Tuesday, April 04, 2006

Mat 16:23 Get behind me, Satan: you are an offense to me: for you savor not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

This makes a nice counterpoint to the previous verse where Christ tell Peter that he had been given some understanding over the connection between heaven and earth. Peter then argues when Christ tells the apostles of his coming death, and Jesus has to tell him here that he isn't getting it.

This is a great example for us all in that we can be in touch with the will of God one moment, but immediately be seduced by the weaknesses of men in the next.

The KJV of this version makes this verse more complicated than it is in Greek.

A more direct version: Go away from me, adversary, you are a trap for me because you do not understand things of God but those of men.

"Get" is from hupagô, which means "go away," "withdraw," and "retire."

"Satan" is from satan, which means "adversary" and "opponent."

"Offence" is from skandalon, which means "a trap or snare for the enemy."

"Savour" is from phroneô, which means "to have understanding," "to be prudent," "to comprehend," and "to be wise."