Bread and Stone

Introduction

Titles can tell you a lot about a Book.

The Theme, (To Kill a Mockingbird), the Conflict (The Lord of The Rings), Setting, (Tale of Two Cities), Main Character, (Jayne Ere)

Titles can tell you something about a person. (President, King, Duke, Pastor, Mr. Mrs.)

All of these titles point something about the subject

Many Titles have been given to Jesus but perhaps the most essential are illustrated and stated in Matthew 15:21-16:20.

Thesis

Matthew 15:21-16:20 teaches us that Jesus is the Bread of Life for all who would come, the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament, and the Son of God.

Point 1 Repetition and Metaphor

Explanation

Read Matthew 15:21-16:12

Repetitions

4th Jesus Heals

2nd Multiplication of Bread

One For primarily Israelites, one for primarily gentiles

Gentiles stayed 3 days and the theme of their acceptance strengthens.

The Children's Bread

The Sign of Jonah

The theme of bread continues to the leaven of the pharisees.

Leaven makes bread rise

Bread Is Needed for Life, So Jesus is using it as a metaphor; both warning the the bread of the pharisees is poison while also offering the bread of life to those who believe in him

Illustration

Men really get that just because you have heard something does not mean you have listened.

I need so much repetition

Application

Matthew and much of the Bible uses repetition.

God really understands that we often do not get something without it being repeated.

When something is repeated we should keep close attention

The Disciples have presumably been following Jesus for years at this point.

Hearing

Seeing

Experiencing

Repetitively

Point 2 Explicit Testimony

Explanation

So Jesus tests his disciples and sees if they really have been listening

Read Matthew 16:13-16

Illustration

In Some Ways Matthew depicts Jesus’ declaration as the Messiah and the Son of God as a Riddle.

What has blank, and blank?

What has no key or lid but golden treasure inside that is hid?

What has a head but no brain? Lettuce

What can you hold in your right hand but never in your left

Your left hand?

Application

Who Is the Man that is.

The Son of David

The Son of Abraham

The Son of Joseph

Similar to Moses in his upbring

Carries the same name as the prophet and leader Joshua

Was claimed to be the son of God audibly by God and visually by the HS at baptism.

Has authority over the sea, both its fish and its waves

Has authority to calm stormes

Has authority to teach as one of the prophets

Has the authority to heal lepers, the blind, the mute, the lame, demon possessed, even the dead, and can do so even from a distance

Who has the authority To forgive sins,

Who has the authority to provide rest to whoever comes to him

Who has the authority to multiply fish and loaves thousands of times over.

Who has the authority to belittle and condemn the most religious and zealous of the Jewish faith (the Pharisees).

To anyone familiar with the Old Testament and even someone who is not the answer should be clear.

This can only be the Messiah, this can only be God incarnate.

Point 3

Explanation

The Riddle is Easy for those whos eyes and ears have been opened like Peters but the answer to this riddle must be spread and Jesus has a plan for that.

Read Matthew 16:17-20

Two Common Interpretations

Peter is given the office of the first pope.

Peter was not infallible

There is no president for succession

It is not Peter but his testimony

The Third Option

Jesus is not speaking about this one testimony but rather making a statement about all of the official teaching of the Apostles.

This aligns well other Scriptures.

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. Acts 2:42.

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Ti 3:16–17.

15 And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, 16 as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. 2 Peter 3:15–16

The Gospels and The Epistles

Red Letters are not more Holy all of it is inspired by God.

The Testimony of the Apostles encompasses many, many topics but the central idea is found in Peters words in Matthew 16 that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of the Living God.

Jesus is the Messiah

The Coming King and Savior Who Will Sanctify those who believe making them holy even healing including all of their diseases, both spiritual and physical even death.

Jesus is the Son of God

He is like the Father

He is of the same essence as the Father

He is of the same being as the Father

Jesus is God incarnate

Every book written by the Apostles points to this reality and its implications

Application

The Gospel is clear throughout all the Apostles Teaching.

Those who are loosed in heaven are those who believe the apostles teaching. Those who are bound are those who don't believe.

Jesus builds his Church on the Rock of the Gospel and the Gates of Hades will not stand against it.

What are the Gates of Hades?

Peoples Sin!

The Church will spread the Gospel and people's sin will be destroyed through the truth of the Gospel being spread.

We win down here. We accomplish the spread of the Gospel to all of the sheep.

The Idea that we depopulate hell misses the truth that it is God who saves.

We play a massive role in God’s redemptive plan and are called to go and reach the lost sheep with the Gospel.

Then based on the Grace of God people have faith and receive salvation from hellfire.

All Authority on heaven and on earth has been given to Jesus. We must Go and make disciples.

Conclusion

Through the use of repetition, metaphor, explicit testimony and prophecy Matthew 15:29-16:20 demonstrates that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God who will reach the lost through the preaching of the Gospel.

The Gospel is this that while we were still sinners Jesus the Son of God, The Messiah prophesied in the old testament died for us. If you believe on him for salvation you will be saved… Again and Again and Again… I try to preach this every sunday because we need the repetition… Hearing it every sunday is not enough