Wednesday, March 13, 2019

Matthew 16:23-23

21 From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. 22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” 23 But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

Commentary
Vs. 21From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.”

Having made His Person and the testimony of His Person foundational to church, and the only way to enter the Kingdom of heaven (John 14:6). The Lord Jesus Christ begins to prepare the disciples for His up coming destiny with the Cross at Jerusalem. Jesus then begins preparing the disciples for that Day by telling them He must “suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.” For all things Prophesied and Written about Him in God’s Word must be fulfilled. For the redemption of believing humanity hangs on it, on His obeying God’s Word.

Vs. 22-23 22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” 23 But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

The Apostle Peter having declared that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the Living God, cannot now fathom how the Lord Jesus Christ would ever allow Himself to suffer rejection and hostility at the hands of the nation’s leadership, before being put to death by them. Peter then doesn’t yet understand God’s purposes and plans in allowing such things to befall His Son, therefore he says to Him, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” Now the moment Peter spoke that word to Him the Lord Jesus Christ immediately and unequivocally rebukes him, saying to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” No stronger rebuke could’ve Jesus given then to say to him, “Get behind Me, Satan!” For just as God had revealed Christ to Peter even so now Satan had just “whispered in Peters ear” what appeared to Peters mind to be something completely just and sound, and that was that the Lord Jesus Christ should not allow Himself to be abused and killed at the hands of the nations rulers who were to be in subjection to Him. Nonetheless the Lord Jesus Christ immediately knowing the origins of what Peter had just spoken immediately rebukes Peter, because His path to our Victory must first begin with His denying Himself all His Rights and Privileges, as the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Therefore, the Lord Jesus Christ also says to Peter, “…You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” For Peter wanted the Lord’s exaltation and glory as the nation’s Christ and King, not His humiliation which by the Will of God must precede His exaltation on earth. 

Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.






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