Peter had not designed that his real character should be known. In assuming an air of indifference he had placed himself on the enemy's ground, and he became an easy prey to temptation. If he had been called to fight for his Master, he would have been a courageous soldier; but when the finger of scorn was pointed at him, he proved himself a coward. Many who do not shrink from active warfare for their Lord are driven by ridicule to deny their faith. By associating with those whom they should avoid, they place themselves in the way of temptation. They invite the enemy to tempt them, and are led to say and do that of which under other circumstances they would never have been guilty. The disciple of Christ who in our day disguises his faith through dread of suffering or reproach denies his Lord as really as did Peter in the judgment hall.

Peter havde ikke tænkt sig, at man skulle få at vide, hvem han i virkeligheden var. Med en påtaget ligegyldig mine havde han anbragt sig i fjendens lejr, og han blev et let bytte for fristelserne. Hvis han var kaldet til at kæmpe for sin Mester, ville han have gjort det som en modig stridsmand; men da man pegede fingre ad ham med foragt, viste han sig at være en kujon. Mange, der ikke viger tilbage for aktiv kamp for deres Herre, drives af latterliggørelse til at fornægte deres tro. Ved at færdes sammen med dem, som de burde undgå, udsætter de sig for fristelser. De giver fjenden lejlighed til at friste dem, og de kommer til at sige og gøre ting, som de under andre omstændigheder aldrig ville have gjort sig skyldige i. Den Kristi discipel, som i vore dage dækker over sin tro af frygt for at komme til at lide eller hånes, fornægter sin Herre lige så helt og fuldt, som Peter gjorde det i ypperstepræstens gård.