Total Separation from This World (Part 2)

In the latter part of verse 23 (Matthew 16), Jesus says “for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” Wow! What a statement for Jesus to make about Peter. We know that God looks on the heart! So all the big talk that Peter liked to do didn’t impress Jesus, because he knew in Peter’s heart he was still holding on to the “world”.

To savour something means to take pleasure in, get enjoyment from, or receive pleasure from. So the Lord knew that Peter didn’t take pleasure in, or wasn’t getting enjoyment from the things of God. He may have liked being seen as one of Christ’s disciples. He may have liked being around Christ, for all the attention Christ received. He may of even liked seeing the miracles and being around when Christ performed them. However, Peter, as so many others, was still holding on to something in the world.

Christ said Peter savoured the things of men. Now let’s not get confused about where Christ is coming from when he said this. Christ can see far down the road, way into the future. He knew when things got tough, Peter was going to deny Him. But what He saw even further down the road is what I believe led Him to say Peter savoured the things of men.

Looking at the end of the gospels of Matthew and Mark, Jesus gave His disciples the great commission; to teach and baptize all nations. At the end of the gospel of Luke, Jesus tells his disciples to tarry in Jerusalem until He sends the power from on high (Holy Spirit). In the 21st chapter of the gospel of John, we have a different kind of ending. In verse 3, Peter said unto the other disciples “I go a fishing.” They said unto him, “We also go with thee.” As we read down further into this chapter we can see that Jesus came to his disciples that morning. In the next verses we are able to see Peter and his love of the world. When Jesus chose Peter to be his disciple, what was he called from? Fishing. Years later, after Jesus has given the Great Commission, Peter is back fishing. The Lord had to question him whether he loved the fish more than he loved Him.

It seemed to Peter like a big thing that Christ would ask him if he loved Him over and over again. But to Christ, it was obvious that he didn’t. Christ called him from fishing and made him a fisher of men; Peter decided to go back to fishing for fish, and took other disciples with him. Who was left to do God’s work? There are many others lessons in these precious scriptures, but we only want to use that portion for now.

Let’s bring this story a little closer. What were you/I doing when God called us out of sin? Are we still trying to do those things that he called us from? Going back to Matthew the 16th chapter and verse 24 and 25, Jesus said” if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” These are the words of Jesus talking to His disciples.

Are you a disciple of Christ? Are you willing to deny yourself? Are you willing to lose your life? These questions are paramount to our entering into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Index – Total Separation from This World

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