Rebukes

 N.T.#192 "Rebukes"

Nov. 27, 2023

Matthew 16-Part 8

LET IT GLOW

Have you ever deserved a rebuke? Makes us feel small, right? Peter experienced it. Read on to find out what it was about.

After Jesus announced His coming rejection and death at Jerusalem, Peter took Him aside and rebuked the Lord. Peter told Jesus this would never happen to Him. (verse 22) Not on his watch. Really, Peter? You just confessed Jesus to be the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Peter went from being blessed (verse 17), downhill, to being reprimanded (verse 23). (We know this was God's will for Jesus.)

Let's take a look where Peter was coming from. Peter thought:

• The Messiah wasn't supposed to be killed by His enemies; He was supposed to conquer their enemies..
• The Messiah wasn't supposed to get arrested and be mistreated by His opponents; He was supposed to exercise judgment against them.
• Jesus needed His faulty understanding of what the Messiah was supposed to do, be corrected.
• He could be God's counselor? Peter's mind was not set on God's interests, but on man's.
• Perhaps Peter did not what his friend to suffer on a cross. He had proclaimed Jesus to be the Messiah. Should the Son of God suffer like that?

Jesus literally interrupted Peter's words and stopped him from digging himself deeper into the pit of verbal stupidity. 

LET IT GROW

Jesus physically got into Peter's face and said:

Get thee behind me. Satan: thou art an offence unto Me: for thou savourest not things that be of God, but those that be of men. (verse 23)

Offence means snare; occasion to fall (stumbling); a trap.

Savourest means to interest ones self in (with concern or obedience); regard; think; exercise the mind.

One minute Peter was soaring with the eagles, the next minute he was pecking at the ground with the chickens. Instead of Peter rebuking the Lord with good results, the coin turned and the Savior rebuked Peter. Perhaps it was a personal rebuke with the disciples not hearing it. The exchange was personal-between Peter and his Lord Jesus. Some things just need to be between me and Jesus, not made public.

We must never think the Lord should alter His plan to fit our preferences. Folks, it was in God's plan all along for Jesus to die on the cross. He loves us so much that Jesus was willing to take our punishment for our sins, because we could never measure up to God's standards-perfectionism. What a Savior!!

[Resource: Swindoll's Living Insights-Matthew 16-28]

LET IT GO

Loving Savior, Glorious God, we owe You everything!

Help us let go of our sinful habits, repent, and turn to You.

Show us our failures.