Whoever Denies Me Before Men

Pastor has often heard me (and possibly others) moan about the verse in Matthew 10:

Whoever denies Me before men, 
him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

In Sunday's sermon he pointed out what happened the night when Jesus was betrayed.  Peter denied Him.  Repeatedly.  Shortly after he swore he'd never do it.  

Did Jesus deny Peter?  No.

No.  He didn't deny Peter!!  
"When we are faithless, He is faithful, for He cannot deny Himself."

So it is true what the preceding verse says: 

Whoever confesses Me before men, 
him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.

And that promise trumps the damning word of law.