(31) And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests aid scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. (32) And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. (33) But when he had turned about, and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.
Although, on the similar passage recorded by Matthew, I have made similar observations, and to which I refer, Matthew 16:22-23, yet, if it be only to repeat them, they cannot be too often brought before us. Behold, Reader! in the instance of Peter, what man is! Who could give a more blessed testimony than Peter had just given, concerning his GOD and SAVIOR. And from whom did he learn it, but from GOD the HOLY GHOST? But how plain it is, that when Peter took JESUS, and began to rebuke him here, he learnt not this from that Almighty Teacher! Reader! let you and I learn the vast importance of being always under his blessed teachings, who teacheth not as man teacheth. And let us learn, moreover, from the instance of this great Apostle, how evident it is, that the people of GOD may be blessed of the LORD the SPIRIT to make blessed confessions at times, and yet at others, have indistinct views of some sweet and precious things of GOD.