Matthew 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.

KJV (with Strong's)

Then {G2532} Peter {G4074} took {G4355} him {G846}, and began {G756} to rebuke {G2008} him {G846}, saying {G3004}, Be it far {G2436} from thee {G4671}, Lord {G2962}: this {G5124} shall {G2071} not {G3364} be {G2071} unto thee {G4671}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Kefa took him aside and began rebuking him, "Heaven be merciful, Lord! By no means will this happen to you!"

Berean Standard Bible

Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. “Far be it from You, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to You!”

American Standard Version

And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall never be unto thee.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In Matthew 16:22, immediately following Peter's profound confession of Jesus as the Christ, we encounter a jarring moment where Peter takes Jesus aside and vehemently attempts to dissuade Him from His prophesied path of suffering and death in Jerusalem. This verse starkly highlights the profound tension between human expectations and divine will, revealing the disciples' deep-seated misunderstanding of the Messiah's true mission, which necessitated the cross before the crown.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a dramatic pivot point in Matthew's Gospel, occurring directly after Peter's Spirit-inspired confession of Jesus as "[the Christ, the Son of the living God](/matthew/16-16 "Matthew 16:16 - Peter's Confession")" in [Matthew 16:16](/matthew/16-16 "Matthew 16:16 - Peter's Confession") and Jesus' subsequent commendation and promise regarding the church's foundation. Immediately following this high point of revelation, Jesus begins to explicitly teach His disciples about His impending suffering, death, and resurrection in Jerusalem, stating He "must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things... and be killed, and be raised again the third day" ([Matthew 16:21](/matthew/16-21 "Matthew 16:21 - Jesus Predicts His Death")). Peter's rebuke in [Matthew 16:22](/matthew/16-22 "Matthew 16:22 - Peter Rebukes Jesus") is his immediate, visceral reaction to this shocking prediction, demonstrating a fundamental disconnect between his divinely given insight into Jesus' identity and his human-centered understanding of Jesus' mission. The passage foreshadows the subsequent lesson on true discipleship, which involves self-denial and cross-bearing, as outlined in [Matthew 16:24-26](/matthew/16-24-26 "Matthew 16:24-26 - The Cost of Discipleship").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** First-century Jewish messianic expectations were predominantly centered on a conquering king who would liberate Israel from Roman oppression and restore the Davidic kingdom. The concept of a suffering and crucified Messiah was utterly antithetical to popular understanding and deeply scandalous, as highlighted in [1 Corinthians 1:23](/1_corinthians/1-23 "1 Corinthians 1:23 - Christ Crucified, a Stumbling Block"). The disciples, including Peter, shared these prevailing nationalistic hopes, envisioning Jesus establishing an earthly kingdom of power and glory. Peter's fervent "Be it far from thee, Lord" reflects this cultural aversion to a suffering Messiah, indicating his desire to protect Jesus from what he perceived as a catastrophic deviation from the expected glorious path. His words are not malicious but arise from a deeply ingrained, human-centric worldview that struggled to comprehend God's redemptive plan through sacrifice.
* **Key Themes:** This passage powerfully underscores several crucial themes. Firstly, it highlights the **misunderstanding of the Messiah's mission**, contrasting the disciples' earthly aspirations for a political deliverer with Jesus' divine purpose as the Suffering Servant who would atone for sin. Secondly, it vividly portrays the **conflict between human desire and divine will**, where Peter's well-intentioned but misguided affection directly opposes God's sovereign plan for salvation. Peter's attempt to avert suffering for Jesus reveals a common human tendency to prioritize comfort and earthly success over God's often counter-intuitive path. Thirdly, it emphasizes the **necessity of the cross** as the indispensable means of redemption. Jesus' unwavering commitment to His passion, despite Peter's strong objection, underscores that His suffering and death were not an unfortunate detour but the very heart of His mission, without which there could be no resurrection or salvation. This passage also subtly introduces the theme of **true discipleship**, which requires embracing suffering and self-denial, a concept Jesus elaborates on immediately after rebuking Peter ([Matthew 16:24](/matthew/16-24 "Matthew 16:24 - Take Up Your Cross")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **rebuke (Greek, _epitimáō'_):** From G2008, this word means "to tax upon," "censure," "admonish," or "forbid." It implies a strong, authoritative, and often stern warning or correction. It is the same word used when Jesus rebukes demons ([Matthew 17:18](/matthew/17-18 "Matthew 17:18 - Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Boy")) or calms the storm ([Mark 4:39](/mark/4-39 "Mark 4:39 - Jesus Calms the Storm")). The use of this word here is striking, as Peter, a disciple, presumes to "rebuke" his Lord, indicating a profound reversal of roles and an attempt to assert control over Jesus' divine trajectory.
* **Be it far from thee (Greek, _híleōs'_):** From G2436, this word literally means "cheerful" or "propitious," but in this context, it functions as an idiomatic expression, often translated as "God be merciful" or "God forbid." It conveys a strong sense of aversion, a fervent wish that something terrible would not happen. Peter is expressing a deep emotional plea, a desperate hope that Jesus' prediction of suffering will not come to pass.
* **shall not be (Greek, _ou mḗ'_):** From G3364, this is a double negative in Greek, combining *ou* (an objective negative) and *mē* (a subjective negative). This construction creates the strongest possible denial, emphasizing Peter's absolute conviction that Jesus' suffering and death simply "will not happen" or "must not happen." It reflects his firm belief and determined opposition to Jesus' declared path.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then Peter took him":** This phrase indicates a deliberate, personal, and perhaps private action. Peter physically "took" Jesus aside, suggesting an urgent, confidential conversation, perhaps to shield Jesus from public embarrassment or to convey his deep concern away from the other disciples. It implies a sense of intimacy and presumed authority on Peter's part.
* **"and began to rebuke him":** This signifies the initiation of a strong, corrective address. As analyzed above, Peter's use of "rebuke" (epitimáō) is highly significant, revealing his attempt to admonish or forbid Jesus from His chosen path. It highlights Peter's misguided zeal and his presumption to instruct the Son of God.
* **"saying, Be it far from thee, Lord":** Peter's words convey a passionate and deeply emotional plea. "Be it far from thee" (híleōs soi) is a fervent expression of aversion, akin to "God forbid!" or "May God be merciful to you!" It underscores Peter's genuine love and concern for Jesus, coupled with his horror at the prospect of Jesus' suffering. The use of "Lord" (kýrios) indicates his continued recognition of Jesus' authority, even as he attempts to redirect His actions.
* **"this shall not be unto thee":** This final clause expresses Peter's absolute and emphatic denial of Jesus' impending suffering and death. The strong double negative ("ou mē") reinforces his conviction that such a fate is unthinkable and unacceptable for the Messiah. It reveals Peter's human-centered vision of the Messiah's role, which was diametrically opposed to God's redemptive plan.

