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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Mark 8:31 - 8:33
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mar_8:31-33
31And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32And He was stating the matter plainly. And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. 33But turning around and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's."
Mar_8:31 "He began to teach them" The imperfect tense can mean (1) the beginning of an act or (2) the continuing of an act in past time. Here #1 is implied by the context, but there is another imperfect in Mar_8:32 which implies #2. This is Jesus' first prediction of His suffering and death, but there are others (cf. Mar_9:12; Mar_9:31; Mar_10:33-34).
▣ "the Son of Man must" This shows that Jesus clearly understood His mission and its cost (cf. Mar_10:45). This was exactly the type of predictive sign the Pharisees were seeking in Mar_8:12 to confirm a true prophet (cf. Deu_13:2-5; Deu_18:18-22).
▣ "suffer many things" This was the aspect of the Messiah's ministry that the Jews missed (cf. Gen_3:15; Psalms 22; Isa_52:13 to Isa_53:12; Zechariah 9-14). In Jewish thought the Messiah was seen as a descendant of David, a militaristic champion of Israel. But He would also be a priest, as in Psalms 110 and Zechariah 3-4. This dual nature is reflected in the Dead Sea Scrolls community's expectation of two Messiahs, one royal (from Judah) and one priestly (from Levi). This dynamic leadership role expectation seemed totally separate from a suffering, dying Messiah.
Jesus tried several times to inform the disciples about His prophesied suffering (cf. Mar_8:31; Mar_9:12; Mar_9:30-31; Mar_10:33-34), but they could not understand (cf. Mar_8:32-33; Mar_9:32-34; Mar_10:35-37).
▣ "be rejected" This means "disapproved" because Jesus did not meet the Jewish leadership's preconceived Messianic understandings. He did not fit their expectations.
▣ "by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes" This was a way of referring to the Sanhedrin, a council of seventy leaders from Jerusalem analogous to a supreme court. See Special Topic at Mar_12:13.
▣ "be killed. . .rise again" This is the essence of the gospel message: a substitutionary sacrifice, and a glorious divine confirmation of its acceptance.
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▣ "after three days rise again" This phrase could refer to Hos_6:1-2. It is interpreted in a similar way in the Aramaic Targum on this verse. However, Jesus seems to be making an allusion to Jon_1:17 (cf. Mat_12:39; Mat_16:4). This type of predictive sign was exactly what the Pharisees were asking for in Mar_8:12 (cf. Mat_16:4). This type of prediction was the basis of defining a true prophet according to Deu_13:2-5; Deu_18:18-22. Jesus gave them sign after sign, but they could not, would not see!
Mar_8:32
NASB "He was stating this matter plainly"
NKJV "He spoke this word openly"
NRSV, NJB "He said all this quite openly"
TEV "He made this very clear to them"
This is another imperfect tense as in Mar_8:31. There it meant "began," but here it might refer to repeated action (i.e., Jesus told them about His suffering and death several times). He spoke to them plainly—no parables, no symbols, no metaphors (cf. Joh_10:24; Joh_11:14; Joh_16:25; Joh_16:29; Joh_18:20).
▣ "Peter took Him aside" This was done in sincerity, but not with understanding. Peter is acting as Satan's surrogate as to how to use His Messianic office to reach and save people (cf. Mar_1:12-13; Mat_4:1-11).
▣ "and began to rebuke Him" This is a strong Greek word (cf. LXX of Gen_37:10; Luk_4:41; 2Ti_4:2). It is used of Jesus in Mar_1:25; Mar_3:12; Mar_4:39; and Mar_9:25. In this context Peter "scolded" or "censured" Jesus for His remarks. Surely his motive was to protect Jesus, not condemn Him. Peter did not understand the vicarious and prophetic nature of Jesus' suffering.
Jesus rebukes Peter in Mar_8:33 for his lack of spiritual insight and slowness to understand.
Mar_8:33 "seeing His disciples" Jesus spoke this word to Peter, but in a sense He was addressing all the disciples.
▣ "Get behind Me, Satan" This is a present active imperative. Jesus commands Peter to remove himself from Jesus' sight. This has OT connotations of rejection (i.e., "cast behind the back," cf. 1Ki_14:9; Eze_23:35). Without realizing it, Peter was tempting Jesus in the very same way that Satan did in the wilderness (cf. Mar_1:12-13; Mat_4:1-11). Satan tried to get Jesus to win human allegiance in any way but Calvary (i.e., feed them, show them miracles, compromise His message). Peter did not realize that Jesus' suffering and death was the plan of God (cf. Mar_10:45; Act_2:23; Act_3:18; Act_4:28; Act_13:29; 2Co_5:21). See hyperlink at Mar_1:13.
Often the most painful and subtle temptations come from friends and family! The Kingdom of God, not personal preferences, personal privileges, or personal goals, is the highest priority (cf. Mar_8:34-38).