And Peter taking him... That is, taking him aside, out of a tender love, respect and zeal for his Lord and Master's honour, began to expostulate with him, as it were to rebuke him, saying, Lord, far be it from thee to suffer death; but the Lord said to Peter, ver. 23, Go behind me, Satan. These words may signify, Begone from me; but the holy Fathers expound them otherwise, that is, come after me, or follow me; and by these words the Lord would have Peter to follow him in his suffering, and not to oppose the divine will by contradiction; for the word satan means in Hebrew an adversary, or one that opposes.
16:23. Who turning, said to Peter: Go behind me, Satan, thou art a scandal unto me: because thou savourest not the things that are of God, but the things that are of men.
16:24. Then Jesus said to his disciples: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
16:25. For he that will save his life, shall lose it: and he that shall lose his life for my sake, shall find it.
16:26. For what doth it profit a man, if he gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his own soul? Or what exchange shall a man give for his soul?
16:27. For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels: and then will he render to every man according to his works.
16:28. Amen I say to you, there are some of them that stand here, that shall not taste death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
Matthew Chapter 17
The Transfiguration of Christ: He cures the lunatic child: foretells his passion; and pays the didrachma.
17:1. And after six days Jesus taketh unto him Peter and James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart: