THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 16, Pharisee and Sadducees Challenge Jesus, Peter’s Confession, Jesus Foretells His Death, Discipleship is Costly.

THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 16

Pharisee and Sadducees Challenge Jesus, Peter’s Confession, Jesus Foretells His Death, Discipleship is Costly.

The Word of God, the Bible, is creative, causative, prophetic and instructional. It is the same for the Book of Matthew. It is the breathed Word of God.

The book of Matthew is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work.

Studying the book, we are seeing that Jesus was born for the Purpose of God, which is to redeem humankind from the curse of sin, for all who would receive Him; to transform us into His children of light and into the image of Christ Jesus; to perfect us and to prepare us for an eternity with Him and with one another, in a new and perfect heaven and earth.

Please notice the progression of the movement of Jesus as He comes to earth to accomplish His Mission, His Ministry and the Methods and will of the Father. God prepares the way (Matthew chapters 1 through 3). Jesus proclaims and announces that we are to “repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”! He then teaches, demonstrates and shows the way until His ascension to the Father.

Chapters 1 through 3 establish the lineage of Jesus the Christ, the birth of Jesus, the announcement of Jesus, and the baptism of Jesus.

Having finished His preparations, chapters 4 through 28 give us the model, the mission, the purpose and the plan of God, through His Son. Jesus teaches and demonstrates what it means to

1. To be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 3:13-17 and Matthew 28:19).
2. To be led by the Spirit to be tested in preparation to follow Jesus. (Matthew 4:1-11, Matthew 5:1-14)).
3. To Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand. (Matthew 4:17).
4. To go and proclaim, “the kingdom of heaven is at hand”, doing the works of Jesus, and greater works. (Matthew 10:7-15).
5. To know what it means to “endure to the end”. (Matthew 24:13, Matthew 10:16-23)

Chapters 4 though 28 also give us our mission, purpose and plan. We, the Body of Christ, must be obedient and available for Him to do His Works though us, until the end of the age. This is where we intentionally intersect with the Person and the Power of Jesus. (This is where you and I get personally involved, following Jesus).

Jesus, as the Anointed One, brings the Good News of Hope and the Way of Salvation to the world. (These are the exciting teachings and demonstration of the power of God).

The PURPOSE of the Book of Matthew reflects the PURPOSE and plan of God for His creation, for all of humanity, and specifically for His Elect, that is those who choose to follow Him.

The purpose of this study and commentary, is to learn to walk in the steps of Jesus. We, as His disciples, have been commissioned and sent into all the world, to make disciples. We are to tell people about Him. We are to teach them to obey His words, and to baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. The Book of Matthew presents us with the model and methods of Jesus, which are to be our model and method to accomplish His mission.

Secondly, the purpose of this study is to concurrently seek and find the prophetic words of Jesus, in order to pursue and apply them to our lives. This task and exercise will lead us to call on and to walk in the Holy Spirit with His guidance and power.

Finally, Jesus has told us we are to do the Works He has done and greater works than these, as He has gone to the Father.

If you are wondering about ‘these works’, you are not alone. The crowds that followed Jesus also asked, “What are we to do, so that we may habitually be doing the works of God?”  Jesus answered, “This is the Work of God: that you believe, [adhere to, trust in, rely on, and have faith] in the One whom He has sent.” (See John 6:28 & 29).

It is by this method – walking by faith, in the prophetic – that we are prepared and empowered to allow God to do His Works and even greater works – though our mortal bodies and through our lives.

Please read the chapters and the commentaries carefully, study them diligently and pray and meditate on them deeply. This is The Way!

Pharisees and Sadducees Test Jesus

Matthew 16:1, The Pharisees and Sadducees came up, and putting Jesus to the test, they asked Him to show them a sign. (a confirming miracle), from heaven. Verse 2. But He replied to them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ Verse 3. And in the morning, ‘There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but are you unable to discern the signs of the times? Verse 4. An evil and adulterous generation wants a sign; and so a sign will not be given to it, except the sign of Jonah.” And He left them and went away.

(Commentary Break): These verses may seem cryptic if you do not know the intentions of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. They detest Jesus and plan to discredit Him. Ironically, these two group also detest one another, but as the saying goes, “and enemy of my enemy is my friend”, at least for this one matter.

Jesus’ reply is brief but communicates the idea that they can read simple things of the natural world, but fail to see the weightier things of Bible prophecies, such as the arrival of their long awaited Messiah – Jesus.

