190 First Recognition Jesus is Messiah - Matthew 16 A

In Chapter 16 Jesus intentionally takes the disciples to Caesarea Philippi where he asks then the important question: Who do you say that I am? Peter, inspired by the Holy Spirit declares that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus declares that He will give the keys to the kingdom of Heaven. We take a close look at what that actually means.

SHOW NOTES

Matthew 16 (NLT)—The Disciples finally grasp the divinity of Jesus

The Leaders again Demand a Miraculous Sign

16 One day the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus, demanding that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority.

Some manuscripts add verses 2 and 3

2 He replied, “You know the saying, ‘Red sky at night means fair weather tomorrow; 3 red sky in the morning means foul weather all day.’ You know how to interpret the weather signs in the sky, but you don’t know how to interpret the signs of the times!

Jesus has accomplished mass healings as recorded in chapters 4, 9 and 15. No one had ever demonstrated such love and power before Jesus nor since Jesus. What greater sign could he do to demonstrate that God had come to earth? The Pharisees and Sadducees are suffering from the blindness of hatred and rebellion.

4 Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign, but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah.” Then Jesus left them and went away.

This is the second time the Pharisees and Sadducees demand a sign and Jesus gives them the same sign again. The sign of the prophet Jonah (Matthew 12:39-41). In this story Jonah was willing to die by being thrown overboard to save the sailors from the storm. In the same way Jesus will be thrown “overboard” to save sinners from the “storms” of Satan.

Yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees

5 Later, after they crossed to the other side of the lake, the disciples discovered they had forgotten to bring any bread. 6 “Watch out!” Jesus warned them. “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

A small amount of yeast can affect or leaven all the dough. So, the introduction of a little doubt can influence a large group of people negatively.

7 At this they began to argue with each other because they hadn’t brought any bread. 8 Jesus knew what they were saying, so he said, “You have so little faith! Why are you arguing with each other about having no bread? 9 Don’t you understand even yet? Don’t you remember the 5,000 I fed with five loaves, and the baskets of leftovers you picked up? 10 Or the 4,000 I fed with seven loaves, and the large baskets of leftovers you picked up? 11 Why can’t you understand that I’m not talking about bread? So again I say, ‘Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.’”

Jesus fed 5,000 Jews in chapter 14:21 and Jesus fed 4,000 Gentiles at the end of chapter 15. This is the fallacy of depending on miracles to strengthen faith. It does not work. Faith is the gift of Spirit (Acts 3:16, Ephesians 2:8-9, Philippians 1:29 and 2 Peter 1:1) and is increased by the Spirit not by witnessing miracles as Jesus lack of support at his death testified.

12 Then at last they understood that he wasn’t speaking about the yeast in bread, but about the deceptive teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Their major deceptive teaching was that Jesus was not divine but in league with the devil or Beelzebub (Matthew 10:25; 12:25-32). This is rebellion at its worst.

Matthew 10:25—Jesus has been called Beelzebub (Lord of the flies).Matthew 12:22–32—Jesus heals a demon-possessed man and is accused of using Beelzebub's power. Mark 3:20–29—The scribes accuse Jesus of using Beelzebub's power.Luke 11:14–24—The scribes accuse Jesus of using Beelzebub's power.

Choosing to believe falsehood has bad consequences for all involved.

13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples,

“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

There are a few reasons why Jesus is curious about how they identify him. There were the false teachings of the religious leaders that Jesus was in league with evil powers. Then there was a grotto north of Caesarea Philippi dedicated to the Roman god Pan. It was from here that the Romans were attempting to subvert or seduce the Jews into worshipping Roman gods. Also, Jesus was not showing any interest in delivering the Jews from the Romans. This was the common expectation of Messiah’s role.

How were these pressures affecting his disciples?

14 “Well,” they replied,“some say John the Baptist,some say Elijah, andothers say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets”

These were dead Hebrew prophets who were expected to return before “the dreadful day of the Lord.”

15 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?

Jesus homes in on what he really wants to know. He wants a personal response which is the heart of any relationship.

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

“Son of the living God” means Jesus is divine which was music to Jesus ears. This is the key relationship to his identity. It is the crucial, essential knowledge that has escaped the religious leaders.

What is your personal response to Jesus’ question?

My answer is that he is the divine One who asked us to do three things:

1. Love each other as I have loved you! (John 13:34)

Love is: Knowing the worst about someone, but thinking the best, feeling the best, speaking the best and doing the best for that someone.

2. Forgive each other as I have forgiven you! (Matthew 6:14-15)

3. Tell others what you know about me. (Matthew 28:18-20)

17 Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.”

This is literal inspiration at its best.

18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (Petros=stone), and upon this rock (Petra-massive rock) I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.

The Rock is understanding and experiencing Jesus as the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of the Living God (1 Corinthians 10:1-3) who has given us an identity (Romans 8:14-17) which results in love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

The powers of hell are the influences of the devil and his demons (Hebrews 2:14) from the bottomless pit (Luke 8:31). A good example is the devastation caused by the Satan for Job in chapters 1 and 2.

19 “And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven.”

A key means one can enter, or one has the authority to use a protected object. A key that is never used looses its value. Having the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven means that we have entrance for ourselves and others. We can open heaven for the people we meet. Here are some examples of Believers who used these keys.

Peter opens the door for the Jews

Acts 3:19-20 (NLT) Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. 20 Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah.

Paul & Barnabas open the door for Gentiles

Acts 14:27 Upon arriving in Antioch, they (Paul and Barnabas) called the church together and reported everything God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles, too.

Isaiah prophecies that Jesus will have these keys.

Isaiah 22:22 I will give him the key to the house of David—the highest position in the royal court. When he opens doors, no one will be able to close them; when he closes doors, no one will be able to open them.

Jesus confirms that he has these keys.

Revelation 3:7 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Philadelphia. This is the message from the one who is holy and true, the one who has the key of David. What he opens, no one can close; and what he closes, no one can open:

Revelation 1:18 I am the living one. I died but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.

“Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven” It is the Believer’s privilege to bind the hearts of sinners to the heart of God with gospel.

“Whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” The Believers may share the gospel with sinners and they are loosed from their guilt and insecurity.

Whoever believes and holds to Christ’s Word, heaven stands open to him, hell is shut, the devil is imprisoned, sins are forgiven, and he is a child of eternal life. That is what this book teaches you—the Holy Scriptures—and no other book on earth. - –Martin Luther (WA 48:155)

20 Then he sternly warned the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

If the people grasped that Jesus was the Messiah they would come to him for food, healing and deliverance from the Romans and his opportunities for teaching about the Kingdom of Heaven would be severely restricted by the crowds.