Matthew 16:24
16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to become my follower, 1 he must deny 2 himself, take up his cross, 3 and follow me.
Matthew 26:34-35
26:34 Jesus said to him, “I tell you the truth, 4 on this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”
26:35 Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will never deny you.” And all the disciples said the same thing.
Matthew 26:75
26:75 Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. 5
1 tn Grk “to come after me.”
2 tn This translation better expresses the force of the Greek third person imperative than the traditional “let him deny,” which could be understood as merely permissive.
3 sn To bear the cross means to accept the rejection of the world for turning to Jesus and following him. Discipleship involves a death that is like a crucifixion; see Gal 6:14.
4 tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”
5 sn When Peter went out and wept bitterly it shows he really did not want to fail here and was deeply grieved that he had.