sf179 - The Centrality Of The Cross (Matthew 16 21-28)
Matthew 16:21-28
Introduction
The Bible contrasts God’s view with man’s view.
Isaiah 55:8-9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.”
Psalm 92:5 “O LORD, how great are Your works! Your thoughts are very deep. A senseless man does not know, Nor does a fool understand this.”
“From that time” seems to be a transition phrase Matthew used to indicate a significant change in Jesus’ ministry.
He used the same phrase in 4:17 to mark the beginning of the Lord’s public ministry to Israel. He now uses it to mark the beginning of His private ministry to the Twelve.
The first phase was primarily public, with some occasional private instruction.
The second was primarily private, with some occasional public instruction.
This passage focuses on the central and essential nature of the cross in Christianity.
The necessity of the cross (16:21-23)
The challenge of the cross (16:24-26)
The glory of the cross (16:27-28)
1A. The Necessity of the Cross (16:21-23)
1B. The cross is an essential part of God’s plan (16:21)
God’s plan included the cross (16:21a)
Ø Because sinful man cannot save himself.
Matthew 20:28 “…the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Ø Because God’s righteous justice had to be satisfied.
Hebrews 9:22 “…without shedding of blood there is no remission.”
Ø In order to fulfill the Old Testament prophecies. (Psalms 16, 22; Isaiah 53)
What Christ had to do to fulfill God’s plan
Ø He had to go to Jerusalem, the city of sacrifices.
Ø He had to suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes – the Sanhedrin
The elders were primarily the leaders of the various tribes scattered throughout Israel.
The chief priests were largely Sadducees
The scribes were largely Pharisees
Ø He had to be killed.
Literally murdered (Acts 2:22-23)
Ø He had to be raised on the third day.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,
2B. The cross was unacceptable to man (16:22-23)
Peter’s protest (16:22)
Ø He did it privately, pulled Him aside
Ø He did it repeatedly, rebuke, present infinitive verb
Ø He did it passionately, Far be it, literally, “May God in His mercy spare you this.”
Jesus’ pronouncement
Ø He rebuked Peter, get behind me Satan…
An offense, (skandalon); originally used of an animal trap, in particular the part where the bait was placed. The term eventually came to be used of luring a person into captivity or destruction.
Ø He corrected Peter, you are not mindful of the things of God…
Romans 8:7 “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.”
2A. The Challenge of the Cross (16:24-25)
1B. The principle (16:24)
In this verse Jesus gives us the essence of being a disciple…
A true disciple must practice self-denial
Ø Deny (aparneomai), to completely disown, to utterly separate oneself from someone. Literally, “Let him refuse any association or companionship with himself.”
Ø This is a reference to the fleshly body; the “old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit” (Eph. 4:22).
Ø To deny self is to confess with Paul, “I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh” (Rom. 7:18).
Arthur Pink wrote, “Growth in grace is growth downward; it is the forming of a lower estimate of ourselves; it is a deepening realization of our nothingness; it is a heartfelt recognition that we are not worthy of the least of God’s mercies.”
A true disciple must take up his cross
Ø To take up one’s cross means to be willing to pay any price for Christ’s sake.
Ø It is the willingness to endure shame, embarrassment, reproach, rejection, persecution, and even martyrdom for His sake.
A true disciple must follow Christ
1 John 2:6 “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.”
Psalm 119:112 “I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes Forever, to the very end.”
2B. The paradox (16:25-26)
Life and soul are here synonymous with each other. All three words represent the inner person, the “real you.”
Loosing is everything (16:25)
John 12:25 “He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”
Gaining is nothing (16:26)
Psalm 49:7-8 “None of them can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him -- 8 For the redemption of their souls is costly…”
3A. The Glory of the Cross (16:27-28)
1B. The glory of the second coming (16:27)
A promise to be believed (16:27a)
John 14:1-3; 18
Matthew 26:64 “Jesus said to him, ‘It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.’”
A warning to be heeded (16:27b)
1 Corinthians 3:13 “each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is.”
2 Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”
2B. The glory of the kingdom’s coming (16:28)
Four possible views:
Jesus expected the end of the world within a few years but was wrong.
The disciples will see the kingdom come with power either at the resurrection of Christ or at Pentecost. (Hendrickson)
Jesus was referring to the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70.
Jesus was referring to the transfiguration (Boice, MacArthur, Phillips, McGhee)
Ø All three gospel accounts the promise of seeing His glory is given immediately preceding the account of the transfiguration (see Mark 9:1-8; Luke 9:27-36)
Ø Kingdom (basilea); can be translated “royal splendor”—it seems that Jesus must here have been referring specifically to His unique and awesome transfiguration before Peter, James, and John only six days later (see 17:1).
Application
Are you living in the grace of the cross?
Are you living in obedience to the cross?
Are you anticipating the glory of the cross?
Matthew 16:21-28
1A. The ___________________ of the Cross (16:21-23)
1B. The cross is an _________________ part of God’s plan (16:21)
God’s plan included the cross (16:21a)
Ø Because sinful man _____________ save himself. (Matthew 20:28)
Ø Because God’s righteous justice had to be satisfied. (Hebrews 9:22)
Ø In order to fulfill the Old Testament prophecies. (Psalms 16, 22; Isaiah 53)
What Christ had to do to fulfill God’s plan
Ø He had to go to _________________, the city of sacrifices.
Ø He had to suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes – the Sanhedrin
Ø He had to be ____________________.
Ø He had to be __________ on the third day. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
2B. The cross was ______________ to man (16:22-23)
Peter’s _____________________________ (16:22)
Ø He did it ________________, pulled Him aside
Ø He did it repeatedly, rebuke, present infinitive verb
Ø He did it passionately, Far be it, literally, “May God in His mercy spare you this.”
Jesus’ _____________________________________
Ø He rebuked Peter, get behind me Satan…
Ø He corrected Peter, you are not mindful of the things of God… (Romans 8:7)
2A. The Challenge of the Cross (16:24-25)
1B. The ___________________________ (16:24)
A true disciple must practice self-_________________
A true disciple must take up his cross
Ø To take up one’s cross means to be willing to pay any price for Christ’s sake.
A true disciple must ______________________ Christ (1 John 2:6; Psalm 119:112)
2B. The paradox (16:25-26)
Loosing is _________________ (16:25; John 12:25)
Gaining is _________________ (16:26; Psalm 49:7-8)
3A. The __________________ of the Cross (16:27-28)
1B. The glory of the second coming (16:27)
A ___________ to be believed (16:27a; John 14:1-3; 18’ Matthew 26:64)
A warning to be heeded (16:27; 1 Corinthians 3:13; 2 Corinthians 5:10)
2B. The glory of the kingdom’s coming (16:28)
Jesus expected the ________________ of the world within a few years but was wrong.
The disciples will see the kingdom come with power either at the resurrection of Christ or at Pentecost. (Hendrickson)
Jesus was referring to the _____________ of Jerusalem in AD 70.
Jesus was referring to the transfiguration (Boice, MacArthur, Phillips, McGhee)