Matthew 16:23, Was Peter 'Satan'?

A MUSLIM, Ben Langcuyan, asked if Peter was Satan. He seemed CONFUSED after he read Matthew 16:23.

A PROPER READING of the context of Matthew 16:23 should remove Ben's confusion.

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A. QUICK ANSWER

PETER is NOT SATAN. The LORD JESUS was NOT TALKING to PETER when He said "Satan" in Matthew 16:23.

The Lord Jesus was TALKING to SATAN who earlier TRIED to TEMPT HIM in MATTHEW 4:1-11.

In Matthew 16:24, Satan again tried to TEMPT the Lord Jesus but this time HE USED PETER. Satan took advantage of Peter's impulsive nature.

So, when the Lord Jesus issued the REBUKE, He was REBUKING SATAN. Peter was simple "COLLATERAL DAMAGE."

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B. MORE INFO

THE IMMEDIATE CONTEXT of MATTHEW 16:23 is from MATTHEW 16:21.

It reads:
"From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.

"And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you."

"But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things."
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In Matthew 16:23, it will seem that the Lord Jesus was talking to Peter. But, if we look at the BIGGER CONTEXT, we will see that the Lord Jesus was actually TALKING TO SATAN.

The BIGGER CONTEXT includes MATTHEW 4:1-11, where SATAN tried to TEMPT the LORD JESUS to STOP HIM from DOING HIS MISSION of SAVING MANKIND.

MATTHEW 4:1-11

"Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

"He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished.

"The tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread."

"But he answered, "It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

"Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you,' and 'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'"

"Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"

"Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; and he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me."

"Jesus said to him, "AWAY WITH YOU, SATAN! for it is written, 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'"

"Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him."
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Now, it is CLEAR that SATAN had TEMPTED the Lord Jesus BEFORE. So, the Lord Jesus REBUKED SATAN BEFORE.

In Matthew 16:23, SATAN TRIED to TEMPT the LORD JESUS AGAIN. So, the Lord Jesus AGAIN REBUKED SATAN.

So, what about PETER?

As already said, PETER was "COLLATERAL DAMAGE" because HE WAS the ONE USED by SATAN to make his latest try to TEMPT the LORD JESUS from DOING HIS MISSION of SALVATION.

SATAN USED PETER as HIS MOUTHPIECE and HIS HUMAN SHIELD, so PETER GOT HIT in the CROSSFIRE.

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C. MUSLIM DEFECT:

It is apparent that MUSLIMS are NOT TAUGHT HOW TO PROPERLY READ TEXT. They are taught to SIMPLY LOOK for TEXT that THEY CAN DISTORT and USE AGAINST the BIBLE or CHRISTIANS.

The TRUE RELIGION of GOD will LEAD PEOPLE to SEEK the TRUTH. If a RELIGION LEADS its MEMBERS to DISTORT and LIE, then CLEARLY THAT RELIGION is NOT FROM GOD.