S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

The command "Get behind me, Satan," spoken to Peter by Jesus, is recorded in Matthew 16:23 and Mark 8:33. "Get behind me, Satan" seems harsh and out of character for Jesus, especially when addressi...

Login or Sign Up to view the rest of this answer.

July 01 2013 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht Supporter Arizona Bible College graduate and Dallas Seminary graduate

What if Jesus had not rebuked Peter for trying to keep Him alive? Satan's plan, in my opinion, was to keep Jesus alive and not go to the cross, perhaps die a natural death of old age. Peter's plan too, it seems, was to keep Jesus alive. He didn't understand Christ's mission or the prophecy that was behind it.

And if Jesus didn't go to the cross, Peter and all the rest of us would not have had our sins forgiven. Perish the thought! Though it sounded harsh, it was a good thing that Jesus did rebuke Peter.

October 28 2023 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Leslie Coutinho Supporter

Matthew 16:22-23: Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, “Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.” But he turned, and said unto Peter, “Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”

Peter being chosen to be “the rock” (Mat. 16:18) got carried away in his thoughts, for he failed to understand what Jesus said: “I will build my church upon this rock.” He was led by his own wisdom, although he had been given the keys of the kingdom of heaven, for whatever he would bind on earth, would be bound in heaven (Mat. 16:19). He was also gifted the Spirit of discernment (Mat. 16:17), yet he got carried away by the thoughts of his imaginations.

When you are carried away by your thoughts and imaginations (Gen. 3:6), there is a danger you face, for every imagination of your thoughts leads to evil. (Gen. 6:5-6) The Lord has given us the Spirit of discernment, by which we can distinguish between the voice of the Spirit and the voice of Satan. Satan attempted to lead Jesus to disobedience, but Jesus firmly stood by every word that proceeded out of the mouth of God. (Mat. 4:1-4) If you are being carried away by your imaginations, the enemy then invades your mind, which leads you astray.

Satan, by the greatness of the works that he was tasked with, got carried away by his thoughts and imaginations, for he failed to see that the Lord had set him on the holy mountain of God. His heart was lifted because of his beauty, which corrupted his wisdom by the reason of his splendor given by the Lord to him, which led him to a multitude of iniquities and to be dishonest in his works given to him by the Lord. For then he was not setting his mind on the things of God, but on the things of man, and was cast out of heaven. (Eze. 28:13-18) 

John 14:10: Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. John 15:1: I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandmen.

September 03 2022 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report