Lutheran Catechesis
Lesson Two
Peter Denies His Lord – Matthew 26:69-75
God’s name is to be embraced, not denied.
Review of Lesson 1:
 What is the faith that saves?
o How was this shown in Jesus’ parable?
o How is this shown in the 1st Commandment?
 What is the faith that damns?
o How was this shown in Jesus’ parable?
 What, alone, can bring a sinner to repentance and faith in
Jesus Christ?
o How was this shown in Jesus’ parable?
 What is God protecting in the first commandment?
 How did the Rich Man break the 1st Commandment?
Intro:
 What comes to your mind when you hear the name of Abraham Lincoln, Tiger Woods, Mark Schroeder?
 What is God protecting with the 2nd Commandment?
Definition: The words by which God tells us who He is
and by which we call upon Him in every trouble, pray,
praise and give thanks is ____________________.
Where do we find these words in which God tells us
who He is?
Discussion Questions:
69) Where was Peter?
o What event had happened previously that
evening?
-
Who came to Peter?
o With whose name did she associate Peter?
Peter’s Denial
By Julius Schnorr von
Carolsfeld, 1851-60
The Ten Commandments
2. You shall not misuse the name
of the LORD your God.
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God
that we do not use His name to
curse, swear, lie or deceive, or
use witchcraft, but call upon
God’s name in every trouble,
pray, praise and give thanks.
Application:
- When we were baptized, with whom were we
associated/ connected?
Illustration – Signing the Cross as a remembrance of whose name is upon you.
70) How did Peter react?
o Why would Peter act in such a way?
-
Did Peter break the 2nd Commandment?
o If so, how?
Application:
 How do we act like Peter during those times when we find ourselves in fearful situations?
 A friend begins gossiping about another in front of you. If you speak up in defense of the
other – what might happen?
o What are you tempted to do?
o What are you encouraged to do unlike Peter?
Lesson 2 – Peter Denies His Lord – 2nd Commandment
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Lutheran Catechesis
71-72) Where did Peter go after being questioned by the
first servant girl?
-
What should Peter have done at this point after
finding himself in a troubling situation?
-
What did the second girl say about Peter?
o How did Peter react this time?
-
How did Peter break the 2nd Commandment?
Definition: To take an oath or use your word in support of
lies or deception is called ____________________.
Application:
 Read the following – how are they like Peter in
denying Jesus’ name?
o When her friends wonder about something
Ann says, she responds, “Honest! Cross my
heart and hope to die!”
o We are too busy to read God’s Word daily.
o Any time a baptized Christian sins.
The Ten Commandments
2. You shall not misuse the name
of the LORD your God.
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God
that we do not use His name to
curse, swear, lie or deceive, or
use witchcraft, but call upon
God’s name in every trouble,
pray, praise and give thanks.
73) What did others say Peter was?
- What gave Peter away?
74) Explain Peter’s reaction.
- What was Peter asking God to do to Him?
Definition: To condemn or call down the judgment of
God upon someone or something, including the use of
profanities
and
vulgar
speech
is
called
____________________.
-
How did Peter break the 2nd Commandment this
time? How did he use God’s name?
-
Why might it have been easier for Peter to deny
Jesus the second and third time?
o What is the lesson for us today?
The Denial of Peter
Unknown Illustrator of Henry Davenport
Northrop's
'Treasures of the Bible',
1894
Application:
 Evaluate: George cursed once in awhile, but he didn’t think it was so bad since he never
really meant to wish evil on anything.
 Explain what is wrong with the phrase – “God damn….”
74-75) What happened? Why?
-
What did Peter do when he remembered?
-
Did Jesus forgive Peter?
o How do you know?
-
What does this teach us when we see that we have broken the 2nd Commandment?
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Lesson 2 – Peter Denies His Lord – 2nd Commandment
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Lutheran Catechesis
Additional Thoughts on the 2nd Commandment:
Definition: Anything that involves the occult or the seeking of knowledge, information,
guidance, or pleasure from spirits other than God, including astrology, fortunetelling, séances,
palm reading, Ouija boards, etc… is called ____________________.
-
Why is using witchcraft a sin against the 2nd Commandment?
How does God want us to use His name?
o Why?
o Name some ways we can use God’s name according to His will.
Summary:
 What is God protecting in the 2nd Commandment?
o What is God’s name?
 How did Peter break the 2nd Commandment?
o What is cursing by God’s name?
o What is swearing by God’s name?
o What is deceiving by God’s name?
o What is witchcraft?
 To whom do we turn for forgiveness when we have broken the 2nd Commandment?
o This in turn leads us to do what?
 How does God want us to use His name?
Application Questions:
2nd Commandment:
- A/D – Whenever a Christian uses God’s name he will either be involved with worship or
doing mission work.
- A/D – It is not cursing if we don’t use God’s name in the form that is used in the Bible.
- Evaluate: A famous preacher on TV talks about Jesus and then promises that all who
pray to Jesus with him will be healed of their illness.
- Evaluate: When Ann went to the county fair, there was a fortuneteller in one of the
booths. Here friends urged her to try it since it really was sort of a fake set-up anyway
and so it wouldn’t do any harm.
Catechism Terms:
2nd Commandment:
- the name of God
- Cursing
-
Swearing
Witchcraft
Summary of the Bible Story:
Even though he was not being formally accused, Peter didn’t even want to be associated with the
name of Jesus. Instead, he cursed, swore and made oaths to cover up his lie that he did not know
Jesus. Peter, who had boasted that he would die with Jesus, did not want to know Him now. As
Jesus said, the spirit is willing, that is, the man of faith desires to remain firm in the name placed
upon us at Baptism. Yet in the weakness of our flesh we do not call upon His name in every
trouble. Instead, we fear others and trust in ourselves. And so, we fall into temptation and weep
bitter tears of repentance. Though Peter denied Jesus three times, he would be restored through
the forgiveness of sins after Jesus had been in the tomb three days. (John 20:15-25)
Lesson 2 – Peter Denies His Lord – 2nd Commandment
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