Week 35
Matthew 16:23 “He turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”
This is one of the most startling and stunning rebukes in all of Scripture! The inference we make from this is equally startling and stunning: we may be the instrument of the enemy against the cause of Christ!
Surely Christians would recoil at such a thought; so did Peter. Surely, he would have been amazed that his attempt to encourage and protect Jesus was actually a temptation to our Savior. Nothing is ever truly measured by what makes sense to us; it is God’s will and truth that matters.
Jesus’ retort was direct, confrontive, and strong. Yet, it is noteworthy that Jesus was not speaking to Peter, but to Satan, who at the time was using Peter to tempt Jesus. Jesus’ commitment to His Father’s redemptive will and plan was absolute; He would never compromise the plan or accommodate the sensibilities of others, in order to save Himself. Jesus was “all in” to accomplish the saving work for which He had been sent to earth.
We see great wisdom in Jesus’ words; we see and come to understand the core of wisdom: we must set our minds on God’s interests, not man’s. And we must unflaggingly be determined to not play games with the enemy of Christ. Our perspective must not be compromised with selfishness; our lives must be dedicated to God’s truth and will. Jesus had seen and accepted the hard reality of suffering and death to accomplish the Father’s will, but Peter could not readily see it; thus, he rebuked Jesus.
Satan will use any instrument at hand to accomplish his dastardly purpose and plan, but we must be careful to not participate in it.
Christian friend, let us yield our understanding to the clear teaching of the Scripture; let us commit ourselves to the Father’s revealed will in the teaching of the Word of God. It is only then that we are true disciples of Christ and servants of the living God. Our very existence must reflect the truth of the Scripture; we must be the servants of truth, the truth of God. Let us lay aside our personal whims and inclinations for a higher purpose. Ours is a calling to follow Christ, to serve as conduits of truth to others, and to advance the kingdom of God. May the Lord help us to do just that.
Prayer: Dear Lord, keep me from sliding into a position where Satan can use me in the lives of others. Help me to be true to the Scripture, and thus, true to You. Thank you for the privilege of living for You; thank You for the honor of serving You by holding to Your will and plan given in the Scriptures. Amen.