Lost Sheep – Calling Peter Satan – The Devil & Jesus
Question #1: Why did Jesus tell a Canaanite woman crying out to him, “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of the Israel” when he was sending his disciples (Mathew 10:6) told them but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel? Is Jesus not sent to the whole world?
ANSWER: Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles
Mat 10:5 “These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
Mat 10:6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Mat 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
First, it was surely not unlawful to go into Samaria, for example, as we see Jesus and the Apostles surely went and preached after His death too John 4:4 (The Woman at the Well) & Luke 9:52 (A Samaritan village rejects Jesus as did the Jews as Jesus “set His face against Jerusalem – Luke 9:51).
Now, why does Matthew 10:5-6 say “Go nor into the way of the Gentiles”? 1st, Matthew 10:24 confirms this command. God is not a respecter of persons and He surely changes not so it’s important to keep this in mind as there are many heresies that belive people born “Jewish” are God’s chosen children and this is absolute blasphemy. In this context we are reading, the “lost sheep of the house of Israel” were the Jews. At the time, He came first to them. He came as their expected Messiah that was written about and a faithful believer would have know Jesus was the One, True GOD. He came to preach the gospel himself to the Jews only. Afterward, it was preached to the Gentiles, but the ministry of Jesus was confined almost entirely to the Jews. Jesus, part of the Godhead and God Himself, was sent by his Father only to the Jews (Matthew 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent (not primarily; not yet to the Gentiles) but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Jesus was the “minister of the circumcision” (Romans 15:8) in other words, a minister to the circumcised (believing/obeying) Jews; he was sent only to preach the Gospel to them, and work miracles among them, in proof of his Messiahship; and upon their utter rejection of Him, his apostles were then to be sent among the Gentiles; but he himself was sent only to the Jews, aka, “the lost sheep of the house of Israel”.
CLICK HERE FOR A VERY IMPORTANT STUDY ON “ISRAEL”
Question #2: Why did Jesus say unto Peter “Satan” and Peter is one of his close disciples (Mathew 16:23)?
Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection
Mat 16:21 “From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
Mat 16:22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
Mat 16:23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”
This term of course is normally applied to the Devil, however, there is no evidence that the Lord Jesus meant to apply this scathing term to Peter, as signifying that he was Satan or the devil or that he used the term in unrighteous anger. We can deduce it was used in the general sense (rebuking Peter’s pride and forwardness) alluding to being an adversary or opposer as these sentiments Peter expressed then were opposed to Him and his redemptive plans. His interference was improper and surely his views and feelings stood in the way of the accomplishment of the Saviour’s designs.
2Co 12:7 “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
2Co 12:8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2Co 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”
Jesus follows His word:
Psalm 141:5 “Let the righteous SMITE me; it shall be a KINDNESS: and let him REPROVE ME; it shall be an EXCELLENT OIL, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.”
1 Timothy 5:20 “THEM THAT SIN REBUKE BEFORE ALL, THAT OTHERS MAY FEAR.”
Titus 1:13 “This witness is true. Wherefore REBUKE THEM SHARPLY (WHY?), that they may be SOUND IN THE FAITH”
Titus 2:15 “These things speak, and exhort, and REBUKE WITH ALL AUTHORITY. Let no man despise thee.”
Question #3: How did the devil take Jesus up into the holy city and an exceeding high mountain (Mathew 4:1-11)?
Matthew 4:5 “Then the devil TAKETH HIM UP into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple”
“Taketh him up” does not mean in any supernatural or visionary way. It simply means he conducted/invited/led Jesus (of course Jesus allowed this to the highest part of the temple, “a pinnacle” (potentially the King’s porch or the roof of the porch). It was not by force or through the air supernaturally or a miracle in any way to place him there. There is no evidence that Satan had power to do any of these things. The main roof of the temple was covered by gold spikes that would not be conducive to a human being standing on it. It may mean the battlement which encompassed the flat roof of the Temple so that no man might fall down: as was appointed by the law (Deu 22:8).
This is similar to verses 8-9:
Mat 4:8 “Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
Mat 4:9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.”
Most likely nothing more is intended here than the kingdoms of Palestine, or of the land of Canaan, and those in the immediate area. Judea was divided into three parts called “kingdoms”. The sons of Herod, who presided over them, were called kings. The term “world” is often used in this limited sense to denote a part or a large part of the world, a depiction, in this case the land of Canaan.
In any event, we can conclude that the devil did not have authority over Jesus and simply took (invited) Jesus up under His own free will… I would also not totally rule out a spiritual aspect of these events but lean heavily towards the former.