New Testament · Gospel

Matthew 16:23

The Rock and the Cross

But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me. For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” Matthew 16:23 · Berean Standard Bible
What It Means

Matthew 16:23, in plain English

Jesus turns and says to Peter, 'Get behind Me, Satan! You're a stumbling block to Me. You're thinking like a human, not like God.'

Why it's here

This is a sobering reminder that well-meaning advice can oppose God's will. Good intentions don't always equal God's intentions.

Who's speaking

Jesus rebukes Peter in the strongest possible terms.

Where it sits in the story

Moments ago Peter was blessed. Now he's rebuked as Satan's mouthpiece. The swing is dramatic and teaches that even the best of us can become obstacles to God's plan.

A Closer Look

The scholarly reading

Jesus' hypage opisō mou Satana ('get behind Me, Satan!') identifies the satanic origin of Peter's resistance. The term skandalon ('stumbling block') reverses the petra ('rock') commendation of verse 18. Peter has moved from foundation to obstacle.

Language and setting

The severity of Jesus' rebuke echoes His response to Satan in the wilderness (4:10). Peter's well-intentioned opposition to the cross represents the same temptation: a Messiah without suffering.

Voice

Jesus turns and delivers a devastating rebuke to Peter.

Significance

The disciple who was just called a rock is now called Satan. Peter's attempt to divert Jesus from the cross reveals how easily human thinking can oppose God's purposes.

In context

Matthew 16:21–25

21From that time on Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

22Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. “Far be it from You, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to You!”

23But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me. For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

24Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.

25For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

Read all of Matthew 16 — Peter makes the greatest confession in history — then immediately tries to talk Jesus out of the cross. Both responses are profoundly human.

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