sf176 - Upon This Rock (Matthew 16 13-20)

Matthew 16:13-20

Introduction

The city of Caesarea Philippi was originally named Paneas (or Panias), after the Greek god Pan, who, according to pagan mythology; was born in a nearby cave. Caesar Augustus had given the region to Herod the Great, who built a temple in Paneas in honor of the emperor. Herod’s son, Philip the tetrarch, inherited the land, enlarged the city, and renamed it after Caesar. He added the name Philippi both to gain honor for himself and to distinguish this Caesarea from the one on the Mediterranean coast west of Jerusalem.

Caesarea Philippi was located some 25 miles northeast of the Sea of Galilee and 40 miles southwest of Damascus, on a beautiful plateau near the headwaters of the Jordan River. A few miles to the north, snow-covered Mount Hermon rose to a height of more than 9,000 feet above sea level. On clear days the majestic mountain can easily be seen from northern Galilee towns such as Capernaum, Cana, and Nazareth.

Caesarea Philippi was but a few miles from the ancient Jewish city of Dan, which for centuries had been considered the northernmost boundary of the Promised Land, the southernmost being Beersheba (see Judg. 20:1; 1 Chron. 21:2). On the north it was the last outpost of Israel and had always been especially susceptible to pagan influence.

The location offered Jesus and the disciples welcome relief from the hot Galilean lowlands and from the pressure of the Jewish leaders and the threat from Herod Antipas.

Overview

Peter’s great confession (16:13-17)

Jesus’ glorious revelation (16:18-20)

1A. Peter’s Great Confession (16:13-17)

1B. A common misconception (16:13-14)

The question – “who do men say that I, the Son of Man am?”

The confusion

Ø John the Baptist, reincarnate (Matthew 14:1-2)

Ø Elijah come from t he dead (Malachi 4:5-6)

Ø Jeremiah, based on a Jewish legend that Jeremiah would come again and precede the messiah. (2 Maccabees 2:4-8)

2B. An inspired confession (16:15-17)

The question – “who do you say that I am?”

The substance of Peter’s confession (16:16)

Ø Literally, the Christ, the Son of the God, the living One

Ø Jesus is the Messiah – the Christ

Revelation 13:8 “… the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

Ø Jesus is the Master – the Son of the living God

John 10:30 “I and My Father are one.”

John 14:9 “…He who has seen Me has seen the Father…”

The source of Peter’s confession (16:17)

Ø It is a supernatural revelation (16:17a)

1 Corinthians 2:14 “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

Ø It is a sovereign revelation (16:17b)

John 6:44 “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

2A. Jesus’ Glorious Revelation (16:18-20)

1B. The foundation of the church – “on this rock”

Four views…

1. Peter is the rock – Roman Catholic

Ø Peter was the first pope.

Ø All the succeeding popes have the same power and privileges as Peter as the supreme and authoritative representative of Christ on earth

Ø When a pope speaks ex cathedra, that is, in his official capacity as head of the church, he is said to speak with divine authority equal to that of God in Scripture.

Ø Such an interpretation is presumptuous and unbiblical, because the rest of the New Testament makes abundantly clear that Christ alone is the foundation and only head of His church.

2. Peter is representative of the apostles and they form the foundation for the church. (Ephesians 2:20)

Ø This view is held by D.A. Carson, William Hendriksen, and John McArthur.

3. Peter’s confession is the rock

Ø This is the view held by most evangelicals.

4. Christ is the rock

Ø Jesus employs a play on words…

You are Peter, petros a masculine form of the word meaning stone

Upon this rock, petra, the feminine form of the same word meaning bedrock

Ø The idea is that Peter is just a small rock while Jesus is the bedrock, the foundation.

Ø This is how Peter understood it (1 Peter 2:4-8)

2B. The security of the church

“I will build” - this is a divine promise therefore the existence and growth of the church is sure.

John 6:37 “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.”

Acts 2:39 “For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

“My church” - this speaks of both the intimacy and identity of the church.

Ø The church belongs to Christ, He is the Architect, Builder, Owner, and Lord of His church, (Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 6:17)

Acts 20:28 “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”

3B. The invincibility of the church – “the gates of Hades will not prevail against it”

Two views:

1. Satanic attacks upon the church.

Ø Primary problem with this view is that gates are defensive not offensive.

2. Christ’s victory over death

Ø Hades, which corresponds to the Hebrew sheol, refers to the abode of the dead, never to hell,

4B. The authority of the church (16:19)

Three views:

1. Peter and his successors have been given authority to receive or exclude individual people from salvation.

Ø This is the Roman Catholic view, no salvation apart from the fellowship of the church.

2. Ministers have authority to announce forgiveness of sins to those who repent of sin and trust Christ.

Ø Some Protestant churches include this in their services called the confession of sin and the declaration of pardon.

3. Peter used the keys by opening the door of the gospel to all people.

Ø The Jews (Acts 2)

Ø The Samaritans (Acts 8)

Ø The Gentiles (Acts 10)

5B. The responsibility of the church (16:20)

Obey the master!

John 14:15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”

Mark 16:15 “And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”

Application

How will you answer the Lord’s question?

WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?

Matthew 16:13-20

1A. Peter’s Great ______________________ (16:13-17)

1B. A common _______________________ (16:13-14)

The question – “who do men say that I, the Son of Man am?”

The confusion

2B. An inspired ______________________ (16:15-17)

The question – “who do you say that I am?”

The substance of Peter’s confession (16:16)

Ø Literally, the Christ, the Son of the God, the living One

Ø Jesus is the Messiah – the Christ (Revelation 13:8)

Ø Jesus is the Master – the Son of the living God (John 10:30; 14:9)

The source of Peter’s confession (16:17)

Ø It is a supernatural revelation (16:17a’ 1 Corinthians 2:14)

Ø It is a sovereign revelation (16:17b; John 6:44)

2A. Jesus’ Glorious _____________________ (16:18-20)

1B. The ____________ of the church – “on this rock”