Bible Character Studies: Peter. Pt. 6 Peter earned a rebuke from Christ and from the Father!
Good Morning...
Have a blessed day in the Lord today!
Jesus foretells His death and Peter blows up
Matthew 16:21-23 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. 22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. 23 But he 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.
The disciples heard Jesus foretell about Peter being used in the formation of His church and they witnessed all the miracles Christ worked. They listened to the sermons when He preached the pure doctrines of God.
Now, Peter is going to impulsively put his foot back into his mouth. Jesus is starting to teach them about the road He must travel going to Jerusalem and being betrayed. He taught them about His sufferings and the death on the cross. He also taught them about His resurrection on the 3rd day.
Peter rebuked Christ because he had the wrong perspective.
Peter took Jesus aside and started rebuking Him. The word rebuke means to sharply admonish. He said "Be it far from thee, Lord." This means that Peter said this suffering and cross death must be far removed from Christ.
Peter then went on to say that "this shall not be unto thee" which means Peter said "There is no way that you are going to the cross and die! It is not going to happen!"
Notice the swift rebuke of the Lord Jesus Christ. He said "Get thee behind me Satan" which is the same command of dismissal Jesus spoke to Satan when His temptations were ended. What a rebuke to Peter!
Jesus put His finger on the real issue which involves Peter's heart. Peter did not savour the things of God. The word "savour" means to hold in high regard and to cherish. Rather, Peter was after a military Messiah who would throw off the yoke of Rome. He had an earthly perspective instead of a heavenly one.
We move right into Matthew 17 and find another instance of Peter speaking impulsively.
Matthew 17:1-9 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. 4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. 5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. 7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. 8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. 9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.
This is the text where Jesus takes Peter, James and John up to a high mountain apart from the other disciples and the crowds of people. Jesus was transfigured. The Greek word translated "transfigured" is found in the word "metamorphosis" which refers to the process of a larvae changing into a butterfly.
Why was Jesus transfigured before these 3 men? Each of them would be very prominent leaders in the Church and seeing Christ in His glory would serve to strengthen their faith. The description of Christ is similar to the one found in the book of Revelation.
As if this was not enough, both Moses and Elijah also appeared with Christ, speaking with Him. How thrilling it must have been for these men to see the Old Testament Lawgiver and the powerful prophet together with Christ.
Luke's account tells us that Moses and Elijah spoke of the impending death of Christ on the cross (Luke 9:31). Thus, while Peter did not savour the things of God in the last chapter, here Jesus gives him heaven's view of things and it was a glimpse of glory and majesty.
Never talk just to be heard!
Matthew 17:4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
After seeing Moses and Elijah, and seeing Christ transfigured, it was too much for Peter. He is like a kid with too much sugar and he decided he needed to say something, say anything and so he did.
Peter blurted out "Lord is is good for us to be here" which was probably true. Then, he said "let us make here three tabernacles, one for thee, one for Moses and one for Elijah. This was a problem because Peter just brought God in the flesh, Jesus Christ down to the same level as mere men, Moses and Elijah.
The Father quickly corrects Peter's misconceptions.
Matthew 17:5-6 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
While the words were yet tumbling out of Peter's mouth, a bright cloud indicating the glory of the presence of God overshadowed them. A commanding voice came out of the cloud. "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Hear ye Him."
This was too much for Peter, James and John. They fell flat on their faces and were extremely afraid. Jesus is the Creator. He gave life and breath to Moses and Elijah. If He let go of the universe for one moment everything would fall apart!
The impulsive speech of Peter dissolved before the Father's words. No doubt the command "Hear Ye Him" echoed in their minds. Follow Jesus, obey Jesus, live for Jesus and bring others to Christ. Being fishers of men must be their sole focus.
Notice our wonderful Lord. Jesus went right to them after the glory and the Father's voice and touched them to revive them. He commanded them "Arise and be not afraid." Little by little the glory and majesty of who Jesus Christ is was starting to sink in. The gravity and magnitude of what He must do to save all mankind from our sins was slowly taking shape in their minds.
This narrative ends with the disciples rising up and seeing only Jesus. The Lord commanded them not to tell anyone else about what transpired when He was transfigured, until after His death, burial and resurrection.
Points to Ponder....
Have a blessed day in the Lord today!
Jesus foretells His death and Peter blows up
Matthew 16:21-23 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. 22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. 23 But he 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.
The disciples heard Jesus foretell about Peter being used in the formation of His church and they witnessed all the miracles Christ worked. They listened to the sermons when He preached the pure doctrines of God.
Now, Peter is going to impulsively put his foot back into his mouth. Jesus is starting to teach them about the road He must travel going to Jerusalem and being betrayed. He taught them about His sufferings and the death on the cross. He also taught them about His resurrection on the 3rd day.
