Matthew 16:21-23 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Think God’s Thoughts

Matthew 16:21-23 – Think God’s Thoughts

|| Mark 8:31-33

MT16:21 Beginning at this moment Jesus Christ[1] started revealing[2] to his disciples that it was a necessity he go to Jerusalem and suffer very much because of the [Jewish] elders, chief priests and scribes – to be killed and raised up the third day.[3] MT16:22 But, Peter confronted Jesus[4] and began giving him a rebuke,[5] saying, “Courage,[6] Master, that will not happen to you!” MT16:23 Now Jesus turned away [from Peter][7] and said: “Get away from me, Satan![8] You are scandalous to me[9] because you are not minding the things of The God[10] but human [thoughts]!”

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[1] Jesus Christ: The full name and title of the Nazarene is rare in the Gospels. Compare Matthew 1:1 {A bible of a genealogy of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham}; Matthew 1:18 {But thus was the genesis of Jesus Christ. His mother Mary had been promised in marriage to Joseph. Before they came together she was found to be pregnant from the holy Pneuma.}; Mark 1:1; John 1:17; John 17:3. – The Greek is KHRISTOU and means one christened or anointed. A Hebrew bias word would be, Messiah. – The form Jesus Christ occurs 150 times in the Christian Bible, the most often in the Letter to the Romans. The phrase means “Jesus the christened one; or Jesus the Messiah; Jesus the Anointed.”

[2] Started revealing: Or, KJV: shew; RIEU: began to make it clear; WMS: first time clearly taught; TCNT: began to explain; BECK: kept point out. There is now a prophetic drive toward destiny in Jerusalem.

[3] Third day: The first use of “third day” though the strong inference has been made earlier. See notes on Matthew 12:40. In the Gospel of John Jesus the subject early without the disciples understanding it (John 2:20).

[4] Peter confronted Jesus: Or, KJV: Peter took him; RHM: taking him aside; NEB: took him by the arm. Our imaginations are stirred by exactly what happened.

[5] Rebuke: Or, KNX: remonstrating; WMS: chide; NOR: protestingly said; BECK: started to correct him; MON: reprove him. The very thought startles us. Peter has just confessed the Nazarene to be the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, and he feel emboldened to correct Jesus. On the other hand it may tell us more about Jesus: that Peter would even feel he could approach his Lord with words of concern and courage. Surely, Jesus is approachable.

[6] Courage: The Greek is HILEOS. Or, KJV: be it far from thee; RHM: mercy on thee; RSV: God forbid; RIEU: heaven save you; KIT: propitious; WMS: heaven shield you; GDSP: God bless you. We see Peter’s impetuous grasp of his Master at what he has just heard as though he were at once holding him back and at the same time moving him out of range of the others.

[7] Jesus turned away [from Peter]: Or, RIEU: turned his back on him; PME: turned around. He must release himself from Peter’s panicked grasp.

[8] Get away from me, Satan: KJV: get thee behind me, Satan; PME: out of my way; NEB: away with you, Satan; TCNT: get out of my way, you Satan. The words are surely curt and firm. They are not a slip of the tongue, but thought out for Peter has a serious flaw in his character. This will manifest itself later. Jesus has already said this once before at Matthew 4:10. There it was directed to the real Satan in person. Here it is an unwilling instrument whose suggestion resists the will of God. See notes also at Matthew 12:26. Compare Mark 8:33. + Satan: The name means “Resister; Rebel; Apostate.” The name occurs 68 times with the first occurrence at 1 Chronicles 21:1. It occurs most often (17) in the Book of Job.

[9] You are scandalous to me: The Greek is SCANDALON. Or, KJV: offense; ASV: stumbling-block; KNX: a stone in my path; RIEU: a snare in my path; TCNT: hindrance; BECK: tempting me to sin.

[10] You are not minding the things of The God: Or, KJV: though savourest; RHM: not regarding; RSV: not on the side of; WEY: thoughts are not God’s thoughts; GDSP: you do not side with God; MON: no intent on what pleases God; TCNT: you look at things, not as God does. Compare 1 Corinthians 2:16. This could be rendered: You are ignorant of God’s mind but use human thinking.

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Preceding

Nazarene Commentary Matthew 4:8-11 – A Temptation to Gain World Rule

Matthew 12:22-30 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: the Charge of Demonism

Matthew 16 Asking for signs from heaven

Matthew 16 Calvin’s view

Matthew 16 Spurgeon’s view

Matthew 16:1-4 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Signs of the Times

Matthew 16:5-12 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Watch Out for the Leaven of False Teaching

Matthew 16:13-20 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Building a Hades-Proof Congregation

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Additional reading

1. Did the Inspirator exist
2. Most probable and accurate image of Jesus Christ according British scientists
3. The Christ, the anointed of God

Nazarene Commentary Matthew 4:8-11 – A Temptation to Gain World Rule

Matthew 4:8-11 – A Temptation to Gain World Rule

|| Luke 4:5-8, 13

MT4:8 Again the Devil took Jesus along to an unusually high mountain[1] and showed him all the kingdoms[2] of the world[3] and their glory. MT4:9 And the Devil said to Jesus, “All this I will give you if you ever prostrate[4] yourself and bow before me, kissing my feet.” MT4:10 Then Jesus said to the Devil, “Be on your way, Satan,[5] for it has been written,[6] ‘You shall worship[7] YHWH your God[8] and to Him only shall you render divine service.’”[9][Deuteronomy 5:9; 6:13; 10:20] MT4:11 With that the Devil left Jesus, and, look! angels approached Jesus and ministered to him.

