Why did Jesus scold Peter and call him Satan?

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sridatta
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Why did Jesus scold Peter and call him Satan?

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Why did Jesus scold Peter and call him Satan?[Shri Anil asked: Padanamaskaram Swami! Could You please enlighten us on why Jesus rebuked Peter and called him Satan? Given below is an excerpt from Mathew 16, from the Bible:

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. Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.” 23. But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's.”]


Swami replied: O Learned and Devoted Servants of God! There is a difference between the interests of God and man. Man is interested in God only to get some sort of benefit from God. But God is interested in man only to uplift him spiritually, without aspiring for anything from man. Peter was opposing the crucifixion. But God wanted it to happen because it was going to melt the hearts of all future generations and help them understand the unimaginable and selfless love of God for men. Jesus rebuked Peter for only showing interest in Jesus, the human medium of God. It meant that Peter did not have any interest in God’s interest. Jesus Himself was not bothered about the crucifixion of His body since the crucifixion was God’s interest. But in showing interest in protecting the body of Jesus, Peter was showing a lack of interest in the wish of the God present in Jesus. Hence, Jesus scolded Peter.

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