Jesus accurately discerned the true source both times!
15 ‘But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’
16 Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the (Christ) Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ Matthew 16
Jesus’ original question was, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ The people gave various answers, which is all too common. Jesus pressed the matter with His disciples, ‘Who do you say I am?’ Peter answered correctly, but Jesus knew that it had in fact been revealed to him from His Father in Heaven.
In the next section of Matthew 16, Peter again spoke to Jesus, but this time the result was less favourable.
21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the ELDERS, the CHIEF PRIESTS and the TEACHERS OF THE LAW (three Strands of the Religious Hierarchy – ALL opposing the Truth), and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Matthew 16
Jesus began to prepare His disciples for His coming crucifixion and all the trauma that would involve. Once again Peter was the one to respond to Jesus.
22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. ‘Never, Lord!’ he said. ‘This shall never happen to you!’ (Sometimes people are reluctant to face reality, because it’s contrary to what we desire.)
23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! YOU ARE A STUMBLING-BLOCK TO ME; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.’
Jesus completely rejected Peter’s words because He knew that the devil was now speaking through one of the disciples closest to Him. It was possible for both God the Father and the devil to speak through the same disciple! We tend to think that such and such a person are of good character and a responsible leader, therefore they’re always right, but not necessarily according to Christ’s response. We must LEARN TO DISCERN!
11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to understand. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 BUT SOLID FOOD IS FOR THE MATURE, WHO BY CONSTANT USE HAVE TRAINED THEMSELVES TO DISTINGUISH GOOD FROM EVIL. Hebrews 5
I have mentioned before an account of a NEW BELIEVER going to a meeting with a visiting speaker, but they didn’t have peace about the spirit of what was being shared and left. Others who’d been walking longer with the Lord stayed on and suffered from the corrupt messages. Even the youngest in the Faith can discern, if we’re alert and willing to listen to our consciences and the voice of the Spirit.
God bless and keep you today.