Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 8:33

"But he turning about, and seeing his disciples, rebuked Peter, and saith, Get thee behind me, Satan; for thou mindest not the things of God, but the things of men." — Mark 8:33 (ASV)

Jesus’ words to Peter were not only severe, they were deliberately spoken in the presence of the other disciples, for they probably shared Peter’s views and needed the same rebuke. Jesus recognized in Peter’s attempt to dissuade him from going to the Cross the same temptation he had experienced from Satan at the outset of his ministry (cf. Matthew 4:8–10). In both cases, Jesus rebuked the satanic option of using a different means to accomplish his mission.