Sunday, March 13, 2016

Matthew Chapter 16


Matthew Chapter 16
The Demand for a Sign
1 The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 He replied, "When evening comes, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,' 3 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. 4 A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah." Jesus then left them and went away.

1. The Pharisees and the Sadducees?  That would be like the Republicans and the Democrats.

Matthew introduced the Pharisees and Sadducees with one definite article in the Greek text. Such a construction implies that they acted together. That is remarkable since they were political and theological enemies. However a common opponent sometimes transforms enemies into allies. Representatives of both parties constituted the Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish governing body in Israel. This delegation, evidently from Jerusalem, represented the most official group of religious leaders that Matthew reported coming to Jesus thus far. CN

The fact that these two adversaries would link up together showed what a threat they felt Jesus was. Much like the way that the allies in WWII linked up with the Soviet Union to oppose Nazi Germany, the Pharisees and the Sadducees got into bed together.


2. What kind of a test? Multiple choice, essay?

A sign from heaven. Some miraculous appearance in the sky. Such appearances had been given by the prophets; and they supposed, if he was the Messiah, that his miracles would not all be confined to the earth, but that he was able to give some signal miracle from heaven. Samuel had caused it to thunder, 1 Samuel 12:16-18. Isaiah had caused the shadow to go back ten degrees on the dial of Ahaz, Isaiah 38:8 and Moses had sent them manna from heaven, Exodus 16:4, John 6:31. It is proper to say, that though Christ did not choose then to show such wonders, yet far more stupendous signs from heaven than these were exhibited at his death. BN

The religious leaders were attempting to get him to put on some kind of dramatic demonstration which, since they felt He was a not from God, would fail.

In Matthew 12:38 the scribes and Pharisees asked for a sign. At that time the Lord gave them the sign of Jonah. He is going to do that again. JVM

Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, "Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you." 39 He answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Matt. 12 38-40

3. What is the weather lesson all about?

Jesus criticizes these teachers of the law and religious icons on the fact that they can see the obvious signs of weather changes in the sky, yet they are unable to see that there are changes coming to their world and they are oblivious. The kingdom of God is on the move and these people who should be in the lead are in fact trying to inhibit things.

4.  How was the Jonah analogy manifested?

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 1 Cor 15:3-4 (NASB)



The Yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees
5 When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. 6 "Be careful," Jesus said to them. "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees." 7 They discussed this among themselves and said, "It is because we didn't bring any bread." 8 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, "You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? 9 Do you still not understand? Don't you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 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." 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.

5. Duh! Can these guys be any denser?

These guys are worried about lunch, and Jesus is trying to make a very important  practical point.
  Here leaven is a negative metaphor to indicate how the evil of corruption can infiltrate and ruin what is good.  We brought no bread. The disciples are so preoccupied with their physical needs that they fail to understand that Jesus’ reference to leaven is figurative, intended as a spiritual lesson. Following Jesus’ rebuke, they finally understood. ESVSN

6. What does the yeast analogy mean?

 Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, but on the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses; for whoever eats anything leavened from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel. 16 ~' On the first day you shall have a holy assembly, and another holy assembly on the seventh day; no work at all shall be done on them, except what must be eaten by every person, that alone may be prepared by you. 17 ~'You shall also observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this very day I brought your hosts out of the land of Egypt; therefore you shall observe this day throughout your generations as a permanent ordinance. 18 ~' In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the twenty-first day of the month at evening. 19 ~' Seven days there shall be no leaven found in your houses; for whoever eats what is leavened, that person shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is an alien or a native of the land. 20 ~'You shall not eat anything leavened; in all your dwellings you shall eat unleavened bread.'" Exodus 12:15-20 (NASB)


Here leaven is a negative metaphor to indicate how the evil of corruption can infiltrate and ruin what is good.  Leaven in bread caused it to “puff up”, the Religious leaders were “puffed up “ in their own self righteousness. Leaven caused bread to spoil and rot. Unleavened bread would last for long periods of time, but leaven bread quickly would not so long. The Pharisees and the Sadducees were originally begun as very devout and sincere movements, but quickly devolved into hypocritical and corrupt organizations.

Peter's Confession of Christ
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" 14 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 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. 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." 20 Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.

7. Why is Peter’s response so important to Jesus?

The variety of opinions which men held concerning Jesus showed that although many connected him with Messianic prophecy, none regarded him properly. John the Baptist was the predicted forerunner (3:1-3; 14:1, 2). Elijah was to precede the "day of the Lord" (Mal 4:5, 6). Jeremiah was expected by some to appear and restore the ark he had supposedly hidden (2 Macc 2:1-8). 15, 16. After causing the Twelve to dispose of erroneous ideas, Jesus asked their personal opinion. Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. All doubtless concurred, but Peter rose to the occasion with the unequivocal response. Similar statements had been uttered before, some much earlier (Jn 1:41, 49), but many false notions about the character and purpose of Messiah needed to be removed. Thus the statement by Peter here is not the product of early enthusiasm but of studied reflection and solemn faith. The popular notion of a mere political leader is superseded by the concept of the Messiah as the Son of God, the definite article the marking him out as unique. 17. Such spiritual knowledge was not the product of unaided humanity (flesh and blood; compare this expression in Gal 1:16; Eph 6:12; Heb 2:14), but of divine revelation. Spiritual truth can be comprehended only by those whose spiritual faculties have been made alive by God (1 Cor 2:11-14). Such spiritual discernment was an evidence of Peter's blessed spiritual state.—WBC

  
8. The Romans Catholic Church claims Peter was the first pope and that they are the true church and they base this on this verse, can this be true?

