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No.26.
16: 20 - 17: 8.
pp. 225 - 230
Dr. A. Plummer sums up these difficult verses by saying:
". . . . . nor can we assume that what Peter decides for the visible church is binding on the
church invisible; or that what he decides for the visible church of his day holds good for
ever, however much the conditions may change; or that his power of prohibiting or
permitting has passed to his successors."
The Lord concluded this episode by charging them to tell no one that He was the
Messiah (16: 20). The time had not yet come for Him to present Himself publicly to the
whole nation as their Messiah and King. Had he been announced as such at this point, it
was inevitable the people would have taken it in a political sense. In fact they had
already done so (John 6: 15).
At verse 21 we have the second time division of the Gospel. The first commenced
with 4: 17. Now we read:
"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" (16: 21,
N.I.V.).
This was the first time He had mentioned His death and it obviously came as a great
shock to His disciples. The word "began" is important for it shows us that the Lord's
words were a summary of what went on for some time. It was only a little over 6 months
before the cross and the disciples must know it now in order to be ready then. But how
could the Lord be the Messiah and Israel's King if he was going to be killed? This must
have been a shattering blow to the Twelve. It was too much for impulsive Peter. He
"took the Lord aside". The verb is in the middle voice; "he took Him to himself" aside
and apart, almost as though he had a right of his own, and he said to Him:
"Never, Lord! This shall never happen to you" (verse 22, N.I.V.).
The Lord's reply, on the surface cursing, was absolutely necessary:
"Jesus turned and said to Peter, Out of my sight, Satan! You are a stumbling block to
Me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men" (verse 23).
This recalls the dismissal of Satan after the temptations in the wilderness. What is
astounding is the fact that a little while earlier Peter was voicing the revelation of God the
Father! Now he becomes Satan's catspaw even though he did not realize it. This should
be a warning to all of us.
It was the old temptation of a short and easy way to the Throne without suffering. But
upon that death rested the whole purpose of God for redemption and the bringing in of