Matthew 16:22 Meaning Explained

Q: What does Matthew 16:22 mean?

Peter isn't just disagreeing; he's trying to stop Jesus, literally taking Him aside and using the strongest possible negative to declare that this suffering will not happen, revealing his deep misunderstanding of God's plan. The phrase "Be it far from you" is actually an ancient plea for God's favor, showing Peter's desperate hope to avert what he saw as a terrible mistake.

All verses

Matthew 16:22

And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.”

English Standard Version (ESV)

Peter isn't just disagreeing; he's trying to stop Jesus, literally taking Him aside and using the strongest possible negative to declare that this suffering will not happen, revealing his deep misunderstanding of God's plan. The phrase "Be it far from you" is actually an ancient plea for God's favor, showing Peter's desperate hope to avert what he saw as a terrible mistake.

What Matthew 16:22 means

Just moments after Peter's bold confession of Jesus as the Messiah, Jesus begins to reveal a startling truth: he must suffer and die. Peter, unable to reconcile this with his understanding of the Messiah, pulls Jesus aside to strongly protest, expressing his fervent wish that such a fate would never happen. This immediate contrast highlights Peter's human perspective clashing with Jesus' divine mission.

Taking Jesus Aside: Misplaced Affection

Peter just heard Jesus predict His own suffering and death. His immediate reaction? To pull Jesus aside and rebuke Him. What drives this seemingly loving, yet misguided, response?

Peter’s action of 'taking Jesus aside' reveals a heart deeply attached to Jesus, but one that hasn't yet grasped the purpose behind Jesus’ mission.

Private Counsel: The Greek word for 'took him' suggests not just a physical separation but a move to speak privately. Peter, likely acting out of genuine concern and affection, wanted to shield Jesus from what he perceived as a terrible fate.
Conflicting Expectations: Peter, like the other disciples, expected a triumphant Messiah who would overthrow Roman rule and establish an earthly kingdom. Jesus’ prediction of suffering and death directly contradicted this deeply held expectation. His love for Jesus made the idea of His suffering unbearable.
A Rebuking Tone: The word 'rebuke' here isn't about asserting authority but an earnest, though misplaced, admonishment. Peter is pleading with Jesus, urging Him to avoid the suffering that his own understanding of the Messiah couldn't accommodate.

"Far Be It From You": The Wisdom of Men vs. God

Peter’s famous cry, “Far be it from you, Lord!” is more than just a plea. It’s a declaration rooted in a different kind of wisdom than God’s. What wisdom was Peter clinging to, and why did Jesus call it Satanic?

Peter’s immediate reaction, "Be it far from thee, Lord! This shall never happen to you!" is a powerful expression of human reasoning and emotion trying to override divine purpose.

Human Logic vs. Divine Plan: Peter's understanding was limited by human perspective. He saw suffering and death as the opposite of what the Messiah should experience. He couldn't reconcile the glory of the Messiah with the ignominy of the cross. This reasoning is rooted in what the text calls 'the things of men.'

Historical context

Written: Likely between 50-70 AD.
Author: Matthew the Apostle, traditionally understood, though some scholars suggest a different author for the Gospel of Matthew.
Location: Written from Galilee or Judea.
Genre: Gospel narrative with strong dialogue and theological teaching. Features vivid character interactions and theological contrasts.

Historical background

Peter's strong reaction reveals the disciples' deep-seated expectations of a glorious, earthly kingdom, and their inability to comprehend a suffering Messiah. Jesus uses this moment to pivot to the essential nature of true discipleship, which involves embracing hardship and sacrifice, not earthly glory.

Early 1st century AD
Jesus' Public Ministry
Jesus begins his public ministry, gathering disciples and teaching about the Kingdom of God. His followers, including Peter, begin to form expectations of a triumphant Messiah who will restore Israel.
Early 1st century AD— this verse
Jesus Predicts His Death
Jesus begins to teach his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, suffer, be rejected, die, and be raised again. This is a radical departure from their expectations.
Early 1st century AD
Peter's Rebuke
Peter, deeply distressed by Jesus' prediction of suffering and death, takes Jesus aside and rebukes him, urging him to spare himself. Jesus immediately rebukes Peter sharply, calling him Satan.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus Teaches on Discipleship
In response to Peter's reaction, Jesus broadens his teaching to all disciples, explaining that following him requires self-denial, taking up one's cross, and losing one's life for his sake.

