Get behind Me, Satan!
Wouldn’t it be interesting to annotate this imperative statement? Like who said this to whom, in what context and so on.
From Matthew 5, we know that if someone is speaking authoritatively to the devil, that someone must be Jesus!
But who is Satan in this instance?
Surprisingly, it turns out that it is none other than our “Big Fisher Man”, the rock on whom Jesus said He will build His church – Peter! Paradoxical, what?
How did our man earn this sorry sobriquet? It is instructive to look at the events foregoing.
13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” 14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.
21 From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.
The inflection point comes here.
22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” 23 But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”
Peter was feeling buoyed and puffed up with pride from the Master’s extraordinary commendation. Greatly elevated. he deems himself privy to the plan of Master’s earthly – and possibly heavenly – journey, a confidant, a comrade. He leads Jesus aside. What gumption!
But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” Matthew 16:23
Pssss……balloon deflated, ego punctured.
Not the best time to look at Peter. He would fain have the earth open up and swallow him. This happens quite a few times in his life. Impulsive bravado……giving way to sad mortification! Remember the time when he put his legs over the gunwale and jumped into the sea of Galilee; oh yes, he walked on water but only for a few brief moments. Then his pride got the better of him and he began to sink even as he waved gaily to his fellow disciples squatting fearfully inside the boat . But then, that is Peter!
What is the problem here? Losing sight of the heavenly vision. Getting a divine insight and being carried away by a combination of ego and earthly concerns. Remember our man’s grand proposal at the mount of transfiguration? Matthew 17:4
The downfall of many a prophet begins thus. God may have revealed a truth through them at one point; and they runaway like a driverless locomotive pouring forth speech like an oracle. Sadder still is the spectacle of a train hooked to their every word. A cult is born.
It is good to remember Romans 12:3 which has Paul saying “ to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly .” See also Romans 12:16 “Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.”