Stumbling Block

“Jesus turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.'” Matt 16:23 (NIV)

Peter deeply cared for Jesus. Peter had just spoken the powerful words given by God to affirm that Jesus was truly the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Jesus then shared with his disciples that He would be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter had the audacity to rebuke Jesus.

As one commentator observed, Peter “could hardly have understood that by his attempt to dissuade Jesus from the cross he was placing arrows in the bow of Satan to be shot at his beloved Savior.” In the language of the New Testament, a stumbling block, or skandalon, referred to an animal trap where food was strategically placed to lure the animal into harm’s way. Satan was using Peter to set a trap for Jesus. Satan had already tempted Jesus to take a shortcut to God’s plan. Now, Satan is using Peter to seek to get Jesus to bypass the way of the cross.

We become a stumbling block when we think that our way is better than God’s way. We become a stumbling block when we fail to consider the way of God. Be careful not to oppose the plan of God. Be on guard not to become an instrument in the hands of the Enemy.

Let’s commit to becoming a stepping stone for others to come to know Christ. Let’s eliminate our proclivity of becoming stumbling blocks. God’s way is always the best way. Let’s embrace the way of the cross. 

Pursuing God,

Stephen Trammell
Executive Pastor