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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