#### Literary Devices
The passage employs striking **Irony**, as Peter, having just received divine revelation and been blessed for his confession of Christ, immediately becomes an unwitting mouthpiece for Satan, attempting to divert Jesus from His mission. This reversal highlights the constant spiritual battle and the ease with which human wisdom can align with adversarial forces. There is also significant **Contrast** between divine wisdom (Jesus' understanding of the cross's necessity) and human wisdom (Peter's desire to avoid suffering), setting up the subsequent teaching on true discipleship. The entire interaction serves as **Foreshadowing**, not only of Jesus' impending passion but also of the disciples' struggle to comprehend and accept the path of suffering, which would culminate in their temporary abandonment of Jesus before His crucifixion.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 16:22 serves as a critical theological hinge, starkly contrasting the popular, earthly understanding of the Messiah with God's divine, redemptive plan centered on the cross. Peter's well-intentioned but profoundly mistaken intervention reveals the deep chasm between human logic, which seeks glory and avoids suffering, and God's wisdom, which ordains suffering as the path to ultimate glory and salvation. This moment underscores the radical nature of Christ's mission – that the Son of God must suffer and die to accomplish atonement for sin, a concept that was a "stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles" ([1 Corinthians 1:23](/1_corinthians/1-23 "1 Corinthians 1:23 - The Cross as a Stumbling Block")). It highlights that even those closest to God can, out of human affection or misunderstanding, inadvertently oppose His perfect will, emphasizing the constant need for spiritual discernment and submission to divine truth.