Jesus reference to Jonah can be understood to compare them to Jonah’s refusal to hear and see the voice of God, for which these two groups claim to be supremely qualified, but prove to be completely ignorant. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 5. And the disciples came to the other side of the sea, but they had forgotten to bring any bread. Verse 6. And Jesus said to them, “Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Verse 7. They began to discuss this among themselves, saying, “He said that because we did not bring any bread.” Verse 8. But Jesus, aware of this, said, “You men of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? Verse 9. Do you not yet understand nor remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets you picked up? Verse 10. Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many large baskets you picked up? Verse 11. How is it that you do not understand that I did not speak to you about bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Verse 12. Then they understood that He did not say to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

(Commentary Break): These verses are self-explanatory, but demonstrate once again, the direct and plain talk of Jesus. He seems to rebuke His disciples for failing to connect life circumstances with the obvious signs and works of God. Or, it could be that His disciples’ thinking still resembles the Pharisees and Sadducees with whom Jesus had just encountered. Or, It could be like us, they are in the process of ‘repenting’ in their thinking, but not quite there, yet. (End Commentary Break).

Peter’s Confession of Christ

Verse 13. Now when Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” Verse 14. And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah, or one of the other prophets.” Verse 15. He said to them, “But who do you yourselves say that I am?” Verse 16. Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, (the Messiah), the Son of the living God.” Verse 17. And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. Verse 18. And I also say to you that you are Peter, (that is Petros, a small stone), and upon this rock, (that is petra, a massive rock), I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. Verse 19. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind, (or forbid) on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose, (or permit), on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” Verse 20. Then He gave the disciples strict orders that they were to tell no one that He was the Christ (the Messiah).

(Commentary Break): Verses 13 through 20 are both groundbreaking and earth shaking. First, we see the first demonstration and the new work of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ disciples. It also demonstrates what confessing that Jesus is the Messiah accomplishes.

Additionally, Jesus make His first announcement of the Christian Church. Jesus uses a play on words of a sort, calling Peter, Petros, a small stone, and the rock upon which He will build His church, petros, which is a massive rock, constructed of innumerable small stones.

Finally, Jesus announces that He will soon give the keys of the kingdom of heaven to His disciples, then and now, and whatever you forbit on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you permit on earth shall be loosed in heaven. This is an amazing relationship of trust and responsibility coming upon Jesus’ disciples.

Please note, that there are many men and women who feign such authority today, only to promote themselves, having an appearance of godliness, but their behavior and character deny its power. God says we are to avoid these people! (see 2 Timothy 3:5).

Fortunately, God is not mocked, and only those who can be trusted will be given such authority. (End Commentary Break).

Jesus Foretells His Death

Verse 21. From that time Jesus began to point out to His disciples that it was necessary for Him to go to Jerusalem and to suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and to be killed, and to be raised up on the third day. Verse 22. And yet Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “God be merciful to you, Lord! This shall never happen to You!” Verse 23. But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s purposes, but men’s.”

(Commentary Break): Jesus’ response to Peter, in these verses, reflects His no-nonsense approach to important kingdom matters. Jesus had just informed Peter of His mission and that He must suffer many things, including His death, but that He would be raised back to life. He had also told Peter that it was upon this rock, He would build His Church, and apparently Peter oversteps his authority by dictating to Jesus how things should be done. We should expect the same when and if we come up with our own methods and ideas of ministry in His Name! (End Commentary Break).

Discipleship Is Costly

Verse 24. Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. Verse 25. For whoever wants to save his life (or soul) will lose it; but whoever loses his life (or soul) for My sake will find it. Verse 26. For what good will it do a person if he gains the whole world, but forfeits his soul? Or what will a person give in exchange for his soul? Verse 27. For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and WILL THEN REPAY EVERY PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS.

(Commentary Break): If you are a Christian, you are a disciple of Jesus. If you are not His disciple, you are not a Christian. Plain and simple.

Jesus has warned and informed us, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me”.

It is a sad commentary that churches claiming the Name of Jesus, calling themselves Christian, do not adequately warn and inform this way. A ‘soft gospel’ or ‘cheap grace’ is no Gospel at all.

If you want to save your soul, you must take up your cross and follow Him – i.e., do the things He has taught, demonstrated and commanded. What will you give in exchange for your soul? The Son of Man is coming in the glory of His Father, with His angels, and He WILL REPAY EVERY PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS. Put on the righteousness of Christ. Let the sacrifice of Jesus and His Blood cover your sins and clothe you in His righteousness, today! (End Commentary Break).

Verse 28. “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young.

NEXT: THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 17, The Transfiguration, The demon-possessed boy, The Temple Tax.

PREVIOUS:  THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 15, Inner Purity, Faith of a Gentile, Jesus Heals, Jesus Feeds 4,000

(Please bookmark this page or subscribe for future episodes).