And then, perhaps like you, I have been called some rather unpleasant NAMES from time to time. Usually, when I consider the source, those names don’t bother me. The lower the source, the less impact the words have on me. “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” On the other hand the more esteemed the source, the more severe the charge, or accusation, or name. A few minutes ago we read from Matthew 25. And if the infinitely holy Son of God should call me, or someone else, “cursed” or “accursed” – I cannot think of anything quite so devastating. You may have read Matthew 25:41 so many times that the weight and power of Christ’s statement no-longer impacts you the way that it should. How devastating will it be to people, like those neighbors of mine, who believe that they has been faithfully serving God all their lives, only to hear Christ Jesus calling them “accursed?”
A similar statement has been given to us in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus said, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Once again we have people who thought that they were doing God’s work, but they were not. And in both cases, they will be eternally wrong. Can there be any more tragic words than those of Christ Jesus – “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.”
What is described in our opening scripture comes close to Matthew 25 and Matthew 7. Undoubtedly, for Peter to hear his Saviour call him “Satan” must have stung as more than anything that he had ever heard or been called before. Christ “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.” There are some important lessons contained in the double rebuke of these three verses.
But first, we must briefly reconsider Christ’s spectacular PRONOUNCEMENT.
You might think that since we looked at this last week, you shouldn’t have to hear it again so soon. But I remind you that this is the outline of Christ’s last few days on earth and the purpose for His incarnation. “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.” If the consideration of the Lord Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection bores you, then it might be reasonably assumed that your spirit is still dead in trespasses and sins. If such is your case, then you need to be very, very worried. You need to cast your soul down before the throne of God and plead for mercy. “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.”
The disciples had just confessed, once again, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. They had just acknowledged that their Master is the Messiah, the one to eventually sit upon the throne of David – as prophesied so clearly in the Old Testament. And they were ready to take up their respective positions on the right hand and left of the sitting Messiah. They were ready for the departure – or the destruction – of the Greeks and the Romans. They were ready for the lion and the lamb to lay down together. They were looking forward to their own fig tree, vineyard, and perhaps even manna, to feed their beautiful, peaceful children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. But Christ specifically charged them “that they should tell mo man that he was Jesus the Christ.” What is this? What are you talking about? This is a message which should be shouted from the house tops – from Galilee to Jerusalem; and from Dan to Beersheba.
Not so, because neither God, nor creation, are ready for the Millennial Kingdom of Christ. The children of Adam were not ready to be ruled by a truly righteous King – not even these disciples. And the Kingdom of Christ on earth would not be very glorious if the curse against sin was still in effect. Something miraculous must transpire before that curse can be lifted. The rule of Christ over humanity would not be very glorious, if His subjects were all still rebels chaffing at the bit and plotting the overthrow the Son of God. No, there could be no glorious kingdom until Lord rescued and purchased a people for His name.
(Christ) 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” in order to purchase our salvation from sin. Calvary is the only way that rebels can be made sweet and loving citizens. God’s very special altar is only one way that dead souls can be quickened – made alive. There is only one way that sin can be atoned and sinners can be reconciled to God. Christ Jesus came into the world as God’s Passover – as the perfect sacrifice – as the Lamb of God. There could never be a glorious Kingdom until the King gave His life a ransom for many. Christ must go to the cross, and be nailed there; He must die as Moses lifted up the serpent in wilderness. Christ must shed His blood and then present that blood to God the Father, sprinkling it upon the Mercy Seat. He must die, so that a few of us unworthy sinners might have eternal life. “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.”
Please, don’t rebel against the accusation that you were born a spiritual rebel – it is a fact. Don’t rebel against the thought that you need a Saviour or that you’ll spend eternity in God’s Lake of Fire. Don’t despise the exhortation that you need to repent before God, and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Ye must be born again, or you will have no part of the Kingdom of the Christ. Don’t respond the way that Peter did to this pronouncement that Jesus must die in Jerusalem.
Now consider the FIRST REBUKE here in our scripture.
“Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke (Christ), saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.” Once again, we catch a glimpse of the character of the Apostle Peter. He was impetuous; he was audacious; he was a take charge sort of person. Such things are not always bad. It was Peter who declared on behalf of the rest, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” But such character traits need to be tempered with wisdom and caution, both of which Peter lacked at this point in his life. And yet perhaps we might see just a tiny hint of wisdom, when it appears that he took the Saviour aside privately.
What motivated Peter’s reaction to the Lord’s proclamation? I have noticed that some commentators thought that it pure selfishness. They attributed it to Peter’s desire to sit at Christ’s right hand in the Millennial Kingdom. They said that he couldn’t conceive how if Jesus died, then Peter’s plans wouldn’t die as well. This could very well have been a part of Peter’s rebuke. There are other writers who suggest that Peter’s theology couldn’t admit to Jesus’ death. First, a Messianic Kingdom was a major plank in the average Jewish theology. Now that the Messiah, the Christ, was here, then the Kingdom could not possibly be far away. And then secondly, how can the eternal Son of God die, if deity cannot be slain? “Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.” Others suggest that Peter was motivate by love for his Lord and Saviour. I don’t doubt but that this was a part of the equation. As we see later, Peter will get a sword, and defend his master with that weapon. “Even if your enemies kill me in the process, I will not let these things come upon thee.”
