Matthew 16:21-27

Jesus Reveals That As The Messiah and Son of Man He Must Suffer (16:21-27).

Jesus declares that the way of suffering lies ahead for Him as the Messiah, and when Peter tries to show Him His ‘error', He rebukes Peter and points out that all those who follow Him must choose the way of suffering. That is the way forward in order to establish His Kingly Rule over men's lives. Contrary winds must be faced by those who would reach ‘the other side'. And then, when He returns in the glory of His Father as the Son of Man all will be judged according to their deeds. They will be examined to see whether are truly under the Kingly Rule of Heaven, whether they have truly done the will of His Father (Matthew 7:21). For He is not dealing now with personal preferences but with the Kingly Rule of Heaven, and what it requires of men and women in a world which is in opposition to God.

a From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples, that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up (Matthew 16:21).

b And Peter took Him, and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Be it far from you, Lord, this will never happen to you” (Matthew 16:22).

c But He turned, and said to Peter, “Get you behind me, Satan, You are a stumbling-block to me, for you do not mind the things of God, but the things of men” (Matthew 16:23).

d Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).

c “For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever will lose his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 16:25).

b “For what will a man be profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his life?” (Matthew 16:26).

a “For the Son of man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then will He render to every man according to his deeds” (Matthew 16:27).

Note that in ‘a' Jesus will be judged by men according to what He has done, and in the parallel He will judge men according to what they have done. In ‘b' Peter seeks to dissuade Him from suffering, and in the parallel those who avoid suffering will lose their very life. In ‘c' Jesus rebukes Peter because he has sought to persuade Him to go against the will of God and avoid losing His life, and in the parallel He points out that the one who seeks to save his life will lose it. Centrally in ‘d' is the central theme of discipleship.