Bible Strands
Matthew 16:23
But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me. For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses Peter immediately after Peter rebukes Him for announcing His impending suffering. The statement occurs in the presence of the disciples.
The words — στραφεὶς (strapheis) means "having turned," and ὕπαγε (hupage) means "do go." Together with ὀπίσω (opisō) "behind," they form the direct command "Get behind Me."
The thread — The contrast between divine and human perspective appears in Romans 8:5, Colossians 3:2, and Philippians 3:19.
Why it lands — The text states that human reasoning aligned with self-preservation opposes God's redemptive plan. It requires readers to submit their judgments to divine purpose rather than earthly logic.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Romans 8:5 Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh; but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
- Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
- Philippians 3:19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things.
- Mark 8:33 But Jesus, turning and looking at His disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind Me, Satan! For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”
- 1 Corinthians 2:14 The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
- Matthew 4:10 “Away from Me, Satan!” Jesus told him. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”
- John 6:70 Jesus answered them, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!”
- Genesis 3:17 And to Adam He said: “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat, cursed is the ground because of you; through toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.
- Luke 4:8 But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”
- 2 Corinthians 11:14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.