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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mat_16:21-23
21From 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 be raised up on the third day. 22Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You." 23But 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."
Mat_16:21 "must" This was the word "dei" which meant moral necessity (Jesus came to die, Mar_8:31; Mar_10:45; Joh_3:14; Joh_3:16). Jesus knew there was a divine plan for His life and ministry (cf. Mat_12:15-21; Luk_22:22; Act_2:23; Act_3:18; Act_4:28; Act_10:42; Act_17:31). He knew at the age of twelve (cf. Luk_2:41-49)!
▣ "and suffer many things" John had implied this by calling Jesus "the Lamb of God" (cf. Joh_1:29), but the disciples were not prepared for this truth. It was not in their first century Jewish notions about the Messiah. The rabbis emphasized the coming of the Messiah as an act of judgment and military triumph (cf. Rev_19:11-16). They were not wrong in this assessment but they failed to recognize His first coming as the suffering servant (cf. Isaiah 53), the humble one on the colt of a donkey (cf. Zec_9:5), both of which seem to follow Gen_3:15. See Special Topic: YHWH's ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN at Mat_27:66.
This revelation of His suffering was so shocking that Jesus had to repeat it several times (cf. Mat_17:9; Mat_17:12; Mat_17:22-23; Mat_20:18-19). He did this so that when it happened the disciples, after their initial grief and confusion, would realize that Jesus was in control of His own destiny. This would embolden them for their called mission (cf. Mat_28:18-20; Luk_24:46-47; Act_1:8).
▣ "the elders, and chief priests, and scribes" This was the phrase used to describe the Sanhedrin. It was the ruling body of the Jews made up of 70 leaders from the Jerusalem area. In Jesus' day it had been corrupted by Roman politics because the High Priesthood had become a purchased position.
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▣ "on the third day" Jesus specifically mentioned this time element several times, Mat_12:40; Mat_16:4, where it was related to the prophet Jonah and as a sign of His Messiahship. Paul implied in 1Co_15:4 that it was predicted in the OT. The only two possibilities are Hos_6:2 and Jon_1:16. In the context of Jesus' usage it must relate to Jonah.
However, it was not a full 72 hours but only about 36-40. The Jews counted partial days as full days. Their days started at twilight. Jesus died at 3 p.m. on Friday and was buried before 6 p.m. This was counted as one day. He remained in Hades all of the Sabbath, 6 p.m. Friday to 6 p.m. Saturday. Then sometime before sunrise on Sunday He arose (see Special Topic: Resurrection at Mat_27:63), thereby, three Jewish days.
Mat_16:22 "Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him" Peter overstepped his bounds. Jesus used the term "rebuke" in several other strong contexts (cf. Mat_8:26; Mat_12:10; Mat_16:20). Peter's personal feelings for Jesus were superceding God's plan of redemption.
▣ "This shall never happen to you" This is literally " mercy on you" which implied "May God have mercy on you so this never happens." This is a strong double negative used for emphasis.
Mat_16:23 "Get behind Me, Satan" Peter, who moments before spoke a revelation from God, now speaks temptation from Satan. This was the same temptation Jesus faced in the wilderness, to bypass the cross (cf. Matt. Mat_4:1-11). In this context, Peter was Satan's spokesman!
▣ "stumbling block" This referred literally to a baited trap-stick trigger on an animal trap. The word was used metaphorically of an obstacle.