So It Begins, Pt1 -Easter 2022

Easter 2022 – Pt1, And So It Begins (Matthew 16)

Matthew 16:21-22 (Opening Scriptures)

But before we continue, let’s back up to the beginning of chapter 16 and go from there.

“The events recorded in Matthew 16 form a dramatic turning point in our Lord’s ministry. For the first time, He mentioned the church (Matt. 16:18) and openly spoke about His death on the cross (Matt. 16:21). He began to prepare the disciples for His arrest, crucifixion, and resurrection. But, as we shall see, they were slow to learn their lessons.” (Wiersbe, ‘Be’ Series)

The theme of faith runs through the events in this chapter. In these events, we see four different levels of faith and how they relate to Christ.

Matthew 16

No Faith

1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.

· The miracles were not enough, they wanted “a sign from Heaven”. One like Joshua had where God made the sun stand still, or like King Hezekiah, where God turned back the sun dial, or perhaps they needed to see fire come down and consume then such as happened to the soldiers who came to arrest Elijah.

· The miracles were not enough because miracles do not convince people of their sin, nor do they cause a desire for salvation. (Luke 16:27-31, Lazarus and the Rich Man. There are other examples).

2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.

3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

· They knew the Scriptures, and they knew that He had healed the sick, and caused the lame to walk, as well as the blind to see. He had fed 5000 and raised the dead and yet these signs they rejected.

· They had discernment, even as we do, but they ignored the signs – even as we do. We all speak of the End Times as if it were here NOW and yet we so poorly evangelize. Your friend and your neighbor are going to HELL but because you don’t want to lose the friend or offend the neighbor, you remain silent.

4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.

· Wicked and adulterous in that they no longer worshipped the Living God but rather one they had manufactured themselves, (the traditions of men).

· While not a sign from heaven it might well have been a sign from Hell – Jonah, “out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.” (Jonah 2:2). It was a significant sign in that it pointed to a resurrection from the dead.

· John 12:37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:

· Church, we own the SIGN the world is seeking! The sign is the empty tomb. Why do we guard it as if it weren’t? Is it because we too have eyes yet do not see?

Little Faith

5 And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.

· While the mind of Christ was most certainly on that of the Pharisees and Sadducees, the mind of the disciple was perhaps on the 7 baskets of bread they had left behind. (15:37)

6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

· The Pharisees and Sadducees couldn’t even agree with each other on doctrines and were subject to using the Scripture to validate their own beliefs, rituals and traditions. Their leaven was lies.

7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.

· Perhaps their thought was, we had one thing to do, and only one – bring the provisions, and we forgot.

· Perhaps they were thinking of purchasing bread when they go to shore. Either way they had little faith that Jesus would continue to meet their needs – much like we do.

8 Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread? 9 Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? 10 Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? 11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?

· Jesus had and would continue to meet all their needs. Like us, they needed to stop focusing on the flesh and focus on what Jesus was teaching them.

12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

Saving Faith

13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? A region strongly identified with various religions. (Baal, Pan, Caesar).

14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

· A right confession of who Jesus Christ is is the basis for salvation. Romans 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. They were learning and it pleased our Lord. His teachings had not been in vain. Before, they had confessed Him as the Son of God due to the miracle they had seen. (Nathaniel, the storm) Now they were responding to His question from the heart. He could now take them to a new level.

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

· This rock – Not Peter, Peter was too fallible for God to build His church upon him.

o Psalm 118:22

o Isaiah 28:16

o A much deeper study reveals it may have been the rock Jesus was standing on.

· My church– First mention

o Church, (ek-klay-SEE-uh), a called-out body of believers.

o Jesus was speaking about the whole CHURCH, not a small assembly

· Gates of Hell – Gates of Hades, the realm of the dead. Revelation 20:13 … and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them.

o Do what you will with the study of hell, it is a place of the dead and one day Hell shall be cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

o As for Gates, gates represent power and authority. This where city leaders met to discuss business. Thus the organized powers of hell will not prevail against the Church.

19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

· Keys of the kingdom of heaven – Jesus is not speaking of Heaven, He is speaking of Keys and He is teaching His disciples – giving them keys of understanding the mysteries of the Kingdom. Keys are used to open something. In this case their understanding of all things of Faith that they might teach the Gospel – that being, Faith in Christ. (The just shall live by faith).

· I will give unto thee – watch Peter on the Day of Pentecost.

· Binding and loosening – Heaven is the higher authority, therefore these have already been bound or loosed in Heaven and They / you & I will understand and do the Father’s will.

20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ. Jesus acknowledges that HE is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, as Peter had declared.

Then HE teaches them why. V.21

Serving Faith

21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

· The suffering servant – seen best in Isaiah 53

· The life of Joseph is a foreshadowing of the life of Messiah – Joseph suffered before he ruled.

o Betrayed

o Imprisoned

o Suffered Character defamation – Lied about

22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. Peter isn’t the only one who struggles to receive the teachings of Christ.

We struggle as well in understanding:

· Total depravity – Total cleansing – Total forgiveness

· Adultery – am I living in it – How many wives do I have

· Salvation – is it simply by Grace – what of Lordship salvation – is there no expectation of obedience

· There are more

23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

· I don’t believe Jesus was speaking to Peter. I believe Jesus could plainly see Satan standing there. The word Satan means ‘adversary’ of which Peter was not. Peter was a disciple, a student and follower of Christ. Jesus recognized Satan.

o Luke 4:8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

· But let me back up for a moment. Jesus said, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: What is it you say when Satan comes knocking? Do you find Satan, his lies, his deceits, his temptation offensive? You should.

24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Nothing!

In His teachings, Jesus presented to the disciples two with approaches to life:

· deny yourself - live for yourself

· take up your cross - ignore the cross

· follow Christ - follow the world

· lose your life for His sake - save your life for your own sake

· forsake the world - gain the world

· keep your soul - lose your soul

· share His reward and glory - lose His reward and glory

To deny self does not mean to deny things. It means to give yourself wholly to Christ and share in His shame and death. Paul described this in Romans 12:1–2 and Philippians 3:7–10, as well as in Galatians 2:20. To take up a cross does not mean to carry burdens or have problems. (I once met a lady who told me her asthma was the cross she had to bear!) To take up the cross means to identify with Christ in His rejection, shame, suffering, and death.

But suffering always leads to glory. This is why Jesus ended this short sermon with a reference to His glorious kingdom (Matt. 16:28). This statement would be fulfilled within a week on the Mount of Transfiguration, described in the next chapter. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 60). Victor Books.)

27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

Jesus was a dead man walking – and He knew it, yet He remained faithful and true to the work the Father had sent Him to do.

· How are you fairing in your walk before God?

· Are you precious in the sight of the Lord or are you an offence as Satan was?

· Is there a need for repentance?

· Is there a need for rededication to the Lord?