Today's Devotion
Monday October 13, 2025
INTERESTING FACT ABOUT THE BIBLE : "Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost."
John Quincy Adams, (American 6th US President (1825-29), eldest son of John Adams, 2nd US president. 1767-1848)[1]
Daily Reading : MATTHEW 26
TEXT : Mat 26:31 Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. Mat 26:32 But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. Mat 26:33 Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. Mat 26:34 Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Mat 26:35 Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples. Mat 26:40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Mat 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Mat 26:56 But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled. Mat 26:57 And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. Mat 26:58 But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end. Mat 26:68 Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee? Mat 26:69 Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. Mat 26:70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. Mat 26:71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. Mat 26:72 And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. Mat 26:73 And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. Mat 26:74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. Mat 26:75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
THEME : Perseverance
Matthew 26
Christ predicts his being betrayed and crucified, Mat_26:1, Mat_26:2. The chief priests, scribes, and elders consult about his death, Mat_26:3-5. A woman anoints his head at Bethany, at which the disciples are offended, but Christ vindicates her conduct, Mat_26:6-13. Judas, for thirty pieces of silver, engages with the chief priests to betray him, Mat_26:14-16. He eats a passover with his disciples, and assures them of his approaching death, and that one of them would betray him, Mat_26:17-21. On each asking, Is it I? Christ asserts that Judas is the traitor, Mat_26:22-25. Having eaten his last supper, he institutes the eucharist, to be observed in his Church as a memorial of his sacrificial death, Mat_26:26-29. They sing a hymn, go to the mount of Olives, and he again announces his approaching death and resurrection, Mat_26:30-32. Peter asserts his resolution to be faithful to his Master, and Christ foretells his denial and apostasy, Mat_26:33-35. He goes to Gethsemane; the transactions there, Mat_26:36-46. Judas comes with the high priest's mob and betrays him with a kiss, Mat_26:47-50. Peter cuts off the ear of the high priest's servant; Christ discourses with the multitude, Mat_26:51-55. The disciples flee, and he is led to Caiaphas, Mat_26:56, Mat_26:57. Peter follows at a distance, Mat_26:58. They seek false witnesses, and question our Lord, who declares himself to be the Christ, Mat_26:59-64. They accuse him of blasphemy, and abuse him, Mat_26:65-68. Peter's denial and repentance, Mat_26:69-75. [Adam Clarke][2]
Matthew 26
Christ predicts his being betrayed and crucified, Mat_26:1, Mat_26:2. The chief priests, scribes, and elders consult about his death, Mat_26:3-5. A woman anoints his head at Bethany, at which the disciples are offended, but Christ vindicates her conduct, Mat_26:6-13. Judas, for thirty pieces of silver, engages with the chief priests to betray him, Mat_26:14-16. He eats a passover with his disciples, and assures them of his approaching death, and that one of them would betray him, Mat_26:17-21. On each asking, Is it I? Christ asserts that Judas is the traitor, Mat_26:22-25. Having eaten his last supper, he institutes the eucharist, to be observed in his Church as a memorial of his sacrificial death, Mat_26:26-29. They sing a hymn, go to the mount of Olives, and he again announces his approaching death and resurrection, Mat_26:30-32. Peter asserts his resolution to be faithful to his Master, and Christ foretells his denial and apostasy, Mat_26:33-35. He goes to Gethsemane; the transactions there, Mat_26:36-46. Judas comes with the high priest's mob and betrays him with a kiss, Mat_26:47-50. Peter cuts off the ear of the high priest's servant; Christ discourses with the multitude, Mat_26:51-55. The disciples flee, and he is led to Caiaphas, Mat_26:56, Mat_26:57. Peter follows at a distance, Mat_26:58. They seek false witnesses, and question our Lord, who declares himself to be the Christ, Mat_26:59-64. They accuse him of blasphemy, and abuse him, Mat_26:65-68. Peter's denial and repentance, Mat_26:69-75. [Matthew Henry][3]
TRUTH FOR TODAY : "FINISHING WELL IS BETTER THAN STARTING WELL"
The world is always looking for a Judas when Jesus is in the crowd. The fact is, corruption has always been in the Church. Even with Jesus own hand-picked Apostles, Satan was able to seduce one namely, Judas. The reality of Judas's end - that is, the conclusion of his life as he walked with Jesus was not good. Worse, it was tragic, frightening. Judas did not finish well although arguably he started well. Perhaps, that he started well this is a debatable point. However, there can be no contention that he did not finish well. As a traitor he denied the LORD Jesus Christ then committed suicide because his conscience bothered him so badly. Although he regretted what he did, even trying to give back the thirty pieces of silver received for his reward, it was too late. The deed had been done and could not be undone. There is no need to champion the obvious - you do not want your life or end this way. By that, I am not referring to suicide, but you do not want to die in a state where you know you have turned from the Master - either for money, friends, family, and particularly not for sin, or just the simple lack determination to finish the race you started so well. Remember, being a Christian is a lifelong endeavor. It is like running a marathon not a 100 yard sprint.
