From Matthew 16:21-23 / Adversaries

The exchange with Peter in this passage is one of the most sobering in all the Gospels. “Satan” (vs. 33) as we know, simply means – adversary. One can be “a” satan or an adversary of Christ and His Kingdom without it being demonic, or being “THE” Satan we most often think of as The Devil. We have grown so accustomed to using the word satan only to refer to the personal Devil, we forget that the semantic range of the word allows for how Jesus uses it here in reference to Peter.

Note first: All it takes to be God’s adversary, is to set our agenda above His. In Peter’s case here, Jesus defines being a satan as simply setting the mind on the things of man above the things – the plans and purposes of God.

Was it wrong for Peter not to want Jesus to suffer and die? Not in the most basic sense. Jesus was his friend, his mentor, The Christ. But here is the problem, in his perfectly legitimate desires to spare Jesus such things, and to suffer the loss of Jesus himself, he had no consideration whatsoever for what was best and wisest in God’s eyes, and in His plans and purposes. And in our day where everyone is supposed to be in pursuit of their own agendas, happiness, goals, ambitions and desires – the posture of submitting all of those to God is almost unthinkable. Indeed, so much preaching and teaching today would tell us exactly that – that God’s chief end is to see to it we get ours!

We’ve turned the entire paradigm on its head.

In effect, Jesus is saying to Peter: You are looking at this from your perspective, and not from God’s. You may wish me to remain for yourself, but what is the Father doing? What is His plan? This is what must guide us – not our personal desires, but what God is about in sending me to earth. And that, must culminate in my death, or there is no hope for you in eternity.

And so may we pray today: Heavenly Father, keep your plans and purposes ever before me. Let me live my life so as to be fully invested in your agenda, what you are about in this world. Let me leave my self-willed and self-constructed goals behind. Let me be immersed in your will, surrendering my own completely. If nothing gets done the way I want, let it be, as long as your will is done.

Note second: The connection between 33, and 34-38. This is what it means to take up our cross. It is quite simply to abandon our agendas for His.

Now there is no question that this applies to each and everyone of us in our lives. God doesn’t exist to guarantee we get what we want in life – especially given our skewed values and desires due to the Fall. WE exist to get Him what He is after. To fulfill His purposes and plans. You cannot read Jesus’ own words without seeing that very dynamic time after time. He only speaks what He hears the Father say; does what He sees the Father does; “I have come to do your will.”

But this has a very special application to the ministry.

In today’s climate, something has crept into how Churches search for pastoral candidates and how leaders in the Church are supposed to function within the context of being visionaries or “vision-casters” as it is often dubbed.

No man should be considered for a pastoral role based on questions like “what is your vision for this Church?” Nor ought he to be always called upon to be setting a vision. No. The question is: Do you know Christ’s vision for His Church? And if so, what is it Biblically – and how do we fit into Christ’s vision in this local assembly?

Having some sort of mystical, subjective vision for a Church quite frankly was never a part of the ecclesiastical framework until quite recently. And it is borrowed from corporate America, not the Bible.

Pastors are to give themselves over to the purposes and plans of God as articulated in His Word – not divining some hidden, secret purpose of God for some certain group of people.

Note third: Public sins need public redress. Jesus took note that the other disciples heard Peter’s rebuke and thus He needed to set it straight right then and there. This would not wait to be dealt with privately because of the immediate impact upon others.

In other words, this was not a “Matthew 18” situation. Nor is it today when public figures, both inside and outside the Church sin publicly. As with Paul’s immediate and public rebuke of Peter in Antioch – when things are done publicly which have an immediate impact on a number of people, it must be addressed then and there. Much sin today is buried under a mistaken notion of how Matthew 18 is to be carried out.

Note fourthly: Jesus’ rebuke is not simply yelling at Peter, it is remedial. Peter isn’t ousted from the Apostleship. He isn’t demoted or written off. He is corrected.

And isn’t this a most marvelous display of the mercy and grace of God in how He deals with all His blood-bought ones?

Yes, at times we greatly err. At times, we too may well be His “adversary.” Aren’t we constantly being challenged to submit our wills to His? To go back and be sure we are setting our minds on His plans and purposes rather than our own? Indeed. And He is faithful not to leave us to ourselves. To love to a better place. To still own us as His own.