You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church. This is one of the most controversial and debated passages in all of Scripture. Roman Catholics have appealed to this passage to defend the idea that Peter was the first pope. The key question concerns Peter’s relationship to “this rock.” In Greek, “Peter” is Petros (“stone”), which is related to petra (“rock”). The other NT name of Peter, Cephas (cf. John 1:42; 1 Cor. 1:12), is the Aramaic equivalent: kepha’ means “rock,” and translates in Greek as Kēphas. “This rock” has been variously interpreted as referring to (1) Peter himself; (2) Peter’s confession; or (3) Christ and his teachings. For several reasons, the first option is the strongest. Jesus’ entire pronouncement is directed toward Peter, and the connecting word “and” (Gk. kai) most naturally identifies the rock with Peter himself. But even if “this rock” refers to Peter, the question remains as to what that means. 

Protestants generally have thought that it refers to Peter in his role of confessing Jesus as the Messiah, and that the other disciples would share in that role as they made a similar confession (see Eph. 2:20, where the church is built on all the apostles; cf. Rev. 21:14). Jesus’ statement did not mean that Peter would have greater authority than the other apostles (indeed, Paul corrects him publicly in Gal. 2:11–14), nor did it mean that he would be infallible in his teaching (Jesus rebukes him in Matt. 16:23), nor did it imply anything about a special office for Peter or successors to such an office. 

Certainly in the first half of Acts Peter appears as the spokesman and leader of the Jerusalem church, but he is still “sent” by other apostles to Samaria (Acts 8:14), and he has to give an account of his actions to the Jerusalem church (Acts 11:1–18). Peter is presented as having only one voice at the Jerusalem council, and James has the decisive final word (Acts 15:7–21). And, though Peter certainly has a central role in the establishment of the church, he disappears from the Acts narrative after Acts 15. “Church” (Gk. ekklēsia) is used only here and in Matt. 18:17 in the Gospels. Jesus points ahead to the time when his disciples, his family of faith (12:48–50), will be called “my church.” Jesus will build his church, and though it is founded on the apostles and the prophets, “Christ Jesus himself [is] the cornerstone” (Eph. 2:20). Some scholars object that Jesus could not have foreseen the later emergence of the “church” at this time, but the use of Greek ekklēsia to refer to God’s “called out” people has substantial background in the Septuagint (e.g., Deut. 9:10; 31:30; 1 Sam. 17:47; 1 Kings 8:14). Jesus is predicting that he will build a community of believers who follow him. This “called out” community would soon become known as “the church,” a separate community of believers, as described in the book of Acts. gates of hell (Gk. hadēs, “Hades”; cf. “gates of Sheol” [Isa. 38:10]; “gates of death” [Job 38:17; Ps. 9:13; 107:18]). “Gates” were essential for a city’s security and power. Hades, or Sheol, is the realm of the dead. Death will not overpower the church.

8. A.   What is all this binding and loosing stuff?

The Greek grammar of these verses sheds more light on the meaning of Jesus’ statement. .........“the passive perfect future occurs in  Matthew 16:19 and Matthew 18:18”. Therefore, the text should read, “whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed in heaven.” By saying this, Jesus declared that resolutions made on Earth were subject to decisions made in heaven. The apostles would preach in accordance with what was already bound or loosed in heaven. This was based not on the infallibility of a man, but on the infallibility of the Holy Spirit promised to the apostles in the first century. Today we have the inspired, infallible teachings of the Holy Spirit recorded for us in the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
http://apologiaway.blogspot.com/2016/03/was-peter-first-pope.html
  
Jesus Predicts His Death
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, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. 22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!" 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 things of God, but the things of men." 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 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 he has done. 28 I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."

9.Why did Jesus began to speak of His death at this point in His ministry?

It was becoming obvious that once the Pharisees and the Sadducees joined, His days were numbered. Initially Jesus was very critical of the corruption of the Sadducees and the priesthood, which the Pharisees applauded,  then after He began to expose the hypocrisy of the Pharisees it became open warfare between Jesus and all the Jewish religious establishment.

10. What was wrong with Peter speaking out against the eventual death of Jesus?

Jesus came to die a vicarious sacrificial death for the sin of those chosen by the father put of the world.

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-- 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. Eph 1:4-8

And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 1 Cor 15:17-18 (KJV)

11. How was verse 28 manifested?

The apostle John lived and was not martyred as the others. On the Isle of Patmos, the risen and glorified Christ appeared to him, and he was shown a vision of the last days.

I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11 which said: "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea." 12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone "like a son of man," dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. Rev 1:9-18 (NIV)

I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND Lord OF LordS. Rev 19:11-16 (NIV)



           BDB………….. Barclay's Daily Study Bible (NT)
·       ESV………….ESV Study Bible Notes
·        MSN…….MacArthur NASB Study Notes
·       NIVSN…..NIV Study Notes. 
·       JVM ….J Vernon McGee,
·       ACC …. Adam Clarke’s Commentary
·       BN …..Barnes Notes
·       WBC……   Wycliffe Bible Commentary
·       CN …… Constables Notes 
·       IC……….Ironside Commentary
·       NET………Net Bible Study Notes.
·       JFB…………..Jamieson  Fausset  Brown Commentary
·       VWS……………..Vincent Word Studies
·       CMM………….Commentary on Matthew and Mark
·       BBC……………..Brideway Bible Commentary

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