Peter asks for explanations.
We have quite a few occasions were Peter did not understand what Jesus was saying, or what was going on, or did not like what was going on, and asks Jesus to explain.
Mak 7:17, Mat 15:15 = Peter asks for an explanation of the parable/statement that food does not defile a person.
Luk 12:41 = Peter asks Jesus to whom the parable of the wedding feast pertains.
Mar 11:21 = Peter asks about the withered fig tree.
Luk 8:45 = When the woman with issue of blood is healed, it is Peter who says “Lord, how can you ask, Who touched me?, there are many people here around you.”
Mat 18:21 = Peter asks Jesus "How many times shall I forgive my brother."
Luk 18:28; Mat 19:27; Mar 10:28 It is Peter who says to Jesus, "We have forsaken all and followed thee, what do we get?"
Mat 16:22; Mar 8:32 = Peter rebukes Jesus, so Jesus says to him, “Get thee behind me Satan.”
Jhn 13 = Peter does not want Jesus to wash his feet, telling Jesus, "You shall not wash my feet!"
Jhn 21:20 = Peter asks about John, "And what will this man do?"
In this Blog, we will deal with the question: Is it alright to question God or ask him questions?
Job is certainly the best example of this, and while this Blog is not about Job, let me just say, Job said many things, some very good, like "I know my redeemer lives." Some very bold, like "Oh that I could argue my case to him face to face." Some questionable, like "The arrows of the Lord are within me." He said too much, and while God does call Job to task for his rashness: "Where were you when I made everything?" Yet, he never rebukes him, rather fully exonerates him, saying that Job had spoken correctly about him, referring to him as "My servant Job." (Job 42:7)
So we see with Job a man who was very bold to question and argue with God.
OK, now to Peter, we see Peter is the same type of person, always the one to speak first, often violating the Proverb, "A fool speaks before he knows the whole matter," but except for when Jesus rebuked Peter, saying "Get thee behind me Satan," the Lord does not rebuke Peter, but rather answers his questions and teaches him.
Peter says, "We have forsaken all and followed thee, what will we get?" A very bold question indeed, but Jesus does not rebuke him for lack of understanding, or for thinking in terms of earthly concepts, but rather explains the cost and rewards, and gives a great promise, well beyond the scope of Peter's question, telling him that he and the others will sit on thrones and judge Israel!
Think about it, what father would rebuke his child for asking questions out of ignorance or confusion? In fact the father understands that the child's understanding will be less than his, and is therefore likely to be confused, and so will therefore fully explain; the father wants his child to understand.
BUT no father would tolerate a child rebuking him, thinking to know more than he does, which is why Jesus so strongly rebukes Peter, calling him Satan, when Peter presumes to know better than Jesus. (Mat 16:22; Mar 8:32)
Yet, when Peter tells Jesus that he is not to wash his feet, Jesus does not rebuke, but teaches (Jhn 13).
So we see there that is the balance: when we are ignorant or confused, ask away; when thinking we are smarter than God, be careful, lest we ask amiss.
Some of us act as if God is too holy for us to approach him, yet we learn from this that we can approach God quite directly, and speak with him as we would a friend, in fact Jesus called the disciples his friends! (Jhn 15:13-15)
The Bible tells us to come boldly to the throne of grace, to find mercy in time of need. Certainly correcting our ignorance and confusion is a great need, and we can expect God to receive us, and not rebuke us.
This is a short Blog, not meant to address the specific questions Peter asked, but to show that we can address God with questions:
Lord teach me, I don't understand.
Lord show me, I don't know what to do.
Lord what does this mean?
Lord, I don't like what is happening, help me to accept your will.
One of the greatest statements in the Bible is Psa 103:13-14 "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust."
He will not rebuff us or rebuke us when in ignorance or confusion or even with a bit of testiness we ask for explanations: he is our Father, and he loves us.
15 April 2026