What does Matthew 16:22 mean?

Peter's earlier statement (Matthew 16:16) showed He knew exactly who Jesus was: the Christ, the Son of the living God. However, Peter also proves that knowing who Jesus was is separate from knowing Jesus' mission and purpose on earth. As did many in Israel, Peter had specific expectations for what the Messiah was supposed to do. Most of those opinions focused on the restoration of Israel, leading many to see the Promised One as a warrior-king, similar to David. The idea that this figure would be killed by His enemies completely contradicted their traditions and assumptions.

Thanks to that misunderstanding, and not a small amount of pride, Peter attempts to correct His master. After all, Jesus had praised Peter enthusiastically for understanding who He was. He had even given Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 16:19). Peter seems to be assuring Jesus that His disciples are up to the challenge of defending and supporting Him. Peter tells Jesus boldly that "this will never happen to you." As happens for so many of us, even today, Peter's conviction that Jesus is the Son of God does not prevent Him from attempting to "correct" God's plans.

In addition, it's clear that Peter's response is not merely a defense of his own ability. The Greek root term used here is epitimaō, translated as "rebuke," which carries a sense of reprimand or sharpness. Rebuking someone is not necessarily to speak in anger, and sometimes it's entirely appropriate (1 Timothy 5:20; Titus 1:13). Still, Peter is not merely correcting Jesus—he's scolding Him. That might partly explain the cutting response given by Jesus in the next verse (Matthew 16:23).