Verse
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. – Matthew 16:23
Meaning of Matthew 16:23
Matthew 16:23 describes a significant moment in the relationship between Jesus and His disciple Peter. The verse ‘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.’ Is Jesus’ response to Peter’s reaction. Here, Jesus is foretelling His suffering, death, and resurrection. Peter, not comprehending or accepting the idea of Jesus’ imminent suffering and death, rebukes him. In return, Jesus sternly addresses Peter, referring to him as ‘Satan’ metaphorically, implying that Peter is acting as an adversary, opposing God’s plan and purpose. The verse Matthew 16:23 also means that Peter’s thoughts were focused on human concerns rather than on the divine plan of redemption through Jesus’ sacrificial death and resurrection. The verse serves as a reminder for believers to trust in God’s wisdom and purposes, even when they may not fully understand or agree with the unfolding events.
Interpretations of Matthew 16:23
The verse Matthew 16:23 has complexity among the most biblical passages as it highlights the relationship between Jesus and Peter. Here are a few interpretations of Matthew 16:23.
Interpretation #1 The verse foreshadows Peter’s weakness
In this interpretation of Matthew 16:23, the reader understands that Jesus is rebuking Peter for his lack of spiritual maturity and understanding. He or she also believes that as Peter denied Jesus thrice the night He was arrested, Peter’s weakness is also displayed through his response to Jesus. Peter’s unwillingness to accept the necessity of Jesus’ suffering for humanity’s redemption allowed him to be manipulated by the spirit of Satan. Hence Jesus says the following statement: ‘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 verse serves as a reminder that the disciples needed to cultivate stronger faith and grasp deeper spiritual insights. Through this encounter, Jesus encourages Peter, showing tough love. He also asks His followers to mature in their faith, seeking a deeper understanding of God’s purposes and surrendering their wills to align with His divine will.
Interpretation #2 The verse is revealing Satan’s method of temptation
In this version of Matthew 16:23 the reader is introduced to the idea of Satan’s temptation. Here, he or she also understands that Jesus rebuked Peter by addressing him as “Satan.” Thus identifying the being as well as the spirit. The verse ‘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‘ highlights Peter’s alignment with Satan’s strategy to divert Jesus from God’s divine plan. However, Peter could not comprehend the temptations Jesus faced in the wilderness. The verse shows the perpetual spiritual struggle between good and evil. It also serves as an important reminder of the ongoing battle for human souls, urging believers to be vigilant against the appeal of worldly desires and stay firmly rooted in their commitment to God’s purpose. Recognizing Satan’s tactics helps believers protect themselves and align with God’s truths..
Interpretation #3 The verse is a foreshadowing of Jesus’ Crucifixion
According to this version, the readers believe that Matthew 16:23 is a foreshadowing of Jesus’ crucifixion. The verse ‘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‘ means Jesus is taking Peter’s words as an offence. Here, Jesus is perhaps hinting the betrayal that would take place as denial by Peter. Jesus also tells Peter that he would deny Jesus three times before the rooster’s crow. This interpretation suggests that the verse is a subtle foretelling of the events that would unfold during Jesus’ trial and crucifixion, where Peter’s denials would become a significant part of the Gospel and his transformation. Also, this interpretation emphasizes the theme of human weakness and loyalty through Peter’s momentary failure. The verse also foreshadows the redemption and forgiveness offered by Jesus.
Interpretation #4 The verse shows Peter as a representative of humanity
As per this version, the readers compare Peter’s situation to their current challenges. Hence, the verse is a representative of humanity, and Peter embodies the natural inclination of human nature to oppose God’s will. In the verse, Jesus rebuking Peter is an important illustration. Thus, every follower accepts the universal struggle and surrender to God’s divine purposes. He or she takes the verse ‘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‘ as Jesus trying to chastise himself/herself. The verse also emphasizes the human condition of wrestling with personal desires and ego. The verse urges Christians to submit to God’s wisdom by showing Peter’s human frailty as an example..
Interpretation #5 The verse confirms Jesus’ divine authority
In this interpretation, the reader identifies Jesus’ divine authority and also emphasizing His position as the Son of God. The verse ‘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‘ is a firm address to Peter that is also a powerful declaration of Jesus’ supreme authority. He or she also understands Jesus’ mission and purpose that was directly given from God. This verse reinforces Jesus’ unique role as the Savior, and His unparalleled position as the bridge between humanity and the divine. The verse highlights the significance of recognizing Jesus’ divine authority and surrendering to His teachings and guidance. Jesus’ words validate his divine origin, inviting the believers to reconcile with God.
Historical background of Matthew 16:23
The Gospel of Matthew was likely written between 70 A.D – 90 A.D., after the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD. The Gospel of Matthew is one of the four Gospels in the New Testament of The Bible, written by apostle Matthew. He was also known as Levi, one of Jesus’ twelve disciples. The Book of Matthew presents a detailed account of the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It particularly highlights Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and the long-awaited Messiah. He also emphasizes Jesus’ role as the King of the Jews and the Savior of all humanity. Matthew 16 is known as a significant chapter in the Gospel as it contains pivotal events and teachings of Jesus. In the first part of the chapter, Jesus performs miracles, feeds the multitude, and engages in a discussion with the Pharisees and Sadducees who ask Jesus to show a sign. Later, Jesus questions His disciples about His identity, leading to Peter’s famous confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. In verse Matthew 16:23, Jesus rebukes Peter after he objects to Jesus’ prediction of His impending suffering, death, and resurrection. The core message of Matthew 16:23 revolves around the themes of faith, divine authority, and understanding God’s plan.
Literary Devices of Matthew 16:23
The verse Matthew 16:23 has several literary devices that conveys the core message effectively. A few literary devices in Matthew 16:23 are given below.
Metaphor – The verse Matthew 16:23 is a good example of a metaphor as Jesus addresses Peter as ‘Satan’. It implies that Peter is speaking in disagreement to God’s plan, similar to the enemy’s role in tempting Jesus in the wilderness.
Irony – Matthew 16:23 is also a good example of irony as Peter first declared Jesus as the Christ, but shortly after the claim Peter opposes Jesus’ prediction of His suffering and death, highlighting the irony of his response.
Repetition – The word “thou” in the verse is repeated to emphasize Peter’s responsibility and the need to obey God’s will. For example, ‘thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God’.
Imagery – The verse Matthew 16:23 is a good example of visual imagery. For example, the phrase ‘Get thee behind me’ paints a vivid picture of Peter stepping away from his misguided stance and following Jesus.
Foreshadowing – This verse is a good example of foreshadowing Peter’s later denial of Jesus three times, as it highlights his inclination to oppose God’s will and his struggle to fully comprehend the deeper spiritual truths.
Alliteration – The verse has repeated consonant sound and one sound in quick repetition. For example, the sound of /th/ in ‘‘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‘.
Consonance – The verse also has a few vowel sound in repetition and few are in quick succession. For example, the sound of /ee/, the sound of /a/, the sound of /o/ in ‘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‘.
