Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 4; 2 Samuel 5; Psalm 139; Matthew 16
Scripture: Matthew 16:21-23
21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!"
23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."
Observation: Peter has just declared Jesus to be the Christ (Messiah), and Son of God. And Jesus begins to tell them of his impending death and resurrection. Peter rebukes Jesus. It makes no sense to him. A dead Messiah is nonsense. He tries to straighten Jesus out but Jesus will have no part of it. He rebukes him as Satan. What caught my eye was the term "stumbling block." This is the same term that Paul uses to describe how Jews consider the idea of "Christ crucified" that is, a crucified Messiah.
1 Corinthians 1:23 "but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness..."
The Jews react just as Peter (as a Jew) did. It is nonsense to them. (Interestingly, Muslims also do not accept the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. They do not believe God could allow a great prophet to suffer in this way so they teach that God took Jesus up alive to heaven.) So it is a stumbling block and Peter had the first stumble on it. He also became a stumbling block to Jesus by undercutting his mission and trying to dissuade Jesus from doing what he was destined to do. So Jesus rejects him in the strongest of terms.
Application: There are a couple of possible applications, although I wrote on this primarily because I found the parallel terminology interesting. First, the fact that in doing what is right and Godly, there will be people who will simply be unable to accept it or follow it. Second, even your most trusted and closet supporters can be used of the enemy to undercut your Godly direction and it may be necessary to speak strong words to stay the course and not allow yourself to be turned away from the course God is leading you on.
Prayer: Lord, I want to stick with you. You are always faithful and you keep me safe and protected if I will abide in the shadow of your wings. Keep me there, Lord.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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