Matthew 16: Opposition, Revelation & Discipleship

• v.1-4 The Opposition demand a sign
• v.5-12 The Yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees
• v.13-20 Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah
• v.21-23 Jesus Predicts His Death
• v.24-28 Principles of Discipleship

v.1-4 The Opposition demand a sign

v.1 The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.

v.2,3 He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.

v.4 A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away.

[Note: The opposition come again asking for a sign. Jesus chides them – you can tell the weather but not understand what is going on in front of you. The only sign you’ll get is that of Jonah. (i.e. his death & resurrection).]

v.5-12 The Yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees

v.5 When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread.

v.6 “Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”   “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

v.7 They discussed this among themselves and said, “It is because we didn’t bring any bread.”

v.8 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread?

v.9 Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?

v.10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?

v.11 How is it you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

v.12 Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

[Note: They cross the Lake, but the disciples forget to take bread. Jesus, taking the opportunity, warns them against the yeast of the opposition and they wonder what this means, so he questions them. Think back to the first big feeding and then the second one. So what have I been talking about? They realize it’s about the teaching of the opposition.]

v.13-20 Peter Declares that Jesus Is the Messiah

v.13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

v.14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

v.15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

v.16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

v.17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.

v.18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

v.19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

v.20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

[Note: Jesus asks who people say he is, and they give a variety of answers. But how about you? He asks. Peter declares, he’s the Son of God. Right Peter, but that was my Father showing you that. So little stone, on this big rock of your pronouncement I will build my followers and the enemy won’t be able to stand against them. [The Greek word for Peter means rock. Hades is the realm of the dead]. I’ll give you authority to bind and loose within my kingdom, but don’t tell anyone.]

v.21-23 Jesus Predicts His Death

v.21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

v.22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”

v.23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

[Note: He then starts explaining what must happen, but Peter can’t cope with this and so Jesus rebukes him for thinking like the enemy.]

v.24-28 Principles of Discipleship

v.24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

v.25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.

v.26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?

v.27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.

v.28 “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

[Note: To be a disciple you need to give up yourself. You can’t hold on to your life, and when you let go, you’ll find it. Gain the world and lose your soul; your soul is all important. You’ll see me come in glory and then be rewarded for my kingdom will appear before you die.]

For those who may wish to make a study of this chapter, to perhaps think some more about what you have been reading, use the link below: