The man
Get Behind Me
Peter knew who Jesus was.
You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Matthew 16:13-28 · Matthew 4:1-11
The scene
Jesus asked his disciples who they believed he was.
Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."Matthew 16:16
Jesus told him that his Father in heaven had revealed this to him. He then began to explain that he must go to Jerusalem, suffer, be killed and be raised on the third day.
Peter took him aside and rebuked him.
"Far be it from you, Lord! This will never be done to you."Matthew 16:22
Jesus answered:
"Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, for you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of men."Matthew 16:23
Peter didn't want the suffering Jesus had just described. He couldn't see that what he wanted would stand in the way of what God was doing.
Earlier, Satan had tempted Jesus in the wilderness. Now Peter was trying to turn Jesus away from the road he had just said he must take.
Jesus went on to tell his disciples:
"If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."Matthew 16:24
The point
Get behind me, Satan!Matthew 16:23
Sit with this
Are you setting your mind on the things of God, or on the things of men?