Now, although Judas's case is dramatic and pathetic, you must look at Peter as well. Although he did not deny the LORD to the same degree as Judas, yet he did deny Jesus. Further, after Peter swears he would never leave Jesus or deny Him, Jesus tells him that he will indeed deny him three times. Moreover, all the Apostles say the same. That is, none of them could believe they would ever deny Jesus. Yet, every one of them to a man did just that. They all fled away when Jesus was arrested in the garden. Each one of them turned from the LORD Jesus, went and hid from the authorities, leaving Jesus alone to face his accusers by Himself. Remember, all of them swore they would never do this. However, deserting the LORD in His hour of need became a fact of life. Keep in mind, Jesus had foretold them this would happen. Have you ever told the LORD you would never deny him? Then it begs the question, where are you now? With respect to walking with Jesus, are you at his side, or following afar off?
When you look at Peter us see a man who is more adamant about his commitment than all the others. He argues that even if everyone else deserted Jesus (which they did), he, Peter, certainly will not. In this you can see the ignorance of even Jesus own disciples' in not knowing the power of sin and the flesh. Oddly enough, the Apostles could not stay awake during a season of prayer - a critical season of prayer, showing you how weak the flesh actually is. At the end of His ministry, Jesus is all alone. Only the Father was with him. One may argue that this is enough, that the Father is with you all the time, yet the loneliness of being by yourself in a moment of crisis is difficult to take. Yet, this is a common condition of many devoted Christians. Namely, when everyone else who has said they would never leave Jesus eventually come to their limitations and hide, the devoted follower of the LORD becomes like his Master - rejected, betrayed, and left alone. Truly, the cost of discipleship is high.
Nevertheless, you can look at Peter as an example of one who started well, had a lapse in his commitment to the LORD, then went on to finish well. Peter as opposed to Judas stands as a sterling example of the fact that a Christian can fail and recover himself or herself. The life of the Apostle Peter is an encouragement in a number of ways.
First, he shows you that there is always room and time to change as long as you are still alive. Do not forget, denying the LORD Jesus Christ is a serious matter. Still, the Apostle Peter demonstrates there is room for recovery based on repentance (repentance means to have a change of mind, which in turn, produces a change of deeds; if you change your point of view, then you change your direction in life). It is always possible. Judas could have prevented his apostasy but he did not. This was due to his choice, and choices are based on the will. Had Judas thought more about what he was going to do, a decision and he eventually not only regretted, but one he also tried to repent of. It was too late. Like Esau in the Old Testament, there was no more time or space for repentance. Thus, Judas hanged himself (he literally impaled himself on a sharp piece of wood. This is the reason the Scriptures state that his bowels gushed out.) Yet, the Apostle Peter corrects himself and finishes has a great hero of the faith. To
The Apostle Peter, according to tradition, died a death on the cross like his Master. Tradition tells us the Apostle Peter requested to be hung upside down because he believed he was not worthy to be in the same position as Jesus. That is, crucified right side up. The Apostle Peter dies a death that is certainly not enviable. However, he shows you it is possible to fail then be restored by the grace of God and finish the race well. The Apostle Peter, like the Apostle Paul, obtained a crown of righteousness that shall never decay or rust away. He, like the Apostle Paul, did this by the grace of God. Still, it must be kept in mind, the Apostle Peter, made this choice.
Be encouraged today that you too can finish well if you desire to. Make the decision today - finish your life in the LORD well, by the grace and power of God who loves you and died for your sins. Saied two yourself right now - "I will finish well!" by the grace of God, may this be so.
- [1] Thinkexist.com; http://thinkexist.com/quotation/always_vote_for_principle-though_you_may_vote/211608.html
- [2] Adam Clarke LL.D., F.S.A. Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible. Public Domain, 1715 - 1832.
- [3] Henry, Matthew. Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible. Public Domain, 1662 - 1714.