Key themes

01Humanity's limited understanding
02Divine plan vs. human will
03Suffering as a divine necessity
04The cost of discipleship

Cross-references

John 13:8

This passage shows Peter's initial resistance to Jesus' actions, similar to his current resistance to Jesus' suffering, highlighting his strong personal attachment and misunderstanding of Jesus' divine purpose.

1 Peter 1:11

Peter later understood that the sufferings of Christ were foretold by the prophets, directly contrasting with his statement in Matthew 16:22 that these events 'shall never happen to you.'

Mark 8:31-33

This passage directly parallels Matthew 16:22-23, showing the same exchange where Jesus rebukes Peter for attempting to prevent his suffering, identifying Peter's mindset as 'Satanic' because it opposes God's will.

Luke 17:3-4

While not a direct parallel in event, the concept of 'rebuking' (epitimao) is used here, illustrating a different context of admonishment, and shows how 'offenses' can arise even within close relationships.

Isaiah 53:10

This prophetic passage describes the suffering servant 'making his life an offering for sin,' directly illuminating the divine purpose behind Christ's foreseen suffering that Peter so vehemently rejected.

Scholarly commentary

Matthew 16:22: "Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee."

Took (προσλαβόμενος)Not, took him by the hand, but took him apart to speak with him privately. Meyer renders, correctly, after he had taken him to himself. "As if," says Bengel, "by a right of his own. He acted with greater familiarity after the token of acknowledgment had been given. Jesus, however, reduces him to his level."BeganFor Jesus did not suffer him to contin…
vincent

Matthew 16:22: "Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee."

Then Peter took him - This may mean either that he interrupted him, or that he took him aside, or that he took him by the hand as a friend. This latter is probably the true meaning. Peter was strongly attached to him. He could not bear to think of Jesus' death. He expected, moreover, that he would be the triumphant Messiah. In his ardor, and confidence, and strong attac…
barnes

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What does Matthew 16:22 mean?

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What Matthew 16:22 means

Historical context

Written: Likely between 50-70 AD.
Author: Matthew the Apostle, traditionally understood, though some scholars suggest a different author for the Gospel of Matthew.
Location: Written from Galilee or Judea.
Genre: Gospel narrative with strong dialogue and theological teaching. Features vivid character interactions and theological contrasts.

Historical background

Early 1st century AD

Jesus' Public Ministry

Jesus begins his public ministry, gathering disciples and teaching about the Kingdom of God. His followers, including Peter, begin to form expectations of a triumphant Messiah who will restore Israel.

Early 1st century AD— this verse

Jesus Predicts His Death

Jesus begins to teach his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, suffer, be rejected, die, and be raised again. This is a radical departure from their expectations.

Early 1st century AD

Peter's Rebuke

Peter, deeply distressed by Jesus' prediction of suffering and death, takes Jesus aside and rebukes him, urging him to spare himself. Jesus immediately rebukes Peter sharply, calling him Satan.

Early 1st century AD

Jesus Teaches on Discipleship

In response to Peter's reaction, Jesus broadens his teaching to all disciples, explaining that following him requires self-denial, taking up one's cross, and losing one's life for his sake.

Scholarly commentary

Matthew 16:22: "Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee."

Took (προσλαβόμενος)Not, took him by the hand, but took him apart to speak with him privately. Meyer renders, correctly, after he had taken him to himself. "As if," says Bengel, "by a right of his own. He acted with greater familiarity after the token of acknowledgment had been given. Jesus, however, reduces him to his level."BeganFor Jesus did not suffer him to contin…
vincent

Matthew 16:22: "Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee."

Then Peter took him - This may mean either that he interrupted him, or that he took him aside, or that he took him by the hand as a friend. This latter is probably the true meaning. Peter was strongly attached to him. He could not bear to think of Jesus' death. He expected, moreover, that he would be the triumphant Messiah. In his ardor, and confidence, and strong attac…
barnes

Frequently asked questions

What does Matthew 16:22 mean?

Explain the meaning of Matthew 16:22

What is the context of Matthew 16:22?

Ask Sola about this verse

Ask Sola things like:

“What does the original Greek reveal about Matthew 16:22?”
“Why did Matthew the Apostle, traditionally understood, though some scholars suggest a different author for the Gospel of Matthew. write Matthew 16:22?”
“How does humanity's limited understanding show up in Matthew 16:22?”

Ask in the Sola app Get the app

Live chat about Matthew 16:22 is available in the Sola app.