Peter rebuked Christ because he had the wrong perspective.
Peter took Jesus aside and started rebuking Him. The word rebuke means to sharply admonish. He said "Be it far from thee, Lord." This means that Peter said this suffering and cross death must be far removed from Christ.
Peter then went on to say that "this shall not be unto thee" which means Peter said "There is no way that you are going to the cross and die! It is not going to happen!"
Notice the swift rebuke of the Lord Jesus Christ. He said "Get thee behind me Satan" which is the same command of dismissal Jesus spoke to Satan when His temptations were ended. What a rebuke to Peter!
Jesus put His finger on the real issue which involves Peter's heart. Peter did not savour the things of God. The word "savour" means to hold in high regard and to cherish. Rather, Peter was after a military Messiah who would throw off the yoke of Rome. He had an earthly perspective instead of a heavenly one.
We move right into Matthew 17 and find another instance of Peter speaking impulsively.
Matthew 17:1-9 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. 4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. 5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. 7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. 8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. 9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.
This is the text where Jesus takes Peter, James and John up to a high mountain apart from the other disciples and the crowds of people. Jesus was transfigured. The Greek word translated "transfigured" is found in the word "metamorphosis" which refers to the process of a larvae changing into a butterfly.
Why was Jesus transfigured before these 3 men? Each of them would be very prominent leaders in the Church and seeing Christ in His glory would serve to strengthen their faith. The description of Christ is similar to the one found in the book of Revelation.
As if this was not enough, both Moses and Elijah also appeared with Christ, speaking with Him. How thrilling it must have been for these men to see the Old Testament Lawgiver and the powerful prophet together with Christ.
Luke's account tells us that Moses and Elijah spoke of the impending death of Christ on the cross (Luke 9:31). Thus, while Peter did not savour the things of God in the last chapter, here Jesus gives him heaven's view of things and it was a glimpse of glory and majesty.
Never talk just to be heard!
Matthew 17:4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
After seeing Moses and Elijah, and seeing Christ transfigured, it was too much for Peter. He is like a kid with too much sugar and he decided he needed to say something, say anything and so he did.
Peter blurted out "Lord is is good for us to be here" which was probably true. Then, he said "let us make here three tabernacles, one for thee, one for Moses and one for Elijah. This was a problem because Peter just brought God in the flesh, Jesus Christ down to the same level as mere men, Moses and Elijah.
The Father quickly corrects Peter's misconceptions.
Matthew 17:5-6 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
While the words were yet tumbling out of Peter's mouth, a bright cloud indicating the glory of the presence of God overshadowed them. A commanding voice came out of the cloud. "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Hear ye Him."
This was too much for Peter, James and John. They fell flat on their faces and were extremely afraid. Jesus is the Creator. He gave life and breath to Moses and Elijah. If He let go of the universe for one moment everything would fall apart!
The impulsive speech of Peter dissolved before the Father's words. No doubt the command "Hear Ye Him" echoed in their minds. Follow Jesus, obey Jesus, live for Jesus and bring others to Christ. Being fishers of men must be their sole focus.
Notice our wonderful Lord. Jesus went right to them after the glory and the Father's voice and touched them to revive them. He commanded them "Arise and be not afraid." Little by little the glory and majesty of who Jesus Christ is was starting to sink in. The gravity and magnitude of what He must do to save all mankind from our sins was slowly taking shape in their minds.
This narrative ends with the disciples rising up and seeing only Jesus. The Lord commanded them not to tell anyone else about what transpired when He was transfigured, until after His death, burial and resurrection.
Points to Ponder....
- Like Peter we need to guard against having the wrong perspective about the things of God.
- Like Peter we need to know what God says and stand firmly upon His Word.
- Peter spoke before his brain engaged. We must guard against saying something simply because we think we need to say something.
- Like Peter, we need to "Hear ye him" in all things.
Peter had some more wrong ideas that had to be addressed. It is probable that we may also have some wrong views that we need to address in our own lives and the word of God contains the perfect corrective that we need.
All around us people are spewing out unfiltered opinions, full of hatred and speculations, putting pressure on those around them to accept what is being spoken. This is the culture in which we live. We must learn to be slow to speak, slow to get angry, and have our speech seasoned with grace.
All around us people are spewing out unfiltered opinions, full of hatred and speculations, putting pressure on those around them to accept what is being spoken. This is the culture in which we live. We must learn to be slow to speak, slow to get angry, and have our speech seasoned with grace.
May the Lord teach us to be quiet before Him so that we might sit under the weight of His Word.
We need a singular focus to hear Jesus Christ.
Bob
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