Monday, February 24, 2014

Peter: The Second Chance Apostle (4)



The Confessor Constricts

Matthew 16:13-23 is well known for the confession that is made by the apostle Peter (Matt. 16:18). Peter was correct in saying that whereas some men believed Christ to be Jeremiah, Elijah, or another of the prophets, He was really the Son of the Living God. Christ said that His church would be build upon that great confession. Honestly, it was a big deal for Peter to say something like this. Christ made a lot of people angry by making this claim. Our focus is not so much on the confession which Peter made but a statement he makes after this great confession.

“From that time forth began Jesus to shew 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” (Matt. 16:21). Peter does not like what Christ had revealed to them. It seems from the wording that Peter pulls Jesus to the side and says, “Lord, that’s not going to happen to you.” While the act of rebuking is normally thought to be someone speaking in an authoritative tone, it seems the apostle was very calm in making this statement. He is speaking one friend to another. Still, Peter rebuked the One he earlier referred to as “the Son of the Living God.” In turn, Christ refers to Peter as “Satan.” The word “Satan” is from a Greek word which means “an adversary.” Christ did not refer to as literally being Satan at that moment. Rather, He is saying that Peter’s mindset is making himself an adversary to Christ’s ultimate purpose. He tells Peter, “You are not thinking on the level of the spiritual but of worldly things.”

Man can surely be guilty of this action. It is easy to claim Jesus as Lord but how many are living according to His will? Think of the culture in which we live and its attitude toward certain Bible topics. Think of the attitude toward the topic of baptism. Many will claim a proper relationship with Christ but when the topic of baptism arises there are many sparks of controversy. Point out clear scripture on the subject and you may hear one of many phrases (Acts 2:38; 22:16). “I do not see the importance of it!” “It does not make sense to me. How is going under some water important in the eyes of God?” Too often people will ignore plain scripture to say, “I will not do it.” If one of us has this mindset, the best thing to do is get over ourselves and what WE expect from the scriptures and to DO what God has commanded. That mindset can and will hinder our Christianity.

Interestingly enough, the apostle Peter is seen with Christ at the mount of transfiguration (Matt. 17). Despite being an adversary to Christ, he was given a second chance.

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