Matthew 16:1-20 "The Sign that Jesus is Christ the Messiah"

“The Sign that Jesus is Christ the Messiah”

The evidence that Jesus is the Messiah, the Lord of Glory, is abundant today. Yet even the pastors, evangelists, and the everyday person act as if there is not enough evidence to bow to the Lordship of the Savior. In Jesus’ day, just like today, people want signs and wonders because they believe then they would worship and obey Jesus. But Jesus points to the issue as being the heart NOT the intellect.

I. Spiritual Adultery –

A. Our God invites us to come and reason together –

1. Jesus observes the ability of the religious leaders to reason about the weather

2. Premise #1 – Red skies in the evening mean fair weather in the morning

Premise #2 – The evening skies are red; therefore, the weather tomorrow will be beautiful

3. Premise #1 – Red skies in the morning means stormy weather

Premise #2 – Skies this morning are red; therefore, today the weather will be stormy

B. An adulterous generation wants signs for God to prove Himself

1. Jesus is the Bridegroom – ; ;

2. To refuse to submit to the Bridegroom and seek some other satisfaction is to commit spiritual adultery and idolatry –

C. Adulterous relationships.

1. The love of money –

2. Love for the praise of men –

3. Love for one’s self –

Are you one that demands that Jesus prove Himself to you by signs and wonders?

II. Intelligence is not Enough –

A. Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees

1. The Pharisees’ goal was to get every Jewish man to live a ceremonially pure life in order to bring in the kingdom

2. The Sadducees rejected the authority of the Bible and lived completely by tradition 3. They both despised Jesus –

B. The disciples reasoned logically to a wrong conclusion –

1. They think that God helps those who help themselves! –

2. God blesses those who by faith see that He provides everything –

III. The Sign!! –

A. Who is Jesus Christ? –

1.The anointed priest –

2. The anointed king – , , ;

3. The anointed prophet –

B. Jesus is the anointed Prophet, Priest, and King

1. Messiah in Hebrew

2. Christos in Greek The nations rage against the Lord’s anointed –

C. The Son of the Living God – equal to the Father –

1. The Holy Spirit must reveal the person of Christ –

2. This revelation is given in God’s Word –

D. Upon Christ, the cornerstone Jesus

1. Promises to build His church –

2. This church Jesus builds is God’s dwelling place, His Holy Temple –

3. Christ’s church is to exercise authority through the gospel in the Word of God and discipline –

4. The fellowship of Christ’s church is The Sign that Jesus is the Messiah –

The church is the sign God gives to a watching world -