What Will You Do For Love, Matthew 16:21-23

What Would You Do For Love?

Matthew 16:22-23

22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” 

23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” 

NIV

This verse follows the question Jesus asked His disciples

Matthew 16:15-20

15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 

16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 

17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.  19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”  20 Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ. 

Peter may have been on an all-time high, filled with pride because Jesus

Had singled him out as the one who had a word from the Father in Heaven

This was three years into Jesus’ ministry on earth. The disciples had been 

Taught by Jesus. They had witnessed all the miracles He performed. 

They had seen His popularity grow among the people. They

Had come to the conclusion that Jesus would free them from Roman

Rule and be their King.

From their youth, they had been taught the Word of God

Isaiah 54:13-14

13 All your sons will be taught by the Lord, and great will be your children’s peace. 14 In righteousness you will be established:

Tyranny will be far from you; you will have nothing to fear.

The disciples were not ignorant or illiterate as the Pharisees and Scribes 

Described them, They did not have the formal theological training, but they

Have the teaching of the Old Testament from their youth. And they held on

To God promises of a Messiah (Isaiah  9:6-7, Jeremiah 23:5)

When Jesus claimed that He would be killed by the Jewish leaders including The Chief priest, Peter was alarmed. He went into his defensive protective Mode to ensure Jesus that would not happen under his watch.

John Baptist looked at Jesus and proclaimed that He was the Son of God

This was the start of their journey with Jesus

Matthew 16:21-23

21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. 

22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” 

Point  1

Don’t put your agenda ahead of God 

Notice Peter didn’t hear that Jesus said He would be raised on the third day. He would die, but He would not stay dead.

Peter had the word of God confirmed by Jesus,  He, Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God. He would be their King. Except His kingship was

Not of this world 

Peter’s boldness was not without Biblical truth but wrong in his timing and concept. Peter thought he knew best for Jesus. We can’t tell Jesus how 

Carry out His divine plan. 

PETER LOVED JESUS

What was behind Peter’s superior domineering tone? Some would say it was pride, but Some commentaries said he was arrogant. I Say it was love.

Jesus was his friend. He loved his friend. 

He trusted Jesus enough to get out of the boat in a storm and walk on water.

He wanted to protect his friend, so he carried a sword for protection

He loved Him enough to leave the family business. He loved Jesus

Enough to spend his days away from his wife but with Jesus

Point 2 

You and I need to be careful that we don’t read into God’s Word what we want to believe

23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” 

Don’t let love and empathy block your understanding of God’s Word. 

Your love can become a stumbling block to God’s plan and rational thinking and decision-making. 

Peter saw Jesus as king of the Jews and rightly so. But Jesus would be the

Spiritual king, not the replacement of the Roman empire. 

I love my grandkids, But that doesn’t mean they can do what they want to do and be right. 

Peter loved Jesus, but he was planning a life separate from Jesus’ divine plan’ Peter’s plan was today, now. But Jesus’ plan was an eternity. 

Peter’s plan was freedom from Rome. but Jesus’ plan was freedom for

Life in Jesus Christ.

Peter’s plan was freedom from problems. But Jesus’ plan was freedom from problems through faith in Him.

In all our planning, we must be mindful of God’s Word.  If our thoughts and

Ideas don’t line up with God, throw them out.

Jesus’ plan for the crucifixion and the death was eternal life.

Any man who wants to save his life will lose it. Any man wants to lose

His life will save it 

Peter remembered the prophecy for the coming Messiah ( Isa 9:6-7)

But he ignored the prophecy of his death and resurrection (Isa 53:12

Point 3 

 KEEP SATAN BEHIND YOU

Satan is sneaky, sly, and out to destroy.  He will influence your love to be in opposition to the Word of God. Daddy Daddy can you buy me a car said

My teenaged son. I love you son but you are not responsible enough to 

Drive a car. GET BEHIND ME SATAN

It’s a rebuke to Satan and a prayer of strength to Jesus,

There are many times in our day when we need that proclamation 

When the line is too long in the grocery store, GET BEHIND ME SATAN

When I just got cut off on the freeway and I am thinking of giving the finger

GET BEHIND ME SATAN

When I am upset with something and about to get angry, GET BEHIND ME SATAN

When I am about to judge you by my standards, GET BEHIND ME SATAN

When I am about to watch what I shouldn’t watch, GET BEHIND ME SATAN

We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but spiritual wickedness in high places 

Point 4

Don’t Be A Stumbling Block To Jesus

Daily we fight this battle against what we want and what God wants for us.

Jesus said to Peter you are a stumbling block to ME.

Whenever we put our desires before God, we are a stumbling block to

The proclamation of the Gospel.

Whenever our character does not mirror Jesus we ar a stumbling block.

Any doubt we have in Jesus becomes a stumbling block to the faith

Of others. 

Point 5

Don’t Disregard The Rebuke of Wisdom

Peter heard what Jesus said, but still carried his sword to protect

Jesus.  When the Chief priests and the elders came to arrest Jesus,

It was Peter who cut the ear of a servant off. 

It was Peter who denied knowing Jesus three times before men during

The trial of Jesus. Had Peter listened and abided by Jesus’ instructions 

He would have rejoiced at the crucifixion of Jesus. Certainly, it would

Have been painful to watch, but there would have been hope in the resurrection.

The Word of God is the whole truth which contains trials and tribulations

But with joy and hope. 

LET THE LOVE OF GOD BE YOUR OBJECTIVE