Matthew 16:21-25

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 16:25

For whosoever will save his life ,.... Whoever is desirous of preserving himself from troubles, reproaches, persecutions, and death; and takes such a method to do it, as by forsaking Christ, denying his Gospel, and dropping his profession of it; and by so doing, curries favour with men, in order to procure to himself worldly emoluments, honour, peace, pleasure, and life, shall lose it ; he will expose himself to the wrath of God, to everlasting punishment, the destruction of soul and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 16:21

From that time forth began Jesus, etc. - Before this time our Lord had only spoken of his death in a vague and obscure manner, see Matthew 12:40 , because he would not afflict his disciples with this matter sooner than necessity required; but now, as the time of his crucifixion drew nigh, he spoke of his sufferings and death in the most express and clear terms. Three sorts of persons, our Lord intimates, should be the cause of his death and passion: the elders, the chief priests, and the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 16:22

Then Peter took him - Προσλαβομενος - took him up - suddenly interrupted him, as it were calling him to order - see Wakefield. Some versions give προσλαβομενος the sense of calling him aside. The word signifies also to receive in a friendly manner - to embrace; but Mr. Wakefield's translation agrees better with the scope of the place. A man like Peter, who is of an impetuous spirit, and decides without consideration upon every subject, must of necessity be often in the wrong. Be it... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 16:23

Get thee behind me, Satan - Υπαγε οπισω μου σατανα . Get behind me, thou adversary. This is the proper translation of the Hebrew word שטן Satan , from which the Greek word is taken. Our blessed Lord certainly never designed that men should believe he called Peter, Devil, because he, through erring affection, had wished him to avoid that death which he predicted to himself. This translation, which is literal, takes away that harshness which before appeared in our Lord's words. Thou... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 16:24

Will come after me - i.e. to be my disciple. This discourse was intended to show Peter and the rest of the disciples the nature of his kingdom; and that the honor that cometh from the world was not to be expected by those who followed Christ. The principles of the Christian life are: First. To have a sincere desire to belong to Christ - If any man be Willing to be my disciple, etc. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 16:25

For whosoever will save his life - That is, shall wish to save his life - at the expense of his conscience, and casting aside the cross, he shall lose it - the very evil he wishes to avoid shall overtake him; and he shall lose his soul into the bargain. See then how necessary it is to renounce one's self! But whatsoever a man loses in this world, for his steady attachment to Christ and his cause, he shall have amply made up to him in the eternal world. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 16:22

Verse 22 Matthew 16:22.And Peter, taking him aside, began to rebuke him. It is a proof of the excessive zeal of Peter, that he reproves his Master; though it would appear that the respect he entertained for him was his reason for taking him aside, because he did not venture to reprove him in presence of others. Still, it was highly presumptuous in Peter to advise our Lord to spare himself, as if he had been deficient in prudence or self-command. But so completely are men hurried on and driven... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 16:23

Verse 23 23.Get thee behind me, Satan. It is idle to speculate, as some have done, about the word ( ὀπίσω) behind; as if Peter were ordered to follow, and not to go before; for, in a passage which we have already considered, Luke ( Luke 4:8) informs us that our Lord used those very words in repelling the attacks of Satan, and the verb ὕπαγε (from which the Latin word Apage is derived) signifies to withdraw (460) Christ therefore throws his disciple to a distance from him, because, in his... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 16:24

Verse 24 24.Then Jesus said to his disciples. As Christ saw that Peter had a dread of the cross, and that all the rest were affected in the same way, he enters into a general discourse about bearing the cross, and does not limit his address to the twelve apostles, but lays down the same law for all the godly. (463) We have already met with a statement nearly similar, (Matthew 10:38.) (464) But in that passage the apostles were only reminded of the persecution which awaited them, as soon as they... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 16:25

Verse 25 25.For he that would save his life shall lose it. It is a most appropriate consolation, that they who willingly suffer death for the sake of Christ (467) do actually obtain life; for Mark expressly states this as the motive to believers in dying — for my sake, and for the sake of the Gospel — and in the words of Matthew the same thing must be understood. It frequently happens that irreligious men are prompted by ambition or despair to despise life; and to such persons it will be no... read more

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