are You going?" Jesus answered, "Where I go you cannot follow Me now... you will lay down your life for Me?" "Truly... before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." | Jesus' prediction and Peter's vow in John |
| Matt 26:69-75 | Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard... But he denied it before them all... Then he began to curse... he denied Him again... and immediately the rooster crowed... and he went out and wept bitterly. | The fulfillment of Peter's threefold denial |
| Mk 14:66-72 | And a servant girl of the high priest saw Peter warming himself... he began to curse and swear, "I do not know this man about whom you are talking." And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. | Peter's denial detailed, Mk's unique double crow |
| Lk 22:54-62 | Now they had arrested Him... he warmed himself. And a servant girl... "This man was also with Him"... he denied Him, "Woman, I do not know Him." And immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. | Peter's denial and Jesus' glance |
| Jn 18:15-18, 25-27 | Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus... Peter was standing and warming himself... Then they said to him, "You are not also one of His disciples, are you?" He denied it, and said, "I am not." | Peter's denial in high priest's courtyard |
| Pr 16:18 | Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. | Warning against overconfidence and pride |
| Pr 27:1 | Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. | Counsel against presumptuous vows |
| Ro 7:18 | For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. | Human inability to perform desired righteousness |
| Jer 17:9 | The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? | Human heart's tendency toward self-deception |
| 1 Cor 10:12 | Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. | Warning against self-assurance |
| 2 Cor 12:9-10 | But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." | God's strength perfected in human weakness |
| Phil 4:13 | I can do all things through him who strengthens me. | Power comes from Christ, not self |
| Jn 21:15-19 | When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?" | Peter's post-resurrection restoration by Jesus |
| Acts 2:14-41 | But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them... "Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified." | Peter's bold sermon at Pentecost, demonstrating transformed courage |
| Heb 4:15-16 | For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses... | Jesus' empathy for human frailty |
| Jn 15:5 | I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. | Dependence on Christ for strength |
Matthew 26 verses
Matthew 26 35 Meaning
Matthew 26:35 captures the bold and passionate, yet ultimately overconfident, declaration of Peter to Jesus. Despite Jesus’ direct prophecy of denial, Peter asserts his unwavering loyalty, stating he would rather die than deny Christ. This profound statement of resolve is then echoed by all the other disciples, revealing a collective overestimation of their own spiritual fortitude in the face of impending trials. It powerfully sets the stage for the dramatic failure of the disciples, contrasting their human boasting with divine foreknowledge and the immense pressures they would soon face.
Matthew 26 35 Context
Matthew 26:35 is situated within the immediate aftermath of the Last Supper, a moment pregnant with meaning as Jesus institutes the New Covenant. Prior to this verse, Jesus has predicted the disciples' scattering ("All of you will fall away because of me this night," Matt 26:31) and specifically Peter's three-fold denial before the rooster crows (Matt 26:34). The setting is likely on the way to the Garden of Gethsemane, a place of intense prayer and imminent betrayal. This moment captures the stark contrast between Christ's prophetic knowledge and the disciples' human self-assurance. Historically and culturally, loyalty to one's teacher (Rabbi) was paramount. Peter's vehement vow, and that of the other disciples, reflects this cultural expectation of staunch fidelity, especially in the face of danger. Their declarations represent the epitome of well-intentioned, but ultimately flawed, human resolve when tested by extreme pressure, and subtly critiques over-reliance on self instead of on the divine.
Matthew 26 35 Word analysis
- Peter (Πέτρος, Petros): Meaning "rock" or "stone." Ironically, his name signifies stability, yet at this moment, Peter displays an impulsive overconfidence that quickly shatters. He is typically the most vocal and zealous among the disciples.
- said to him: Direct interaction with Jesus, highlighting Peter's challenge to Jesus's prophecy.
- "Even if (κἀγώ, kagō... εἰ, ei):" The Greek phrasing emphasizes Peter's extreme hypothetical: "Even if it means I have to die..." This demonstrates the depth of his conviction at that moment.
- I must die (ἀποθανεῖν, apothanein) with you (μετὰ σοῦ, meta sou): A hyperbolic oath of ultimate solidarity. To "die with" someone was the strongest vow of loyalty in Jewish culture, pledging total allegiance even unto death. This vow highlights Peter's commitment and fierce devotion.
- I will not deny (ἀπαρνήσομαι, aparnēsomai) you (σε, se):
- Aparnēsomai: An emphatic future tense, meaning "I will absolutely not deny/renounce/disown you." It implies a complete break in relationship or acknowledgement. This strong negation underscores Peter's internal conviction that such a thing is impossible for him.
- The term carries strong theological weight: denying Christ can imply disavowing one's faith or allegiance. Peter here rejects the very notion of abandoning Jesus.
- "And all the disciples (πάντες οἱ μαθηταί, pantes hoi mathetai) said the same thing (εἶπον ὁμοίως, eipon homoios):"
- All the disciples: It was not just Peter's isolated failure, but a collective moment of human frailty. Their shared affirmation suggests a group mindset, where confidence feeds confidence, making their subsequent scattering and denial (Matt 26:56) all the more poignant.
- Said the same thing: This confirms the widespread nature of their overconfidence and underlines the consistency of their impending failure in upholding these solemn declarations.
Matthew 26 35 Bonus section
The immediate and comprehensive failure of the disciples to uphold their solemn vow is not presented as an indictment of their character without hope. Instead, it serves a crucial theological purpose: to demonstrate the utter dependence of even the most zealous believer on divine strength and grace. The disciples' public vows made directly to Christ and their subsequent spectacular failure would deeply impress upon them, and upon all believers since, the truth that genuine commitment and perseverance in faith come not from self-will but through Christ who strengthens them. Their inability to keep their promises in the crucible of trial emphasizes the absolute accuracy of Jesus's prophetic words and the reality that spiritual battles cannot be won through mere human resolve or willpower. This passage foreshadows Peter's post-resurrection restoration and commissioning, where his future steadfastness would be founded on the love and grace of the risen Lord, not his own fleeting strength.
Matthew 26 35 Commentary
Matthew 26:35 is a pivotal verse, encapsulating human weakness contrasting sharply with divine foresight. Peter's impassioned vow, echoed by the other disciples, reveals a sincere but self-reliant devotion. Their declaration to "die with" Jesus rather than "deny" Him is an expression of deep affection and loyalty, yet it's tragically ironic because it immediately precedes their abandonment of Him (Matt 26:56) and Peter's actual threefold denial. This incident serves as a profound lesson on the danger of spiritual overconfidence, the deceitfulness of the human heart, and the futility of relying on one's own strength to navigate trials. It highlights that true faithfulness is not based on zealous boasts, but on humble dependence on Christ's empowering grace, which is perfected in weakness. Peter's fall, foretold by Jesus and starkly revealed here, ultimately led to his profound repentance and transformation, underscoring God's redemptive work through human failure. It also prepares the reader for the shocking vulnerability of Christ in Gethsemane as His human disciples prove incapable of standing with Him.