"Get thee behind me, Satan!"

[ricksummon]

In both Mark 8:31-33 and Matthew 16:21-23, Jesus predicts His death and resurrection. Peter protests, and Jesus says to him, “Get thee behind me, Satan!” I understand that Jesus calls Peter “Satan” because he’s trying to go against God’s plan. But why does Jesus say “Get behind me”?

[tomndebb]

Because Peter is “standing in the way” of the path the Jesus must follow. “Get behind me” indicates “don’t stand in front of me blocking the path.”

It should be noted that, in these passages, the allusion that Jesus makes is not necessarily to the Christain notion of the fallen-angel-tempter-into-sin, but to the older Jewish idea of the one who acts as God’s agent in testing the faith of another (as God used Satan to test Job). In the first century, both concepts of Satan were prevalent, so it is not that they are mutually exclusive, of course.

[grimpixie]

Since Tom has answered the question, I’ll tell a joke:

A minister’s wife comes home one day with a brand new expensive dress. When he sees the price-tag, the minister gets very upset and asks her to explain her irresponsible actions. She weeps a little and eventually confesses -

“I was walking along the high-street and saw the dress in the window. I knew at once that we couldn’t afford it, but Satan tempted me by saying ‘Just looking can’t hurt, why don’t you go in and have a closer look.’ So I did. When I got closer, Satan whispered ‘Why don’t you try it on?’ So I did. And he said ‘The colour suits you - it matches your eyes’ I didn’t mean to buy it, but the temptation was too strong…”

The minister is even more angry and cries out “But I have taught you how to deal with temptation - just say ‘Get thee behind me, Satan!’ and he will do so.”

“I did!!” the wife wails, "and he said ‘It fits so well at the back - it takes off at least 20 pounds.’ "

Grim

[ltfire]

" Get thee behind me Satan…and don’t push!"
Buckwheat said that.