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MESSAGE 6 · Matthew 16:21–23

Correction: Get Behind Me

Big Idea: We cannot faithfully follow Jesus while insisting that He conform to our expectations.

Peter has just confessed Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of the living God.” But when Jesus reveals that He must go to Jerusalem, suffer, be killed, and rise again, Peter rejects the road Jesus says He must take. In this turning point, Jesus teaches Peter—and us—that disciples do not determine the road. Jesus leads. We follow.

READ THE TEXT

MATTHEW 16:21–23 | NASB95

21 From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day.

22 Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.”

23 But He 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.”

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.Lockman.org

MUST → NEVER → GET BEHIND ME

Teaching Outline

  1. Jesus Reveals What He Must Do. — Matthew 16:21
  2. Peter Rejects What Jesus Reveals. — Matthew 16:22
  3. Jesus Redirects Peter to Follow Him. — Matthew 16:23

What We Covered

  • Jesus begins explicitly teaching His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, suffer, be killed, and rise again.
  • Peter rejects the road Jesus reveals, insisting, “This shall never happen to You.”
  • Jesus exposes Peter’s proposal as a stumbling block because Peter is thinking according to man’s interests rather than God’s.
  • Jesus’ command, “Get behind Me,” restores Peter to the proper place of a disciple: Jesus leads; Peter follows.
  • The passage prepares us for Jesus’ next words: “If anyone wishes to come after Me…”

Choose the resource you need

Use the participant handout during class. Review the completed notes afterward, or open the teaching slides for a visual summary of the lesson.

Didn’t attend the class? Start with the Completed Notes for the fullest public study resource.

Participant Handout (PDF)Completed Notes (PDF)Teaching Slides (PDF)

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