Are you impetuous? To be impetuous is to act without thinking or caring about the outcome. If you are impetuous, you’re in good company. Peter was also impetuous. Peter was a disciple that was driven by emotion. If he thought something, it came out in words and actions. He also didn’t understand his own heart. One good thing about this personality trait is that you quickly figure out how fallible you are.
Peter was one of the 12 disciples called by Jesus to learn from Him, so the work would carry on after He left. In Matthew 4:18, Jesus sees Peter and Andrew fishing, and He calls them. They immediately leave their nets and follow. This was their occupation, and following Jesus meant they were leaving their means of financial support behind. The impetuousness of his personality allowed him to step out onshore and follow. He didn’t have to weigh all the possibilities. The Bible tells us he and his brother Andrew left immediately.
Matthew 4:18-20 “While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him.”
Peter was eager and the first to respond to Jesus in Caesarea Philippi when he asked his disciples who they believed Him to be. Without any hesitation, Peter said, “Thou are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Matthew 16:13-16 “When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But who say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Peter again speaks without thinking, just after his proclamation that Jesus is the Christ. Jesus is telling His disciples that it is almost time to go to Jerusalem. In verse 22, Peter rebukes the Lord Jesus by telling Him that He is not to go to Jerusalem for fear of Jesus’ life. Note that Peter is not asking or pleading with Jesus; he is instructing Him that He is not to go. Imagine being impetuous enough to tell the Lord of all what to do.
Matthew 16:21-22 “From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.”
There was no doubt that Peter loved Jesus. However, he did not know himself as he thought he did. In Matthew 26:33-34, Peter vehemently states that he will never be offended by being a follower of Jesus. In our terminology, he is saying that he will never deny Christ; he will die for Him. However, we all know it wasn’t long until Peter did deny Christ three times. Peter immediately remembered what Jesus had said when he heard the rooster crow and wept bitterly.
Matthew 26:33-35 “Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.”
Another time Peter spoke, before he thought, was at the Passover supper. He told Jesus He would never wash his feet. When Jesus rebukes him, Peter then says, “wash all of me not just my feet.” That’s Peter, no halfway for him. He didn’t understand, but an impetuous person usually goes from one extreme to another.
John 13:6-9 “Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.”
When Jesus went to the garden to pray after the Last Supper, his disciples, minus Judas, went with Him. When he gets to the garden, he takes Peter, James, and John with him further into the garden. He leaves them to pray while He goes even further, to spend time with the Father alone. Upon finishing His prayer time with the Father, Jesus is arrested. Peter again takes action when they put their hands on Jesus. He draws his sword and tries to cut off the head of Malchus, the high priest’s servant. He misses and cuts off his ear. It was not common for the disciples to have swords, but Luke tells us in Luke 22:38 that they took two with them to the garden. Wouldn’t you know it, Peter was one of those with the sword, and he didn’t hesitate to use it. Jesus tells Peter to put up the sword. He lets Peter know that it is time for Him to yield to the Father’s will.
John 18:10-11 “Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?”
After the resurrection, Peter runs to the tomb with John, and instead of stopping at the door like John, he runs on in. Peter sees Jesus walking on the water and asks if he can also. Peter steps out of the boat and walks on the water toward Jesus. As long as he is looking at Jesus, he is safe, but when he takes his eyes off of Jesus, he begins to sink.
All the impetuous acts that were recorded about Peter taught Peter much about himself. He truly loved Jesus and wanted to obey. He went on to be one of the world’s greatest preachers of the gospel. Peter preached and influenced thousands to receive Jesus as their personal Savior. Peter was willing to suffer persecution and imprisonment but did not stop proclaiming the gospel. In Acts 5:29, Peter takes a stand before the High Priest. His declaration lets all involved know that his priority is obeying God first. His allegiance never wavers. He learns and obeys. He loves and pushes forward to please his Master.
Act 5:29 “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.”
