Matthew 16:23 KJV
23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
Matthew 16:23 NIV
23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
Earlier in this chapter of Matthew, Jesus had asked the disciples who they thought Jesus was. Peter answered “you are the Messiah, the son of the living God.”
A few verses later, Jesus begins to tell them that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law.
He then tells them that He must be killed, but will be raised to life on the third day.
Peter then took Jesus aside and began to rebuke Him. Peter said “Never Lord, this shall never happen to you.”
Jesus turned to Peter and said “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me and you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but only the human concerns.”
Peter had just confessed Jesus to be the Christ and son of the living God, but he was not able mentally to accept that the son of the living God would have to suffer physically to fulfil His mission.
Jesus took great offense at Peter’s impulsive outburst of human concern.
In fact, we can find no other instance where the disciples said or did something that Jesus resented more.
Jesus was not pleased with Peter and turned to him saying “Get thee behind me, Satan.” It was an immediate reply, indicating how displeased He was.
Jesus had a mission to accomplish and the most difficult part was what He had been telling them about. There was no way around it, regardless of the temptation.
Remember how Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness?
He is doing so again, through Peter.
Satan is telling Jesus through Peter that “this death at the elder's, priest's and teacher’s hands shall not happen” or "does not need to happen."
It is one of Satan’s tricks to tempt us through those closest to us.
Satan reached Adam through Eve. Satan reached Job through his wife.
Here, Satan tries to reach Jesus through a loved disciple.
Jesus would have none of it.
Jesus said “Get thee behind me, Satan.”
He knew Peter was a loyal disciple and would be a builder of the church.
He also knew that anything that tried to keep Him from the cross of Calvary, would come from Satan and therefore Satan was trying to use Peter’s words for his purpose.
Hence, He says “get thee behind me Satan.”
There would be no offense or hindrance to the work of salvation that Jesus was fulfilling.
He was about the work of His Father and there would be no detours.
The lesson for us is clear.
As we grow spiritually, we should learn to recognize the tricks and schemes of Satan.
Plus, we must learn from Adam, Job and Jesus, that Satan will try and speak through others. Even others that are close to us.
The wise theologian Matthew Henry said “we must not regard who speaks, so much as what is spoken; we should learn to know the devil’s voice when he speaks in a saint as well as when he speaks in a serpent”
2 Corinthians 11:14 NIV
14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
Satan did not want Jesus to go to the cross-
Now, he doesn't want us to go there to find Him
Satan did not want Jesus to go to the cross.
Satan did not want Jesus to shed His blood for redemption of sins.
Satan would try everything he could to stop Jesus, even speaking through Peter, a beloved disciple.
However, Jesus would never be deterred.
His focus was on fulfilling the master plan of God, no matter the cost to Him and we see clearly that He didn’t take kindly to the scheme of Satan.
Jesus said “Get thee behind me, Satan.”
In Part 2 we will look at how we need to use these words in our life also.
RVH