Commentary 2: Matthew 16:21-27

Commentary 2: Matthew 16:21-27 Brad Reiches Apr 17 2006 07:00PM Tuesday, April 18, 2006 GodThoughts Wired! "Some of My Notes" From Matthew 16:21-27 PART II "He (Jesus) 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." Matthew 16:23 Wow!  Several things here.  First of all, Jesus is aware that His ensuing suffering and death were a part of God's perfect design for Jesus' life.  His entire life was predicated on accomplishing the works of His Father (see John 17:4).  Toward that end He said things like, "I can do nothing on My own initiative...I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me..." (John 5:30). It is only in this light that we can understand Jesus' emotions here.  He was fully dedicated to His Father's will and devoted to "God's interests" alone.  Peter's comments, although quite sincere, were being used by the Devil to tempt Jesus to set His mind on His own interests, rather than God's.  At a time when Jesus needed enCOURAGEment to carry out His Father's wishes, Satan was trying to tempt Him to get His eyes off of God and onto His own worries and fears.  We are aware of how deeply God's plan of suffering and death troubled Jesus from His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, "Father, if Though art willing, remove this cup from Me, yet not My will, but Thine be done" (Luke 22:42).