21From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. [16:22] And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying: May God avert this, Lord! This must not happen to you. [16:23] But Jesus turned and said to Peter: Get behind me, Satan! You are a snare to me, for you are not thinking the things of God but the things of men.
MAT 16:21-23
Christʼs Passion Foretold
In the world it was spoken into
In 1st-century Jewish and Greco-Roman contexts, the idea of a Messiah suffering and dying would have been deeply counterintuitive. Jewish expectations of the Messiah centered on a triumphant, victorious figure who would liberate Israel from Roman oppression and restore Davidic kingship. For Peter, Jesus’ prediction of suffering and death at the hands of the Jewish leaders (elders, chief priests, scribes) would have seemed not only shocking but also scandalous, as it contradicted these Messianic hopes. The term (it is necessary) underscores divine necessity, framing Jesus’ suffering as part of God’s plan, a concept rooted in Jewish apocalyptic thought. Peter’s rebuke reflects a protective, honor-driven response, as he seeks to shield Jesus from shame and danger. Jesus’ sharp retort, calling Peter ‘Satan’ and a ‘stumbling block’ , highlights the tension between human and divine perspectives. In the honor-shame culture of the time, Jesus’ rebuke would have been jarring, emphasizing that Peter’s concern for human honor was obstructing God’s redemptive purpose.
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How other translations render this
MAT 16:21
- KJV
- From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
- BSB
- From that time on Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
- Koinōnos
- From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.
MAT 16:22
- KJV
- Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
- BSB
- Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. “Far be it from You, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to You!”
- Koinōnos
- And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying: May God avert this, Lord! This must not happen to you.
MAT 16:23
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me. For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”
- Koinōnos
- But Jesus turned and said to Peter: Get behind me, Satan! You are a snare to me, for you are not thinking the things of God but the things of men.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Where the historical framing draws from
- Josephus, AntiquitiesAntiquities 18.3.3
›Josephus, Antiquities Antiquities 18.3.3
“And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, 9 those that loved him at the first did not forsake him”
Cited to ground: Jesus’ prediction of suffering and death at the hands of the Jewish leaders (elders, chief priests, scribes)
Translator's notes
MAT 16:21
- that:The word translated 'that' here implies a necessity or obligation, suggesting that these events were not merely possible but divinely appointed and unavoidable.
MAT 16:22
- to rebuke:The term translated 'to rebuke' often carried the sense of a strong warning or a stern prohibition, aiming to prevent an action or silence an inappropriate statement.
- Far be it:The phrase 'Far be it' comes from a word that originally meant 'propitious' or 'gracious,' and in this context, it functions as an exclamation wishing for God's favor to avert something undesirable.
MAT 16:23
- A stumbling block:The word translated 'a stumbling block' originally referred to a trap or a snare, particularly one that causes someone to trip or fall, often with negative consequences.