The word translated “be it far” from thee, is also found in Hebrews 8 where it is translated “I will be merciful.” “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord: I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts, and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” The Greek word is “hileos” (hil’-eh-oce) – it is related to “hilasmos” (hil-as-mos’) – translated “propitiation.” Christ “is the propitiation for our sins.” “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” In this light Peter was saying, “Lord be merciful – propitious – to yourself, and don’t let this happen.”
Was Peter’s motivation good? In a human sort of way, I would have to say that it was. With perhaps other reasons involved, there was a love towards Jesus, which couldn’t imagine such things. ”Lord, the very thought of your suffering and death are abhorrent to me.”
Let this point be firmly planted in your heart – Peter wanted only the best – as he perceived it to be. Impetuous Peter – unwise Peter – believed that HE knew God’s will better than did the Son of God. And you too may believe that your theology is perfect, your wisdom is wise, and your perception of things is correct. But you may be wrong – flatly and completely wrong. Are you willing to admit it, when the Lord rebukes you? Are you open to receive the divine rebuke? Pray for humility – for suppleness – for wisdom – even for correction. To paraphrase Paul, “we have not yet apprehended that for which Christ apprehended us.”
The words of rebuke barely left the disciples’s lips before Christ was all over him.
PETER was REBUKED for his rebuke.
Christ “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.” Mark phrases this just a bit differently – “When (Jesus) had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.” The implication is that Jesus instantly turned His back on Peter, facing the rest of His disciples and then rebuked Peter in a voice loud enough to be heard by everyone. Peter may have tried to rebuke Christ privately, but Jesus replied publically. “Be away with you; I can’t bear the sight of you.” Put yourself into Peter’s shoes and feel the punch to the poor disciple’s gut. What he had said was probably spoken out of love and concern, but the reply was like a knife to the heart.
How angry was the Lord Jesus, if that is the proper word to use? Do you see the word “offence”? “Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an OFFENCE unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God.” “Offense” is the Greek word “skandalon.” The Lord was “scandalized” by what Peter had tried to say.
But why did the Lord make reference to “Satan?” Did He call Peter “Satan,” or describe him as “satanic?” Or was Christ actually speaking to Satan? I am of the opinion that the Devil was attempting to use one of Christ’s disciples against his Master. In a moment of weakness, Peter had become a tool of the wicked one. And may this be a lesson for every one of us. An attack of Satan may come upon even you at any moment, even while standing in the presence of our Saviour. There is absolutely no one who is exempt from satanic assaults. Don’t argue that it is impossible for a Christian to become demon possessed – that is true. But not even the great Apostle Peter was except from satanic attacks, or from the possibility of being used by the Devil.
I can’t help but think of some parallels between this chapter and Matthew 4 – “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” What was Satan’s ultimate goal in this temptation? Wasn’t it to thwart the plan of God, drawing the Son of Man away from eventually going to Jerusalem? Wasn’t it essentially the same as this latest attempt through Peter? On both occasions, Christ told first Satan and then to Peter “get away from me.” Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men and yourself.”
What does the word “savourest” mean? Thursday, I was in my study beginning to work on this message, and I heard one of Judy’s kitchen tools hard at work. Then a few minutes later, there was the most wonderful aroma wafting up into my study. Judy was baking some home-made pizza. As I worked away, I could already taste the chewy dough and delicious toppings. I was “savoring” it then, and I “savored” it even more a few minutes later as I ate one more piece than I really should have. To “savor” something is to delight in it – to think about it with pleasure – to enjoy it. “Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God.”
Do YOU really savor the things of God? Sure you have your favorite doctrines, but do you delight in all that the Word of God teaches? And yes, you obey and teach many of Christ’s exhortations, but is that true of all of them? Should the Saviour ever say to you, Get thee behind me, Satan?” Maybe it’s not so much certain doctrines or commands and exhortations. Maybe it is simply the general way in which the Lord is directing your life. “Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto ME.” Romans 8:5 drives the Lord’s knife in just a bit deeper – “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh, but they hat are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.” “Do mind” is the same Greek word as “savourest.” Are you in the flesh or in the Spirit? The answer depends on what you savour or mind. Christ pointed out exactly where Peter stood at that moment.
I’ll conclude with one more point. Satan couldn’t deflect Christ from His eternal, divine purpose. And Peter was certainly put down – he didn’t hinder Jesus’ trip toward Jerusalem, either. The Lord’s will is indestructible; it will not be defeated by either man or devil. Obviously, to stand in its way is foolishness. There is only one proper response – step out of the way. Or better yet, step in behind and follow the Lord.
As I said at the outset this morning, we are born into this world rebels against God. But the Lord is not going to be defeated by you or anyone else – He is the omnipotent and holy God. Our proper response is to humble ourselves before Him, and take His rebuke. Repent of your sin and rebellion before Him. And then reach out to the Saviour in humble faith. I pray that you never hear the words “get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God.”