Matthew 16:21-23 -- On Harmful Advice

"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.
Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
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."
Matthew 16:21-23


This is an interesting interaction between Peter and Christ. I think we can see both perspectives. Peter, thinking this was a human conversation, is trying to rally his friend, encouraging him not to be discouraged and negative. Christ, who is trying to break it to his friends that this is how it has to play out, both sees Peter's compassion for him but also his blindness to the reality that he is trying to explain, and that blindness is just making it harder for everyone. Christ teaches Peter by using a dramatic analogy, comparing him to Satan... in essence saying 'don't twist or belittle my words or encourage me or anyone else to look for another path. This is God's path, and this is the one we are going to walk.'

I think we sometimes get into a similar trap in our own lives, looking for a different path than God's, because sometimes God's seems hard... almost impossible to endure at times. Not trying to make following God seem bleak. There is also (of course) a lot of joy in following Christ, but it requires growth and progression and change for the better, and that stretching and growing can definitely be painful even as it leads to much more potential joy. In any case, we might have people around us encouraging us to do the easy thing or to stop thinking along those lines if we feel we need to give up something to serve the Lord. ... And although on a human level that seems like a good friend-thing to do, it is actually just what Christ called it here. A Satanic lure to walk the way of the world rather than the way of God.

Today, let's make sure we are committed to walking God's way, no matter how hard, and also that we aren't encouraging the people around us to give up on God's way out of misplaced compassion... giving them harmful advice and leading them astray because we are turned in to the wrong source.