John Calvin Commentary Matthew 26:75

"And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly." — Matthew 26:75 (ASV)

And Peter remembered the word of Jesus. To the voice of the cock, Luke informs us, the look of Christ was also added; for previously—as we learn from Mark—he had paid no attention to the cock when crowing. He must, therefore, have received the look from Christ, so that he might come to himself.

We all have experience of the same thing in ourselves. For which of us does not pass by with indifference and with deaf ears—I do not say the varied and numerous songs of birds which, however, excite us to glorify God—but even the voice of God, which is heard clearly and distinctly in the doctrine of the Law and of the Gospel? Nor is it for a single day only that our minds are held by such brutal stupidity, but it is perpetual until He who alone turns the hearts of men deigns to look upon us.

It is proper to observe, however, that this was no ordinary look, for He had formerly looked at Judas, who, after all, became no better by it. But in looking at Peter, He added to His eyes the secret efficacy of the Spirit, and thus by the rays of His grace, penetrated into his heart. Let us therefore know that whenever anyone has fallen, his repentance will never begin until the Lord has looked at him.

And he went out and wept bitterly. It is probable that Peter went out through fear, for he did not venture to weep in the presence of witnesses; and here he gave another proof of his weakness. Hence we infer that he did not deserve pardon by satisfaction, but that he obtained it by the fatherly kindness of God. By this example we are taught that we ought to entertain confident hope, though our repentance may be lame; for God does not despise even weak repentance, provided that it is sincere.

Yet Peter’s tears, which he shed in secret, testified before God and the angels that his repentance was true. For, having withdrawn from the eyes of men, he places God and the angels before him; therefore, those tears flowed from the deep feelings of his heart. This deserves our attention, for we see many who shed tears purposely as long as they are seen by others, but who, no sooner have they retired, than they have dry eyes. Now, there is no room to doubt that tears which do not flow on account of the judgment of God are often drawn forth by ambition and hypocrisy.

But it may be asked, is weeping requisite in true repentance? I reply, believers often groan before the Lord with dry eyes and without hypocrisy, confessing their fault to obtain pardon. However, in more aggravated offenses, those must be unusually stupid and hardened whose hearts are not pained by grief and sorrow, and who do not feel ashamed even to the point of shedding tears. And therefore, Scripture, after convicting people of their crimes, exhorts them to sackcloth and ashes, (Daniel 9:3; Jonah 3:6; Matthew 11:21).