Mind on God's Word-Not Our Own

Background

Written 60 AD by Matthew (Levi), a tax collector and one of Jesus’ twelve disciples, to a Jewish Christian audience

Purpose: To show Jesus as the son of David, the kingly Messiah who fulfills prophecy.

Most Jewish at the time of Jesus expected the Messiah to be a military leader who would liberate them from the Roman oppression. However, doing the unexpected He did liberate people, but not from Rome; rather from sin and death.

Negative Mindset

When we believe the negative thought in our mind more than God’s thoughts about us, or our life and this disconnects us from an abundant life. And forfeit

Carnal Minded

Matthew 16:5–12 “When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.” But Jesus, aware of this, said, “O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

The meaning can be taken out of context, without understanding the pretext.

Peter Confesses Christ

Matthew 16:13–17 “Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.”

Teaching concerning Spiritual matters.

Conflict of words (Nature vs Spirit)

Matthew 16:21–23 “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. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

Luke 22:31 ““Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat,”

Trust God where you cannot trace him. Do not try to penetrate the cloud he brings over you; rather look to the bow that is on it. The mystery is God’s; the promise is yours.

John R. Macduff