Matthew 16:23 Meaning: Why Jesus Rebuked Peter as 'Satan'
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 the things of God, but on the things of men.”
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.
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.
and he having turned, said to Peter, `Get thee behind me, adversary! thou art a stumbling-block to me, for thou dost not mind the things of God, but the things of men.'
But turning round, he said to Peter, Get away behind me, Satan; thou art an offence to me, for thy mind is not on the things that are of God, but on the things that are of men.
Meaning in one sentence
Jesus called Peter 'Satan' moments after praising his faith. This verse reveals how even good intentions can oppose God's plan of salvation through the cross.
Context
This verse comes just after the high point of Peter's confession. In Matthew 16:16, Peter declared Jesus to be the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus blessed him and called him the rock on which He would build His church. But then Jesus began to tell His disciples plainly that He must go to Jerusalem, suffer at the hands of the religious leaders, be killed, and raised on the third day. Peter could not accept this. He took Jesus aside and began to rebuke Him, saying this must never happen. The same Peter who had just spoken words from heaven now spoke words that sounded like they came from the pit. Jesus had to respond sharply, not to crush Peter, but to protect the mission that would save the world.
Key Words
Three words in this verse carry special weight. First, Satan comes from a Hebrew word meaning 'adversary' or 'opponent.' Jesus does not say Peter is the devil; He says Peter is acting like an adversary at that moment, blocking the path to the cross. Second, stumbling block translates skandalon, which originally meant the trigger stick of a trap, the thing that springs the snare. Peter's well-meaning words were a trap set across Jesus' path, trying to trip Him up. Third, the phrase you are not setting your mind translates phroneō, meaning to think, to set one's mind on, even to take a side. The Cambridge Bible notes this word was used for political partisanship, 'you are not on God's side but on man's.' The deepest issue is who we side with when the way of God looks hard.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have read this verse with a measure of caution for centuries. Many Protestant commentators, like Adam Clarke and Wesley, emphasize that Jesus was rebuking the temptation itself, not the person of Peter, calling the idea 'Satanic' because it would undermine the atonement. Catholic tradition often highlights Peter's human weakness even after his divine confession, showing that grace and fallenness can coexist in the same disciple. Orthodox readings attend to the seriousness of setting one's mind on human things rather than divine, seeing here a warning against the 'wisdom of the flesh.' What unites these traditions is the recognition that even the most sincere love for Jesus can become a stumbling block when it refuses the way of the cross.
A common misunderstanding
Many readers think Jesus called Peter the devil himself, as if Peter had become possessed. In fact, Jesus used 'Satan' in its original sense of 'adversary', one who gets in the way of God's purpose. Like David in 2 Samuel 19:22 calling his opponents 'adversaries' (the same Hebrew word), Jesus names the obstacle, not the man's eternal identity. Peter would later be restored and become a pillar of the church. The rebuke was for the moment, not the man.
Living This Out
This week, watch for the moments when your own good intentions push against something hard that God has placed in your path. It might be a call to forgive someone who hurt you, to stay faithful in a difficult marriage, or to serve in a way that costs you comfort. The voice that says 'surely this can't be what God wants' may sound as loving as Peter's did. But Jesus invites you to check your heart: whose side are you thinking from? You can say yes to the hard thing, trusting that the cross-shaped path is the one that leads to resurrection. You do not have to protect yourself from God's plan, He is already holding you through it.
Main takeaway: Jesus will not let even His closest friends talk Him out of the cross, because our salvation depended on it.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Peter loved Jesus and didn't want anything bad to happen to Him. But Jesus had a very important job to do, and even that love couldn't get in the way. Sometimes we have to do hard things because they are right.
For ages 9, 12
Peter had just said the most amazing thing about Jesus, that He was the Son of God. But minutes later, when Jesus talked about dying, Peter tried to stop Him. Jesus called that idea 'Satan' because it would have ruined everything. Even when people we love try to protect us, we have to follow what God says is right, even if it's hard. The cross looked like a defeat, but it was actually the greatest victory.
Questions People Ask
Why did Jesus call Peter 'Satan' in Matthew 16:23?
Jesus used 'Satan' in its original meaning of 'adversary' or 'opponent.' Peter was trying to stop Jesus from going to the cross, which would have prevented the salvation of the world. Jesus was not calling Peter the devil; He was naming the temptation Peter was voicing.
What does 'stumbling block' mean in this verse?
The Greek word is 'skandalon,' which referred to the trigger of a trap. Peter's words were like a trap laid in Jesus' path to trip Him up. The King James Version translates it 'offence', not insult, but an obstacle that causes someone to fall.
Was Peter still saved after Jesus rebuked him like this?
Yes. Jesus rebuked the mistaken idea, not the man. Peter later became a leader of the early church and wrote letters that are in the Bible. His failure here shows that even the strongest believers can temporarily say the wrong thing, but grace restores them.
What does 'savourest not' mean in the King James Version?
The KJV uses 'savourest not' to translate the Greek word 'phroneō,' which means to think, to set one's mind on, or to value. Other translations say 'you do not have in mind.' Peter was not relishing or valuing God's perspective; he was focused on human hopes instead.
How can I avoid being a stumbling block to God's plan?
Pay attention when your desire to avoid pain or protect someone leads you to resist what God has clearly said. Ask God to show you His perspective, especially when His way involves difficulty. Trust that the cross, whatever form it takes, is the path to life.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study