Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

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9 February 2010
Passage: Matthew 26:57-75
Focus: “He began to call down curses on himself…”  Matthew 26:74.

            I can only imagine what kind of curses Peter was making on himself.  My hunch is that it went something like this: “I swear I don’t know this guy!  I’ve never seen him before in my life!  May my tongue be ripped out from my toenails if I’m not telling the truth!  May the God of heaven squash me right now and mince me and fry me on an eternal skillet if I know anything about this jerk!”  He thought that surely those hanging around this exciting trial would leave him alone after a tirade like that.  But then the rooster crowed…and his mind cleared.  Now he was really bothered.  Being guilty of some very wrong things, he now did a very right thing.  “He went out and wept bitterly”…before God.
            Peter was actually wasting his breath though.  He didn’t need to call down curses on himself.  He was already into the realm of the cursed.  If I’m reading my Bible correctly, everyone who denies Christ is automatically cursed.  It was only his repentance and recommitment to Christ that freed him from that curse.  Jesus makes reference to this curse in the last story He tells in the previous chapter.  “Depart from me, you who are CURSED, into the eternal fire (which is something like an eternal skillet) prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt. 25:41).
            Consider a few other scriptures on the matter of curses.
            “All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law’” (Gal. 3:10).
            “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree’” (Gal. 3:13).
            “Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God.  But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed.  In the end it will be burned” (Heb. 6:7-8).
            “If anyone does not love the Lord—a curse be on him.  Come, O Lord!” (1 Cor. 16:22).
            Be reminded that we are touching on the very heart of the Gospel—that repentance and reception of Christ frees us from the built-in curse of sin and its consequences.  Be very careful to avoid disowning Christ in any way, shape, or form.