Title: God's Work and Man's Work
God's work and man's work
Matthew 16:21-28, 12th week after Pentecost,
21 From that time Jesus Christ began to show his disciples that he must go up to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised on the third day. 22 Peter took Jesus and protested, saying, No, Lord, this will never happen to you. 23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan, for you are a stumbling block to me, for you do not think of God’s things, but men’s things. 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul? 28 Truly you I say to you, some who are standing here will see the Son of Man come in his kingship before they die.
Today's sermon title, “The Work of God and the Work of Man,” comes from Jesus’ words to the disciple Peter. In Matthew 16:23, Jesus said to Peter:
Satan, step back from me. you are the one who makes me fall You do not think about the things of God, but on the things of men.
Jesus said to Peter that he was Satan. No matter how metaphorical this may be, it is undoubtedly an insulting remark. It is rare for Jesus to rebuke someone with such a strong tone of voice.