Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 16:22
Verse 22. Then Peter took him] proslabomenov-took him up- suddenly interrupted him, as it were calling him to order-see Wakefield. Some versions give proslabomenov the sense of calling him aside. The word signifies also to receive in a friendly manner-to embrace; but Mr. Wakefield's translation agrees better with the scope of the place. A man like Peter, who is of an impetuous spirit, and decides without consideration upon every subject, must of necessity be often in the wrong. Be it far from thee Lord] ilewv soi kurie. Be merciful to thyself Lord: see the margin. So I think the original should be rendered.
Peter knew that Christ had power sufficient to preserve himself from all the power and malice of the Jews; and wished him to exert that in his own behalf which he had often exorted in the behalf of others. Some critics of great note think the expression elliptical, and that the word qeov, God, is necessarily understood, as if Peter had said, God be merciful to thee! but I think the marginal reading is the sense of the passage. The French, Italian, and Spanish, render it the same way. Blind and ignorant man is ever finding fault with the conduct of God. Human reason cannot comprehend the incarnation of the Almighty's fellow, (Zechariah xiii. 7,) nor reconcile the belief of his divinity with his sufferings and death. How many Peters are there now in the world, who are in effect saying, This cannot be done unto thee-thou didst not give thy life for the sin of the world-it would be injustice to cause the innocent to suffer thus for the guilty. But what saith God? His soul shall be made an offering for sin-he shall taste death for every man- the iniquities of us all were laid upon him. Glorious truth! May the God who published it have eternal praises!
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 22. Then Peter took him , etc.] The Arabic version reads it, called to him: the Ethiopic, answered him; and the Syriac, led him; he took him aside, by himself; and as the Persic version, privately said to him, or he took him by the hand in a familiar way, to expostulate with him, and dissuade him from thinking and talking of any such things; and began to rebuke him : reprove and chide him, forgetting himself and his distance; though he did it not out of passion and ill will, but out of tenderness and respect; looking upon what Christ had said, unworthy of him, and as what was scarce probable or possible should ever befall him, who was the Son of the living God, and overlooking his resurrection from the dead, and being ignorant at present of the end of Christs coming into the world, and redemption and salvation by his sufferings and death: saying, far be it from thee, Lord , or Lord, be propitious to thyself, or spare thyself: the phrase answers to dl sj , often used by the Targumists and stands in the Syriac version here. The Septuagint use it in a like sense, in ( Genesis 43:23 2 Samuel 23:17) ( 1 Chronicles 11:19). Some think the word God is to be understood, and the words to be considered, either as a wish, God be propitious to thee: or spare thee, that no such thing may ever befall thee; or as an affirmation, God is propitious to thee, he is not angry and displeased with thee, as ever to suffer any such thing to be done to thee: but it may very well be rendered, by God forbid; or as we do, far be it from thee, as a note of aversion, and abhorrence of the thing spoken of: this shall not be done unto thee : expressing his full assurance of it, and his resolution to do all that in him lay to hinder it: he could not see how such an innocent person could be so used by the chief men of the nation; and that the Messiah, from whom so much happiness was expected, could be treated in such a manner, and especially that the Son of the living God should be killed.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 21-23 - Christ reveals his mind to his people gradually. From that time, when the apostles had made the full confession of Christ, that he was the Son of God, he began to show them of his sufferings. He spake this to set right the mistakes of his disciples about the outward pomp an power of his kingdom. Those that follow Christ, must not expect grea or high things in this world. Peter would have Christ to drea suffering as much as he did; but we mistake, if we measure Christ' love and patience by our own. We do not read of any thing said or don by any of his disciples, at any time, that Christ resented so much a this. Whoever takes us from that which is good, and would make us fea to do too much for God, speaks Satan's language. Whatever appears to be a temptation to sin, must be resisted with abhorrence, and not be parleyed with. Those that decline suffering for Christ, savour more of the things of man than of the things of God.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ προσλαβομενος 4355 5642 V-2AMP-NSM αυτον 846 P-ASM ο 3588 T-NSM πετρος 4074 N-NSM ηρξατο 756 5662 V-ADI-3S επιτιμαν 2008 5721 V-PAN αυτω 846 P-DSM λεγων 3004 5723 V-PAP-NSM ιλεως 2436 A-NSM-ATT σοι 4671 P-2DS κυριε 2962 N-VSM ου 3756 PRT-N μη 3361 PRT-N εσται 2071 5704 V-FXI-3S σοι 4671 P-2DS τουτο 5124 D-NSN
Vincent's NT Word Studies
22. Took (proslabomenov). Not, took him by the hand, but took him apart to speak with him privately. Meyer renders, correctly, after he had taken him to himself. "As if," says Bengel, "by a right of his own. He acted with greater familiarity after the token of acknowledgment had been given. Jesus, however, reduces him to his level."Began. For Jesus did not suffer him to continue.
Be it far from thee (ilewv soi). Rev., in margin, God have mercy on thee. In classical usage, of the gods as propitious, gracious toward men, in consideration of their prayers and sacrifices. The meaning here is, may God be gracious to thee.
Shall not be (ou mh estai). The double negative is very forcible: "Shall in no case be." Rev. renders it by never.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
16:22 {Peter took him} (proslabomenos auton ho petros). Middle voice, "taking to himself," aside and apart, "as if by a right of his own. He acted with greater familiarity after the token of acknowledgment had been given. Jesus, however, reduces him to his level" (Bengel). "Peter here appears in a new character; a minute ago speaking under inspiration from heaven, now under inspiration from the opposite quarter" (Bruce). Syriac Sinaitic for #Mr 8:32 has it "as though pitying him." But this exclamation and remonstrance of Peter was soon interrupted by Jesus. {God have mercy on thee} (hilews. Supply eie or estw ho qeos). { this shall never be} (ou me estai soi touto). Strongest kind of negation, as if Peter would not let it happen. Peter had perfect assurance.
