Matthew 16:21-23, Jesus Foretells his Death and Resurrection

21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

Comments

Matthew begins his third and final section leading to the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The three groups responsible for this suffering, the elders, chief priests, and scribes comprise the Sanhedrin, the highest court in Israel. They will be responsible for his death.

Peter could not accept Jesus’ message. He was horrified by this unorthodox notion of Messiahship and for the fate of his master and probably his own fate as well. He could not grasp that God would use a disaster like this for his greater purposes. As Peter’s former pronouncement was inspired by God, this one is from Satan. Peter was cast in Satan’s role as the tempter, going from a foundation stone to a stumbling block.

Prayer

O God, by the passion of your blessed Son you made an instrument of shameful death to be for us the means of life: Grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ, that we may gladly suffer shame and loss for the sake of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(BCP, p. 220)