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Now we come to the moment that the adversary of God shows the many kingdoms of earth to Jeshua, Christ Jesus, of whom is written in the ancient Scriptures that he is the sent one from God who is to govern over all kingdoms or monarchies, empires, monocracies, emperors, hereditary figures such as kings and queens, going to be the King of kings. The adversary of God promised Jesus that he was going to give all things if Jesus would fall down and worship him. This is not so much different today as at the time of Jesus. Today the satans or adversaries of God still promise the people many things they really cannot give, because those things do not belong to them and because they have no right of power over them. Lots of people also want to be worshipped by those around them. Many people fall in front of them because they love to receive more things and better positions from them. They are clearly of the world and not loving God as such, because their priorities are not for the heavenly goods but for the worldly goods.

At the moment the world still belongs to satan or to those who might be against God, but that is not going to stay so. There shall come a day when Jesus shall be authorised to rule over all the kingdoms on earth. (Revelation 11:15).

5 So he brought him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the inhabited earth in an instant of time.+ 6 Then the Devil said to him: “I will give you all this authority and their glory, because it has been handed over to me,+ and I give it to whomever I wish. 7 If you, therefore, do an act of worship before me, it will all be yours.” 8 In reply Jesus said to him: “It is written, ‘It is Jehovah* your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.’”+ {Luke 4:5-8}

• • John 12:31

  • 31 Now there is a judging of this world; now the ruler of this world+ will be cast out.+

• • John 14:30

  • 30 I will not speak with you much more, for the ruler of the world+ is coming, and he has no hold on me.*+

• • Ephesians 2:2

  • 2 in which you at one time walked according to the system of things* of this world,+ according to the ruler of the authority of the air,+ the spirit+ that is now at work in the sons of disobedience.

• 1 John 5:19: 19 We know that we originate with God, but the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one.+
• • Matthew 13:19

  • 19 Where anyone hears the word of the Kingdom but does not get the sense of it, the wicked one+ comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart; this is the one sown alongside the road.+

Though rulership may today still belong to the adversary of God he does not deserve worship. Jesus very well knew to Whom worship belongs. It is not Jesus who has to be worshipped nor satan or any adversary of God or any other person or any other god than the God of gods, the Host of hosts.

Jesus’ refusal was curt:

“Beat it, Satan!”

He backed his rebuke with a third quotation from Deuteronomy, saying that it is written:

“It is Jehovah* your God you must worship,+ and it is only to Him alone you must render sacred service (or absolute single-heartedness).’”+

**

Mount Hermon, viewed from Mount Bental in the Golan Heights

[1] High mountain: We are tempted to envision Mount Everest though Mount Hermon might be the location.

[2] All the kingdoms: The governments and world powers all belong to the Devil as Luke 4:6, 7 confirms. Satan is the “god of this world.” (2 Corinthians 4:4) The entire world lies in his power (1 John 5:19). This “world” will one day be ruled by Lord Messiah (Revelation 11:15).

[3] World: The Greek is KOSMOS.

[4] Prostrate: The Greek is PROSKUNESES and contains “before + kiss” meaning to bow to the ground and kiss the sandals or hem of a garment. Older translations often use “worship” which is drawn from “worthy” and was used in old English regarding worthy persons such as kings, judges, and priests as worthy persons who may be addressed “Your worship.” It may range from a simple matter of respect to religious worship.

[5] Satan: The name means “Resister; Rebel; Apostate.” The name occurs 68 times with the first occurrence at 1 Chronicles 21:1. It occurs most often (17) in the Book of Job.

[6] Written: Perhaps a conflate paraphrase from Deuteronomy 5:9; 6:13; 10:20.

[7] Worship: The Greek is PROSKUNESEIS as in verse 9 but amplified by Jesus’ next word. TCNT: do homage.

[8] Your God: By this Jesus infers that YHWH is his God otherwise the quote makes no sense as a response to Satan. Over two dozen times the Scriptures use phrases indicating the Nazarene worships his own God. “The God of our Lord.” (Ephesians 1:3, 17)

[9] Render divine service: The Greek is LATREUSEIS. Or, KJV: serve; RHM: divine service.

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Preceding

Nazarene Commentary Matthew 4:1-4 A Wilderness Temptation

Nazarene Commentary Matthew 4:5-7 – A Temptation to Test God

Jehovah God Maker of the entire universe served by a well-trained army

Next:

Nazarene Commentary Matthew 4:12-17 – Galilee Saw A Great Light

Nazarene Commentary Matthew 4:18-22 – The Calling of the First Disciples

Nazarene Commentary Matthew 4:23-25 – Kingdom Preaching and Healing Draws Crowds

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Additional reading

1. True riches
2. Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God
3. When will it stop
4. Merry Christmas with the King of Kings
5. Looking for answers on the question Is there a God #2 Pantheon of gods and celebrations
6. Looking for answers on the question Is there a God #3 Transcendence or Surpassing other gods and man

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Further reading

1. The Ancient Worship of Babylon
2. God Will Rule This Earth
3. Deuteronomy
4. Democratic Mistakes–The falls of Titans
5. Kingdoms Collide
6. All Forms of Government Are Bad
7. Kings and kingdoms
8. Messenger to the Nations
9. Battling in the heavenly realm for your nation
10. Bowing In Humility
11. Missing Our Medicine
12. Seeking to Strengthen the Faith
13. Surrender
14. Having Faith in God 
15. Worship God
16. G3-Why Praise God?
17. Worship in Spirit and in Truth Part A
18. God First (I Chronicles 8-10)
19. Quick Answers: When Is The Best Time To Praise And Worship God?
20. Worship in Spirit and In Truth Part B
21. Unlock and activate what God has for you!
22. Worship out of Love
23. Our Service to God
24. Worship is not about us

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