More mistakes of Peter we can learn from in the scriptures

Learning from the Mistakes of Others
Lesson 34

“The Mistakes of Simon Peter”


Matthew 16:13-23
Matthew 17:1-8
1 Corinthians 2:14

We want to consider the mistakes of Simon Peter, but not to justify ourselves or to judge Peter. Simon Peter was just as human as we are. However, he learned from his mistakes and in time became one of the great giants of faith. Simon Peter had many noble qualities, and yet we know that Simon made many mistakes. He was strong-willed, outspoken and very self confident. To his credit, he was of a contrite spirit. He repented and learned from his mistakes.

In this lesson we want to consider the following. In the gospel of St. Matthew we read: “Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesare'a Philip'pi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do men say that the
Son of man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, others say Eli'jah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter replied, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon
Bar Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.’ Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ. From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him and began to rebuke him, saying, ‘God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to you.’ But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men’” (Matthew 16:13-23).

Here we read how Jesus put a question concerning Himself before the twelve. That is, who did men say Jesus was, and who did they believe He was? Simon Peter responded immediately. He did not wait to hear what the others would say or allow himself to be influenced by their opinions. Rather he responded immediately and correctly. This knowledge did not come from a book or some other earthly source. Rather, it came from the Lord. All true knowledge has but one source, and that is Christ.

Then, we are told how very soon after this great confession by Simon Peter; Jesus began to relate to the twelve that the time would soon come when He would need to go to Jerusalem to suffer and to die. Whenever the Lord gives us a new ‘light’ it is to prepare us for an even greater revelation and a deeper understanding of His will and plan for us. Here, the deeper light was that Jesus, their Lord, would in a short time have to go to Jerusalem to suffer and die.

Once again Simon Peter was the first to respond. However, this time his response was different. This time Simon Peter actually rebuked Jesus, insisting that such a thing would never happen to Jesus. Did Peter love Jesus? Yes, of course, and as such did not want to see Jesus suffer. In his humanity, Simon Peter meant well. However, consider the severe rebuke that followed. Jesus rebukes Peter (“you are a hindrance to me”) and the one who was instigator of Peter’s remarks, Satan himself (“Get thee behind me Satan”). Jesus was not calling Peter Satan, but rather was rebuking the one who influenced Peter to give that response.

How are we to reconcile these two declarations? In the first, Simon Peter is praised for his great spiritual insight, and in the next he is rebuked as a hindrance to the plan of the Father in Jesus’ life. Despite the fact that Peter had the clear revelation of who Jesus was, he still considered many things from a human point of view, that is, from the vantage point of his own soul.

What about us? How many things do we consider, how many conclusions are drawn by my means of the thought process of our souls? Do we still see things from a human point of view? If so, we too will in time find ourselves opposing God.

Consider the words of St. Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians: “The unspiritual man does not receive the gifts of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14). In speaking of the unspiritual man, St. Paul is not referring to only those in the world or those who are not saved. Rather, he was referring to those who know the Lord but who continue to be governed by the logic and soul. As such, they are unable to grasp the logic of the Spirit. As in the case of Simon Peter’s rebuke of Jesus, in that moment it was the natural man who spoke out against Jesus going to Jerusalem to suffer and die. After all, what sense did that make? How could the plan of the Father include such a thing? It simply did not make any sense to one whose thought process was, at that moment, given over to the logic of the soul. Those who are governed by the soul will always act in a way that is contrary to the will of God. Those governed by the soul will always be a hindrance to Him! A person can have the true and clear revelation of God, and still be opposed to God’s sovereign will in their own life and/or the lives of others.

Sometime later, Jesus took three of His disciples up a mount, at which time they witnessed the transfiguration of Jesus, and were also made to see Moses and Elijah. In the gospel of St. Matthew we read: “And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain apart. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Eli'jah, talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is well that we are here; if you wish, I will make three booths here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Eli'jah.’ He was still speaking, when lo, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.’ When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces,
and were filled with awe. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, ‘Rise, and have no fear.’ And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only (Matthew 17:1-8).

Words cannot describe the glory these three disciples witnessed on this occasion. Not only did they see the transfiguration of Jesus, they also were made to see Moses and Elijah speaking with Jesus, and discussing his pending crucifixion and death. However, Simon Peter interrupted this discussion with a suggestion. Peter thought it was good that they were there that day, so a proper memorial could be built in order to commemorate that day. Did Simon Peter understand why the Lord had seen fit to take him with Him that day? No. It was not so that a memorial could be built, but rather so that they might come to understand that while Elijah was indeed a great prophet of God and was greatly used by God, the ministry of Jesus was far greater. The Father then had to redirect and refocus their attention on the Person of Jesus Christ. We are told how at the conclusion of that experience they were made to see Jesus, and Jesus only!

What about us? How often have we too, under the influence of the soul, decided to do something we considered to be good but which in fact opposed the will of God? May the Holy Spirit examine us this day. These accounts are recorded for our benefit. May we learn from the mistakes of Simon Peter.

Amen.
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