Get Behind Me Satan

But Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's." Matthew 16:23

This is a pretty familiar verse among evangelical Christians. But this past year I was reading it and God catapulted me to a new place of understanding its profound truth. Peter meant well when he spoke the words of rebuke to Jesus, and initially Jesus' response seems somewhat harsh.. But on closer examination there is a life-forming spiritual discipline revealed. Jesus had a job to do. He had a specific calling - to do the will of the Father- to go to the cross and become the sacrificial lamb that would save the world from sin. Peter, attempting to protect Jesus from His assignment, gets a stern rebuke from our Savior. Jesus spoke, "Get behind me, Satan!" You are a stumbling block to Me...." Why?.... "for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's."

The Greek word for "stumbling block" is skandalon derived from the Greek word kampto-to bend or bow. Skandalon means: a snare, an offense, a cause of displeasure or sin. The Lexical Aids to the New Testament show skandalon as meaning: the trigger in the trap on which the bait is placed and springs the trap when it is touched by the animal. Skandalon always denotes the enticement or occasion leading to conduct which brings with it the ruin of the person in question." (pg. 936) Isn't that interesting? Peter's words made him a stumbling block, a baited trap, ensnaring not only himself, but potentially ensnaring anyone else who takes the bait. And here is the kicker.... all because he had his thoughts on "the things of man."

As Christians we cannot get lazy about where our minds dwell. We need to soberly recognize that Jesus calls Peter, Satan, because he set his mind on the things of man rather than the things of God. Therefore we can draw some very clear conclusions from this one verse. Number one, that Satan is identified as having his interest on the things of man and not the things of God. Number two, that we resemble Satan when we do the same. Number three, that setting our mind on the things of man takes us off course, making us and others stumble, becoming ensnared, and potentially keeping us and them, from our God-given assignments. It is important to recognize that when we BEND or BOW our mind, our thoughts, towards the ways of man, we are taking the bait, following Satan's lead, and setting ourselves and others up for some deadly captivity. In 2 Cor. 10:5, we are told to take "every thought captive to the obedience of Christ." I do not know about you, but I have some serious mind-work to do.

Precious Father, I surrender my mind to you. You tell me in Your Word that I have the mind of Christ (I Cor. 2:16). Through the power of Your Spirit, help me learn to recognize the thoughts of man and discipline myself to immediately expel them from my mind. Help me to choose the mind of Christ. Teach me how to replace man's thoughts, consistently and continually, with the Your Word, Your thoughts, and Your interests. Help me to speak the thoughts of God so that my words do not become a stumbling block for others. Continue to purify my mind and the mind of Your precious church. In Jesus name, Amen.

Elizabeth Ward