A Layperson Commentary
Matthew 16:23; “But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me.’ For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
Matthew 6:41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
From a Commentary: “Get thee behind me, Satan.–The sharpness of the words shows a strong and intense emotion. The chief of the Apostles was addressed in the self-same terms as those which had been spoken to the Tempter. It was, indeed, nothing less than a renewal of the same temptation. In this suggestion, that He might gain the crown without the cross, and attain a kingdom of this world as the princes of the world get their kingdoms, the Christ saw the recurrence of the temptation which had offered Him the glory of those kingdoms on condition of His drawing back from the path which the Father had appointed for Him, with the associations that had gathered round its original.”
Jesus’ rebuke of Peter could have been aimed at Satan, given the similarities to previous temptations. Jesus gave Peter the keys to the kingdom, but later referred to him as Satan. In my opinion, the keys to the kingdom have a dual nature, both literal and spiritual. What do I mean by that? Glad you asked! It is my conviction that Peter is not the one whom the church would be built upon. Faith in Him will serve as the solid foundation on which the church, comprising His followers, will be built. By analyzing the development from Peter’s revelation to the subsequent rebuke from Jesus, we can gain valuable insights. In Matthew 16:15 Jesus asked the disciples “But who do you say that I am” and then in Matthew 16:16, Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus confirmed Peter’s revelation in the Matthew 16:17 we read: “And Jesus answered him, Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.” Then in Matthew 16:18, Jesus says: “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Jesus tells Peter in Matthew 16:19 that He will give the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and would empower Peter with authority to bind and loose things on earth and in heaven. Then Jesus charged the disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Christ. Of course, after all of this, Jesus told the disciples that He has to go to Jerusalem, suffer, and be killed, and on the third day, He will be raised. After Jesus told the disciples this, Peter took Jesus aside and rebuked Jesus, and that is where I believe Satan took advantage of Peter’s weakness and tempted Jesus just as Satan did in Matthew 4:1-11.
In my opinion, Peter’s attention is more directed towards earthly matters rather than divine matters. What are those human things Peter is focused on? It is possible that his focus lies in his own ability to protect Jesus, or maybe he believes that Jesus, as the Christ, would drive out the Romans and ascend to the throne as the king of Israel. In John 18:10-11, we see the incident where Peter, one of the disciples, cuts off the right ear of the high priest’s servant. Interestingly, this is not the only time that Peter receives a rebuke from Jesus, as we see here once again. I am curious to know the reason behind Peter not being rebuked this time, as before, especially considering the previous incident when Jesus called him Satan. From my perspective, Peter is facing challenges with maintaining concentration, as he appears to be caught between navigating his faith and the pressures of constantly being productive. In his journey, Peter emerges as a captivating character who faced the unique struggle of remaining faithful to Jewish law while simultaneously embracing his newfound faith in Christ. The book of Acts reveals it was not until many years after Pentecost that Peter’s faith in Christ became his sole and unwavering focus. The catalyst for Peter’s change of direction was a confrontation with Paul and a subsequent vision. Now that we have addressed all the excessive and pompous talking, Peter’s struggles stemmed from his obsession with his religious beliefs, his disillusionment that Jesus did not overthrow the Romans and assume kingship, and the incessant interference by Satan in his ministry. Throughout the period from when Peter was first rebuked by Jesus to his wholehearted acceptance of his role as one of those appointed by Jesus to preach the gospel and make disciples of all nations, did he cease invoking earthly thinking into his ministry? Despite the lack of explicit mention, it can be inferred that Peter faced many challenges, such as detractors, false prophets, and false teachers, which served as his personal struggle, mirroring Paul’s own experiences.
Once again, I firmly believe that the rebuke administered by Jesus to Peter was not solely aimed at Peter as a human being, but at the spiritual entity known as Satan. The group referred to as “the called out ones” in the Bible, also known as the church, comprises believers who comprise flesh and blood, rather than being affiliated with any religious organization. A house of worship serves as a gathering place for devoted followers of Jesus Christ, who come together to express gratitude and pay homage to our savior and the future ruler.
