In writing the title and subtitle for this article, I feel like a writer for some tabloid trying to generate clicks. And yet shock is the best way that I can express how the 16th chapter of Matthew records the interactions between Jesus and Peter.
In this chapter Jesus began the intensive teaching about how he would suffer, be killed, and rise from the dead on the third day. While this gospel teaching may be so ingrained in our minds, the twelve followers of Jesus could not fathom what Jesus was saying to them.
Along the way in the gospels and in Acts, Peter became the spokesman for this band of disciples. At times he declared words of great profundity, and at other times he inserted his sandal clad foot into his mouth. In a matter of only a few verses, Matthew records Peter’s words at the extreme ends of the speaker’s scale.
Along the way in the gospels and in Acts, Peter became the spokesman for this band of disciples. At times he declared words of great profundity, and at other times he inserted his sandal clad foot into his mouth.
Words Revealed by the Father
Peter had given the correct and insightful answer to Jesus’ question, Who do you say that I am (Matthew 16:15)? He answered, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16).
The timing of this great confession was important. Since Jesus is digging into his teaching about his suffering, death, and resurrection, it is vital to know who this one is that will suffer, be killed, and be raised.
But notice that Jesus tells Peter that his great answer was not something he learned. Momma hadn’t taught it to him. His synagogue school teacher didn’t teach it to him. He didn’t pick it up from books or podcasts. No, it was revealed to him by the Father in heaven (Matthew 16:17).
This is the same way all of us get the gospel embedded into us. Human agents may play a part, but you will never be changed by the gospel unless it is revealed to you by the Father in heaven. This is why the Scriptures are so important. It is the main way in which the Father reveals himself to us.
So, Peter is on a spiritual cloud. He has just been told by Jesus that he is blessed and is told something about Jesus’ building his church. Peter should have called it day and waited to speak another day.
But he didn’t.
Words from the Devil
When Jesus told the twelve that he was to die, Peter pulled him aside and began to rebuke him (Matthew 16:22). What was he thinking?
If your plan of action calls for rebuking Jesus, you need to hurry on to plan B. Peter thought he was on a roll and would now correct the Messiah.
We do a lot of this in our day. In effect what we are doing is making ourselves to be Messiahs. If you have to convince God to do something, you have this whole thing of prayer backwards. We are to pray long enough that our will becomes aligned with His will. Give up trying to make God align his will to yours.
Jesus did not take to Peter pulling him aside to rebuke him, especially about gospel truth. I’m not sure of the tone with which Jesus spoke, but I do not that the words he used to Peter were as forceful as could be. Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me (Matthew 16:23).
It was as if Jesus said, Peter, I know I just told you how blessed you were because of your words and that those words came directly from the Father in heaven. They encouraged me. But now you are hindering me by letting Satan himself control what comes through your vocal cords. Get away from me with that talk.
I could go on and on meditating on this passage, but let’s not miss the last sentence of these conversations between Jesus and Peter. In this final word, Jesus identifies how it is that Peter could utter such diabolical words.
For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.
—Matthew 16:23
What Jesus is trying to teach Peter (and us) is that the way to control our speech is to control our thoughts (minds and hearts). Notice the active work Jesus describes. We are to set our mind on the things of God. Read the word. Hear it preached. Study it. Meditate on it. Recall the wonderful works of God, both in the Bible, in history, and in your own life. Think on these things of God.
When you do you will be less prone to rent out your mouth to the Evil One and so hinder the work of our Lord Jesus Christ.