Our March through Matthew with Jesus

Matthew 16

During this Lenten season in March we continue reading through the Gospel of Matthew, one chapter a day--28 chapters--with points to ponder, background information and personal application. Pray God strengthens our faith on this spiritual journey in His Holy Word.

Some Points to Ponder as we read Matthew 16:

1. Jesus was not a people pleaser (see Matthew 16:1-4). Jesus was/is very direct. Jesus says it like it is. At times Jesus sounds harsh and even offensive. When the religious leaders of His day--the Pharisees and Scribes--approach Him asking for a sign from heaven, Jesus was aware of their ungodly motives. Jesus says, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign…”(16:4a).

2. Then in Matthew 16:5-12 as the 12 disciples continue on their journey with Jesus and misunderstand something He tells them, Jesus says: “O you of little faith…”      

Yes, Jesus said/it like it is; He tells the Truth, the whole Truth, God’s Truth, and at times God’s Truth hurts or stings. God’s Truth magnifies our lack of faith, reveals our hypocrisy, and convicts us of our sins. But God’s Truth also creates and strengthens faith and assures us we are forgiven and loved because of Jesus.    

3. In Matthew 16:13-15 Jesus and His disciples are in Caesarea Philippi. This area is in northern Israel above the Sea of Galilee. It is a beautiful area where springs and streams form the origin of the River Jordan.

Caesarea Philippi was an ancient site filled with pagan shrines to Greek and other false gods. Surrounded by a variety of pagan shrines, Jesus takes a survey of His disciples asking them: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” There are variety of answers. Jesus narrows down His general question and asks another more specific and personal question of His disciples (then and now). This probing question from Jesus is the MOST important personal question on earth for every human being to answer:  “But who do you say that I am?” 

Peter’s God-given answer to this question in Matthew 16:16 is the climax of the first 16 chapters of Matthew! Peter correctly answers that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the living God” (16:16)! Jesus is the Chosen One, the promised Messiah, the One Isaiah and the prophets predicted would come the One to Whom John the Baptist pointed as the Savior of humanity from sin. 

4. Matthew 16:17-19 -- Jesus establishes the mission of His Church--NOT upon Peter the person, but upon Peter’s Spirit inspired profession of faith and confession of Christ. The Office of the Keys instituted here by Christ is the authority He gives His Church to forgive or retain sins.

5. As Jesus and His disciples begin their journey toward Jerusalem He shares the horrible prediction that He will suffer and be killed there! (Mt. 16:21-23). Peter expresses he in no way wants this to happen, to which Jesus responds: “Get behind me, Satan!”

One minute Jesus commends Peter for His inspired profession of faith and the soon after Jesus condemns Peter for setting his mind on the things of man rather than the things of God. 

> We marvel at how Jesus chooses and uses and forgives and restores imperfect, impetuous Peter for His purposes. Jesus also chooses and uses and works in and through imperfect sinners like us! 

6. In Matthew 16:24-28 Jesus explains what it means to be His disciple -- It is NOT easy! Discipleship requires commitment, sacrifice and faithfulness as we live in a world which often ignores, opposes and/or rejects the Truth of Christ.  

7. The Lutheran Study Bible provides insightful comments about Matthew 16:24-28,

Talk of suffering and death, taking up one’s cross, and losing one’s life sounds strange and foreboding to Jesus’ disciples. It does to us too. Yet the end is not the cross; the end is life in God’s Kingdom. To live in His kingdom must be our ultimate purpose. Many of the first disciples saw the glorious unveiling of that Kingdom when Christ rose from the dead. Peter saw the fulfillment of the promise on Pentecost. We continue to behold the spread of the message of Christ’s cross into all the world.  

+Prayer+ Blessed Savior, give me the will and strength to take up the cross and follow You to life eternal. Amen. (Lutheran Study Bible, p.1618)

We now read Matthew 16…    

Matthew 16 (ESV)

The Pharisees and Sadducees Demand Signs

16 And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ 3 And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4 An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So he left them and departed.

The Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees

5 When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. 6 Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 7 And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.” 8 But Jesus, aware of this, said, “O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? 9 Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 11 How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection

21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus

24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. 28 Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

Personal Reflection: Jesus gave up and sacrificed everything to save us from sin, satan, and death. What have I sacrificed in the past or what might I sacrifice now or in the future to follow Jesus as one of His saved, thankful, and faithful disciples?

+Prayer+ Dear God, give me the same faith You gave Peter through the power of Your Spirit to confess Christ clearly and boldly in my life. In Christ’s Name I pray. Amen.

Pastor Scott Schmieding

Senior Pastor

Immanuel Lutheran Church and School

115 S. Sixth Street

Saint Charles, MO 63301

636.946.2656