Peter Rebukes Jesus - Matthew 16:22

Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus, “charged his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ”, and “From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day”. In chapter sixteen and verse twenty-two of his book, Matthew shares how, “Peter took him, and began to rebuke him” where we read:

Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying,

Be it far from you, Lord: this shall not be unto you.

The verse reads, “Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, ...”. Matthew began with the word, “then” or “at that time and moment” “Peter” which refers to “one of Jesus' disciples whose name means a rock or stone” “took him” or “lead Jesus aside”, “and began to rebuke him” which means “commenced to make a beginning of admonishing and charging Jesus sharply”, “saying” which means “uttering, declaring and proclaiming”. Matthew shared how Peter took Jesus aside and commenced to “admonish” Him.

The verse continues, “... Be it far from you, Lord: this shall not be unto you.” Matthew added the words, “be it far from you” which means “God be gracious, propitious and merciful to you Jesus”, “Lord” or “he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master and the title given to God the Messiah”: “this shall not be” or “the idea of being killed and raised from the dead three days later will not happen” “unto you” which refers “to Jesus”. Matthew shared how Peter told Jesus that what He declared would not come to pass.

When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Peter assumed the position of “director of God” as He attempted to “rebuke” Jesus for saying He would be killed and three days later raised again. Obviously Peter did not like hearing Jesus say that He would be killed, and he attempted to correct Him. God loves people, and He desires for them to have an obedient relationship with Him through His Son Jesus. In other words, when Jesus says something shall be, it shall be, and no one should attempt to correct Him lest they become like presumptive Peter who thought He knew more than God.

Next time Matthew shares how Jesus “turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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