Matthew 16-20 Jesus Confronts the Powers
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction
Introduction
Structure
Structure
Chart
Themes
Themes
Confrontation between kingdoms
Contrast between the two types of kingdoms
Fruit and Fruitfulness
Judgement
Hiddenness
Resurrection and Recreation
Old Testament Allusions
Old Testament Allusions
What are some of the key OT characters, themes, and allusions in this passage?
Elijah - What does Elijah’s life show us about what Jesus is about to do?
Moses - What does Moses’ life show us about what Jesus is about to do?
What are the biggest confrontations that we see in David’s life?
Goliath - two types of kings and kingdoms fighting against each other. (come not with sword and spear for the battle is the Lord’s)
Saul - the enemy within a ruler of the people that represents the wrong type of kingdom. (Saul was not loyal to god, he looked like a giant king like the kings of the nations.
In the story of Jesus, who is Goliath and who is Saul?
Two kingdoms
Two kingdoms
There are two kingdoms operating in the world. The kingdom of heaven/kingdom of light, in which God is on the throne in the heavenly realm ruling over the events of earth and spreading influence through his priestly people. And the kingdom of earth/darkness in which satan rules over all the kingdoms of the world through oppression by manipulating the earthly rulers.
Lexham Theological Wordbook (βασιλεύω)
βασιλεύω (basileuō). vb. to reign, to be king, to rule. Refers to the activity of one exercising dominion over an individual or a people.
Kingdom of Earth
Kingdom of Earth
What is the “Metaphysics” of the kingdom of earth?
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.”
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
There is real supernatural evil that has influence, authority, and control over earth in a limited way as allowed by God.
These supernatural forces in the spiritual world are the chief enemies of God, Jesus, and the Church.
There legitimacy, authority, and power was crushed by Christ on the cross.
Their influence on earth works primarily through and with powerful humans (government and religious structures).
We know their influence by the fruit of those leaders.
What are some of the fruits of those leaders?
Oppression - Poverty - Legalism - Murder of children, widows, and the poor - Wars and death.
What phrases does Jesus use to call out those leaders in his day?
Kingdom of Heaven
Kingdom of Heaven
“O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth.
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”
For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
God is the King of Kings - his kingdom authority is more important than any earthly authority. Earthly authority exists because he allows it.
God’s kingdom rules in the supernatural realm and its influence on earth is not through human power, but by mercy and compassion among the weak who are faithful to him.
Christ brought the kingdom of heaven close to earth. In the church age this means that his kingdom will expand through the preaching of the gospel to fill the earth.
The word for kingly reign (basileuo) is applied to those who die in Christ. Believers share in the kingly reign of christ somehow now in heaven and forever on earth in a way that brings us back to the dominion given to Adam over earth.
What sort of fruit would we expect from those who belong to the kingdom of heaven?
What Kingdom do you belong to?
What Kingdom do you belong to?
Does Jesus see the priests, the temple, and the rulers in Israel as representing the kingdom of Heaven?
Who does he see in our reading as belonging to the kingdom of heaven?
What does this say about the kingdom of heaven?
Do the disciples have the right idea about the kingdom of heaven?
What to they thing God’s kingdom on earth looks like?
What does it actually look like?
How do we check ourselves to make sure we aren’t part of the Rejected, Powerful, Offspring of the Snake, and are part of the Elected, Merciful, Brothers of Christ?
The Challenge
The Challenge
Jesus begins, starting in chapter 16 to transition his ministry away from saving a remnant and towards provoking of the Judgement. Prophets had two roles. 1. Call back the faithful, 2. Proclaim and provoke the people towards their judgement (hardening of hearts).
That provocation happens in both the physical and spiritual realms.
During this period He prepares his followers for the coming battle and judgement by teaching them about his death and about the core values of the kingdom. (Don’t think you got it wrong because I die and you don’t become powerful on earth. Your power and greatness is in heaven, if you become a servant).
Chart
The Rock
The Rock
Rock passage
The rock in view is in Cesarea Phillipi at the Banias river, one of the sources of the Jordan, containing the largest waterfall in Israel, in the Region just south of Mount Hermon. It was a cultic center of Baal worship in the OT. The source of the river was called the Gates of Hell. It was the site where it was thought that Baal entered the underworld to fight death during the winter and bring life in the spring.
Jesus is provoking demonic forces that are behind systems of worship.
Communicating the reality of who he is to his disciples.
Promoting peter’s faith as an example for the disciples. (Jesus as the Christ)
and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me. By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. I say to God, my rock: “Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?” As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
This Psalm imagines the writer is here in the center of death, cult, demonic, Baal worship. He feels completely overwhelmed and oppressed by the enemy, but is sustained by the Rock of God’s steadfast love and looks forward to salvation.
Jesus goes to this same place and announces to the enemy that the roles have been reversed. Now the people of God will violently take territory from him and there is nothing he can do about it.