Every single one of us takes the time to read the scriptures and then express our own viewpoint. Some of us argue everything mentioned in the scriptures is solely related to human experiences, dismissing any spiritual implications. We believe the challenges faced in matters of faith are simply a reflection of individuals grappling with their own uncertainties and self-doubt. Alternatively, we have the option to read the scripture ourselves and observe that it presents two distinct narratives – one focused on the human experience and the other delving into the spiritual realm. In fact, one could argue that the scripture is akin to a book of paradoxes, where two opposing forces are constantly at work.
The interaction between Peter and Jesus can be seen as a paradox as it encompasses both the human and spiritual realms, with Peter embodying the human nature and Satan symbolizing the spiritual realm. Even in the present day, things have not changed. The challenges we face are relentless as we strive to spread the teachings of Jesus and uphold biblical values in our daily lives. Consider the many occasions throughout your life when you have stood up and defended the faith. Over time, I have come to realize that I frequently engage in certain behaviors, and now I understand the reasons behind them. The motivation behind my behavior stemmed from the persistent goading and temptation of Satan, or one of his accomplices, pushing me to give up.
Could you please tell me what happened to Peter when he received his rebuke? Was he intentionally being confused by Satan as a means to obstruct Jesus from fulfilling His mission? Are we, as faithful followers of Jesus Christ, simply confused and perplexed by Satan’s relentless efforts to hinder the spread of the gospel? I would confidently and without hesitation say that, most likely, absolutely, without a doubt.
Now, let’s return to the topic of Peter’s rebuke. The contrasting nature of Jesus’ actions is hard to grasp, as he first commends Peter for his God-given revelation and then labels him as an adversary. Unless there was a rare occurrence, the praise and rebuke would not have taken place at the same minute, hour, or day. It is possible that it happened exactly as it is written. My sincere desire is not to excessively emphasize this matter, but to draw attention to the presence of spiritual forces that are beyond our perception, but not beyond Jesus. The most important thing to note is that the identity of the person Jesus was rebuking, whether it was Satan or Peter, is irrelevant. There is an important lesson that we can take away from this as well. That lesson is: We can be just as two-faced. In perfect harmony, we affirm the truth that Jesus is indeed the Christ of God. His selfless act of willingly laying down His life on a wooden cross, bearing the burden of the world’s sins, is a testament to His immense love and sacrifice. Rising from the dead after three days, He showed His victory over death. As we eagerly expect His second coming, we remain steadfast in our belief that He will return to judge all individuals, both those who are currently alive and those who have passed away. Subsequently, we continue with our daily lives, leading a secular existence, falsely assuming that our salvation is secured merely by proclaiming our beliefs, without truly internalizing or showing any conviction in them. In John 14:15, Jesus affirms that keeping His commandments shows our love for Him, emphasizing the significance of obedience in our relationship with Him.
To summarize, Peter faced rebuke and was labeled an adversary because of his reluctance to accept Jesus’ fate of being killed before He could rid the Romans, reinstate the kingly monarchy, and restore the temple to its previous operational state. Considering Peter’s strong desire to see Jerusalem free from foreign occupation and his lack of understanding of Jesus’ mission, it is logical that he became an adversary to Jesus and the mission that the Father had entrusted to Him. Perhaps, Satan deliberately caused confusion in Peter’s mind intending to make Jesus stumble. Regardless of the details surrounding Peter’s rebuke, the fact remains that it occurred and continues to occur in our lives today.
Peter went to meet the Lord of glory in paradise. Even though Jesus rebuked him, called him Satan (or not him), Peter continued on in the service of our Lord, until his death. Peter ended up with the Lord.
It is important to keep the following scripture in mind, especially because Satan and his demons will try to hinder our progress and prevent us from completing the race. In order to overcome their obstacles, we must be fully prepared for the battle that lies ahead.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed,and with your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints (Ephesians 6:10-18).
Shalom
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