Matthew Henry Commentary Matthew 16:21-23

"From that time began Jesus to show unto his disciples, that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall never be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art a stumbling-block unto me: for thou mindest not the things of God, but the things of men." — Matthew 16:21-23 (ASV)

Christ reveals his mind to his people gradually. From that time, when the apostles had made the full confession of Christ, that he was the Son of God, he began to show them his sufferings. He spoke this to set right the mistakes of his disciples about the outward pomp and power of his kingdom.

Those who follow Christ must not expect great or high things in this world. Peter wanted Christ to dread suffering as much as he did; but we make a mistake if we measure Christ's love and patience by our own. We do not read of anything said or done by any of his disciples, at any time, that Christ resented so much as this.

Whoever takes us from what is good, and tries to make us fear to do too much for God, speaks Satan's language. Whatever appears to be a temptation to sin must be resisted with abhorrence and not negotiated with. Those who decline suffering for Christ set their minds more on human matters than on divine matters.