Jesus followers will have the keys to the kingdom of heaven (higher authority) and will be able to bind on earth the works of the enemy.
Death
Death
From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.
Jesus is narrowing in what his kingdom is about and what he is planning to do.
He is showing them how his kingdom is about death, suffering, and spiritual salvation, not about taking control on earth.
Peter was rebuked because he and the other disciples did not understand Jesus’ Mission. They had to be taught the true nature of his mission so as to build their faith and prepare them for what was to come.
How does Jesus teaching them about his death and their need to suffer with and for him affect our view of Jesus?
Transfiguration
Transfiguration
Mountain - The highest mountain in the region is Mt. Hermon. Which is immediately north of Cesarea Phillipi
What does the Mountain Symbolize in the Bible?
the mountain is where the heavenly realm in the skies meets the human realm on land
Eden - The first mountain. At the beginning of the story God places his people on a garden in a mountain where they commune with him. Staying on the mountain requires listening to him, but they reject him and are removed from the mountain.
Meeting God on the Mountain. Noah, Abraham, Moses, Elijah, etc. meet with God on a mountain to receive the law, renew a covenant, or pass a test. King David establishes a city on a tall hill, and Israel’s prophets imagine that this could truly become the mountain, where a king rules with God’s perfect justice and love – a king who restores God’s blessing to all nations. The mountain symbolizes the connection to God and between heaven and earth. Israel was to be that bridge and connection, but failed.
Where heaven and earth meet. In Jesus the “top of the mountain” presence of God comes down as a human. He is the new place where heaven and earth meet.
What backdrop is there to Mt. Hermon?
This specific mountain and region were at the center of second temple speculations about supernatural evil. They thought Mt. hermon was the place that the angels who sinned in Gen. 6 came down to earth to take human women.
It also forms the northern-most boundary of the region. Destruction in Israel’s history always came from the north, so the North was seen as a supernaturally evil place.
Baal-Hermon, or the same site as cesarea philliipi, was also there, a uniquely evil place.
Moses and Elijah -
Two figures who were publically validated in their ministry by God on a mountain.
Moses - came down from the mountain with the Law and his face shone.
Elijah - received fire from God on top of a mountain.
Moses shows the disciples how Jesus is forming a new people and is the greater Moses. Deuteronomy 18:15 ““The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen—”
Elijah shows the disciples how Jesus is prophetically opposed to the corruption of Israel.
Just before Peter rebukes Jesus. He thinks Jesus will slay his enemies, not be slain by them. This vision validates what Jesus says about himself and prepares the disciples to follow him into suffering and death.
The Voice - God speaking over Jesus to the disciples condenses everything we have learned about Jesus so far into the fewest words possible by hyperlinking to OT themes and concepts
This is my son (Psalm 2:7 Son of David)
Jesus is the offspring of David who establishes the everlasting Kingdom.
I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.
The beloved one (Genesis 22:2 beloved son)
Jesus is the beloved son of Abraham who takes the blessing to the whole earth, but also the beloved son who will be sacrificed for that blessing.
He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”
In him I have delight.” (Isaiah 42:1 Suffering Servant)
Jesus is the one the prophets spoke about and said would come. The fulfillment of all that Israel was meant to be and do. The one who suffers for the world.
Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.
Listen to him (Deut 18:15 Greater Prophet)
Jesus is the prophet greater than Moses that was to come who has Moses’ authority to form a new people.
“The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen—
What is Jesus and What is God doing here?
Showing the disciples the type of messiah he is.
Solidifying their faith in him.
Why did they do it at Mt. Hermon?
Possibly provoking a fight supernatural enemy that is invisible to the disciples.
Given this vision, do the disciples all follow Jesus to death at his arrest?
Preparation for The Battle
Preparation for The Battle
Knowing that he has initiated the process of his death, Jesus continues preparing his followers for what is to come by correctiing their view of what sort of kingdom they are in.
Right of the Firstborn
Right of the Firstborn
Biblical theme of elevation of the unexpected.
The Greatest
The Greatest
At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me,
Thrones and Service
Thrones and Service
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Conclusion
Conclusion
What does it mean for us that Jesus was so intent to judge and destroy Israel?
How do we avoid being false shepherds?
What blind-spots do we have to the core values of the kingdom of heaven (mercy, forgiveness, compassion)?
In light of our current political situation, how do we parse out the kingdom of heaven vs the kingdom of earth?
Who’s sons are we? Who’s sons where the pharisees?
Thus you witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. Truly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.
I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
How do the rulers of Israel go from being the offspring of Abraham (which they believed) to the offspring of the serpent in the Garden?
What made them the sons of the snake, and cain, and Babylon, and Goliath?
What does it mean that this offspring of David is going against all the offspring of the snake?
Goliath was mean to be seen as a literal offspring of the demonic, David defeated him not through power, but through faith.
Jesus is a similar figure (son of David) who has no earthly power, but goes against all the ruling powers of the world (the empire) and wins, not through earthly power, but through the Lord.
