Matthew 26:74-75

Matthew 26:74-75 (ESV): “74 Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.”

Sorrow is a God-given human emotion that is meant to lead us to repentance (2 Cor 7:10).  Sorrow alone will not make us turn away from sin and turn back to God, but that is its purpose. So use it as such!

While Jesus was on trial in the courtyard of Caiaphas’ home, Peter was on trial as well. The leading prosecutor was a servant girl. She claimed Peter was with Jesus, and he denied it. A little while later, another servant girl said the same thing, and Peter denied it again. Then the bystanders came up to Peter and said, “Your accent gives you away. You were surely with Jesus.” When Peter denied Jesus a third time, immediately the rooster crowed. He remembered what Jesus had said, and he went out and wept bitterly. His sorrow marked the beginning of repentance. Judas was also sorrowful, but he did not repent. His sorrow led him to despair, not restoration (Matt. 27:3-5).

How do you respond to sorrow over sin? Are you sorry you got caught, or are you sorry you sinned? The first is worldly sorrow, and it does not lead to true change. Godly sorrow, on the other hand, leads to repentance. You are responsible for how you respond to the sorrow that accompanies sin. God wants you to repent, to confess and turn away from your sin, and to turn back to Him. That is sorrow’s purpose, so use it as such.

Father, thank You for putting sorrow in our hearts when we sin. Let us not sulk in our sorrow, but use it to produce real repentance. We pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.