* [Matthew 16:23](/matthew/16-23 "Matthew 16:23 - Jesus Rebukes Peter as Satan")
* [Isaiah 53:3-5](/isaiah/53-3-5 "Isaiah 53:3-5 - The Suffering Servant Prophecy")
* [Philippians 2:5-8](/philippians/2-5-8 "Philippians 2:5-8 - Christ's Humiliation and Obedience")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Peter's earnest but misguided attempt to deter Jesus from His path of suffering offers a profound lesson for every believer. It challenges us to examine our own expectations of God's will and our willingness to embrace paths that involve sacrifice, discomfort, or apparent failure in the eyes of the world. Like Peter, we often desire comfort and triumph, seeking to avoid hardship for ourselves and those we love. However, this passage reminds us that God's ways are often higher than our ways, and His redemptive purposes frequently unfold through suffering, humility, and self-denial. True discipleship calls us to align our hearts and minds with God's divine wisdom, even when it seems counter-intuitive or demands personal cost, trusting that His path, though difficult, ultimately leads to life and glory. It compels us to discern whether our "good intentions" are truly aligned with God's perfect will or if they are, like Peter's, rooted in a human-centered perspective that unwittingly opposes divine truth.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways do my personal desires or cultural expectations sometimes clash with God's revealed will for my life or for the church?**
* **Am I willing to embrace a path of suffering or sacrifice if I believe it is God's will, or do I subtly try to "rebuke" such possibilities?**
* **How can I cultivate a deeper trust in God's wisdom and sovereignty, especially when His plans seem difficult or contrary to my understanding?**

### FAQ
**Why did Peter, after his great confession, immediately make such a mistake?**

Answer: Peter's confession in [Matthew 16:16](/matthew/16-16 "Matthew 16:16 - Peter's Confession") was a divinely revealed truth, a gift from the Father. However, his understanding of the Messiah's mission remained deeply rooted in human, worldly expectations. He grasped Jesus' identity as the Christ but not the *nature* of His messianic work, particularly the necessity of the cross for redemption. This reveals that spiritual insight into identity does not automatically translate into full comprehension of God's redemptive plan, especially when that plan involves suffering and humility, which were scandalous concepts to the Jewish mindset of the time.

**What does Jesus' sharp rebuke of Peter in the next verse (Matthew 16:23) tell us about this interaction?**

Answer: Jesus' immediate and severe response, "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" ([Matthew 16:23](/matthew/16-23 "Matthew 16:23 - Jesus Rebukes Peter")), underscores the gravity of Peter's words. While Peter's intention may have been loving and protective, his words were, in essence, a temptation from the adversary, seeking to divert Jesus from His essential redemptive mission. Jesus' rebuke clarifies that any thought or action, no matter how well-intentioned, that opposes God's divine will, particularly the path of the cross, aligns with the purposes of Satan. It highlights the spiritual battle underlying human interactions and the absolute necessity of Jesus' obedience to the Father's plan.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 16:22, with Peter's misguided attempt to dissuade Jesus from His suffering, profoundly illuminates the Christ-centered fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. Peter's human-centered vision of a triumphant, earthly Messiah stood in stark contrast to the divine necessity of Christ's suffering and death, which was the very heart of His mission. Jesus' unwavering commitment to the path of the cross, despite the earnest pleas of His closest disciple, underscores His perfect obedience to the Father's will, as prophesied throughout the Old Testament concerning the Suffering Servant (e.g., [Isaiah 53:4-6](/isaiah/53-4-6 "Isaiah 53:4-6 - The Suffering Servant Bears Our Sins")). This moment foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of the [Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), a sacrifice that would bring about reconciliation and new life. Jesus' refusal to deviate from the cross ensured the [atonement for our sins](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God Demonstrates His Love"), the [defeat of death](/1_corinthians/15-54-57 "1 Corinthians 15:54-57 - Victory Over Death"), and the establishment of the [New Covenant in His blood](/luke/22-20 "Luke 22:20 - The New Covenant in His Blood"). Thus, Peter's error serves to magnify Christ's steadfast resolve and the indispensable nature of His passion, through which He accomplished our salvation and became the [author and perfecter of our faith](/hebrews/12-2 "Hebrews 12:2 - Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of Faith").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Mark 8:32

And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.

Matthew 26:51

And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out [his] hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear.

Matthew 26:53

Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

Matthew 16:16

And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Matthew 16:17

And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed [it] unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

John 13:6

Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?

John 13:8

Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.