Matthew 16

Bible Passage:  Matthew 16

“Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” (verse 23)

This was what Jesus said to Peter. And this is just a while after the portion where Jesus called Peter the rock on which He will build His church, as Peter was able to recognise that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

This statement by Jesus reminds us that man can also become “Satan”. There are people who blame their weaknesses on Satan who tempts them to sin. But when we sucumb to our human desires, we may become Satan ourselves…

Mindful of the things of men

What causes us to become “Satan”? In Jesus rebuke of Peter, it is when he is mindful of the things of men. In particular, he was actually unwilling to let Jesus suffer and die in the hands of His enemies. It was his emotions for Jesus as a friend and teacher.

How many of us have been or would be in Peter’s situation? It could be objecting to our family members going to an underdeveloped country to do divine work, it could be ourselves rejecting church work because of man. How dangerous it could be when we let our emotions get the better of us in the matters of faith!

Another aspect of being mindful of the things of men above God, is the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees, which is their doctrine. In the previous chapter, Jesus had explained what is their doctrine, which is changing the command of God with the teachings of man; they transgress the commandment of God because of their tradition, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.

Today, the leaven of Pharisees is prevalent. This is the hypocrisy and practice of false religion by self-declared religious people, changing the word of God with their own man-made laws. They are in fact Satan’s advocates. Sadly, people who like to hear sweet stuff or find their way to justify their wickedness adopt such teachings and destroys themselves and the people around them. Their desire to honor themselves over God leads to their mindset and behavior.

Seeking the world, which is worshipping Satan

“Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, “You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.” (Luke 4:8)

The statement Jesus made to Satan directly also gives another pointer to when we can become “Satan”, that is when we do not serve God but Satan, we love the world and seek to gain it, resulting in us putting God aside and effectively worshipping Satan.

It is trouble when we hear so-called religious leaders in Christianity preaching embracement of the world and the wealth in it, in their actions or their words. Jesus clearly told us that we cannot serve God and serve Mammon. Yet we hear such people who preach that you have to serve the world (earn lots of money) in order to serve God (offering to church), and they will see how God is so pleased with their offerings by giving them even more earnings from the world.

Getting away from Satan!

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” (verse 24)

The heart is deceitful, and we have to constantly remind ourselves how to put the things of God above everything else, and to worship God and serve Him alone. In summary, it would be denying oneself and taking up the cross. If the word of God does not transform us, does not make us feel the need to change ourselves, and our life is a smooth ride without any burden for Christ, we are probaby still leading a life that is an offense to God.

May God help us never to be in the same position as Satan!