Matthew 16:21-23 English Standard Version

Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection

21 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. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

In modern vernacular Peter’s words might have been written “Don’t tell me that!” The reason this alternative language is offered is because Peter had no idea of the outcome for history that would impact the world for thousands of years, eternal impact.

Jesus knew what was being said would be recorded and repeated over and over again for our benefit. Peter was only dealing with his emotions in the moment with no thought of anyone else. When we do that a rebuke can often follow.

It is far easier for us to read the gospels and ponder the impact and see how history played out and rest assured that what Christ did was the will of God for us in all future generations.

The question is still in effect, what is Jesus saying that we don’t want to hear?

We still have the same problem Peter had at that moment thousands of years ago. “For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

None of us know what Christ is doing in another person’s life. Those are personal conversations, personal commands, personal obstacles and personal choices that have to be made based on God’s will and not our own.

In an article written years ago the advice was given, “Make it personal.”

Perhaps a good word to follow is “Get it right.”

2 Thessalonians 3:11-12 English Standard Version

11 For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. 12 Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.[a]

Footnote [a] Greek to eat their own bread

Reading the footnote here helps us put this into spiritual context and not our worldly occupations. We were speaking about walking with the Lord and we can do that while we do worldly work as well as doing spiritual work. 

The idea here is that we walk with Christ and He is at work all around us wherever we go. It is an invitation from Him to join in that work when we can see what He is doing. This invitation is a spiritual invitation, not a secular one. The reason that the Greek term “to eat their own bread” is in reference to communion with the basic meaning of together with Christ.

Partaking of Christ in this manner is doing the will of the Father together with Christ. If we reach out to touch the lives of another without Christ, we become busybodies and we are not doing the will of the Father.

There is a hint here in Paul’s writing. Work quietly implies humility, to submit to Christ in what He is doing and not stepping forward to be seen as more than what we are in Christ.

The scripture above is just one of many instructions that reach out to us when we become busybodies. We will have our consciences pricked when we can see our behavior in the scriptures. That is an opportunity to confess and set our minds on serving Christ rather than self.

This is not to say any of my readers are guilty of such actions. This is not an accusation. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to prick our consciences, not mine.

Awareness of what Christ is doing around us is required and that awareness can only be discovered by having a close personal relationship with Christ.