Study of Matthew

Matthew Chapter 16

Matthew 16:1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.
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 sought after signs and wonders but for the wrong reason. They were not seeking the salvation of their souls, they were not seeking to know God and what God was about. They thought they were the chosen of God and religious enough. They were not seeking the Messiah that would save them from their sins.

They didn't know they had any sin to be saved from. They boasted in the law and thought that they were keepers of the law when in reality they only kept what they wanted to keep and that was the outward ordinances while ignoring or side stepping the part of the law about compassion and the spirit of the law that causes us to do right by our neighbor and seek to be right with God. They added to the law their own traditions.

Sometimes our outward religion can become just a formality or ritual and many trust in the rituals thinking it makes them "right with God" when they could be committing sins a whole lot worse than those they call sinners do.

They did not discern the sign of the times. "Now is the excepted time, now is the day of salvation. Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." They were looking for great signs and wonders to prove that Jesus was who He claimed to be. They were not looking at the signs of seeing a poor blind man seeing, or a deaf man hearing. Notice too that Jesus could have given them signs. Signs followed Jesus everywhere He went but He refused to just use His power to put on shows or demonstrations. He only did the will of His Father in Heaven.

They were really seeking to debunk this guy who was preaching that they needed to repent of sin. They wanted everyone else to be caught in what they considered to be sin but they didn't recognize a deeper sin that they had. To them sin was breaking the ritual legal letter of what their version of the law had become.

To them breaking the Sabbath to help someone that was suffering was a sin while failing to love one's neighbor and have compassion on someone hurting was their real sin. If all we get out of the bible is a bunch of religious rules with no compassion on the lost, the hurting, the poor etc. then we have missed something.

On the other hand, there is something to consider too, we still need to repent of breaking God's law. Ignoring His commandments is still dangerous to our souls and even our physical health. We want to hear that God loves us just the way we are. We want to hear that we have God's favor and that we can live in riches because God blesses us because of who we are.

We don't always want to hear that we need to repent of sin and take up our cross and follow Him where He may lead. We would rather change the word and replace it with our traditions or water it down to accept everybody no matter how they live and throw out the part of repentance from sin and being born again by the spirit.

Matthew 16:4 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.

As Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the fish, Jesus was to be killed and His body would be in the grave, three days and three nights until He rose from the dead and ascended into Heaven. The sign of the resurrection was the only sign they would be given.

I don't know exactly what signs they were seeking. Perhaps great feats of magic or demonstrations of power and glory. Perhaps they didn't think seeing a crippled man walk or a demon cast out of a derelict was a sign.

Sometimes we may be looking for the same type of signs. Yet, when a person repents of sin and truly comes to Jesus Christ, we have the greatest miracle of all. We have a soul that is saved from eternity in hell. We have a changed life and one that literally passes from death to life.

When an alcoholic is saved from sin and his life is saved by the power of the gospel, we have the greatest of all miracles and yet we too may not see it.

When one child finds Jesus at an early age and serves Him all the days of his or her life, that is the greatest of all miracles, yet we could fail to take notice of one so young finding the gift of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ.

Matthew 16:5 And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.
6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.
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?
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.

They should have known that Jesus was not concerned about the food they forgot to take with them for He could provide food if it was needed. He was concerned with the doctrine of the Pharisees and more concerned that they discern the truth and not be deceived.

Some may not like any negative messages warning of false doctrines or false prophets. Some may prefer to hear things that tickle the ears. On other hand I do realize that some may like the negative and want to find fault, but as a rule people want to think everything is okay and right with God and there is no need of change.

Too much negative though will bring on depression and loss of hope. If we make people feel like total failures, they will not become fruitful. People need hope and encouragement as well as warning against serious sin that could cause them to lose their souls or become unfruitful.

Unless the Holy Spirit is convicting and draws someone to prayer, usually people will not respond to any message yet even if only one person comes to Christ, all the studying, praying and preparing is worth it.

There is time when repentance is necessary but to preach repentance to those already saved, week after week is unfruitful. They will keep looking to self and never go forward to serve God because they keep thinking God is mad at them and they are worthless. I heard one preacher say that if they just repent, that will solve their problem. No, it will not if they don't know what they are repenting of. If they are constantly made to feel guilty without knowing what they done wrong, they will be discouraged, not repent. To constantly preach the message of repentance to those already saved, may not produce fruit in their lives.

On the other hand, real genuine sin and disobedience to God's word does need a message on repentance. If that is the case the Holy Spirit will convict and draw the one that sins to repentance so that he or she can be restored.

This may or may not be public. The one doing the preaching may never see them come to the altar and pray publically because they may wait until they are alone with just them and God. This business of thinking the only place to get right with God is publically at the altar, is not really true. That is limiting God to one method. To an open outgoing extrovert type of preacher, they will think everyone needs to be open about everything and be public but there are plenty of shy, quiet people whose prayers would be hindered if they thought someone was watching them pray publically. We have to trust the Holy Spirit in all things. Different people require different things.

I heard one wise preacher say that some people need to be scared and warned while others have to be won by love and gentleness. A mother who has many children soon will discover the differences in her children. One may respond to gentle correction while another may only respond if threatened with severe punishment.

Jesus though warned of the wrath to come. He called on all to repent and believe the gospel. He was crying daily in the streets, "Repent for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand." This message though was given to those that thought they were the chosen of God and had no need of repentance. This message was not give to those who was already following Him in love and obedience.

The leaven of the Pharisees was hypocrisy. They pretended to be great religious men that were "somebody" or great men of God, but they were in reality full of dead men's bones. They looked religious and godly on the surface but lacked compassion for the poor, didn't see their need to repent of sin and despised others who were not like they were.

Remember the time when the Pharisees criticized the disciples of Jesus for eating with unwashed hands. They were more concerned with outward appearances then the inward need of the soul to be changed, or to see those hurting healed or to see the power of God change the lives of those that are bound by chains of demon possession.

God help us to see and seek the heart of God in all things and not just seek an outward religious show. Help us to beware of doing things to be seen of men rather than doing things because we love God and love our fellow men.

Compassion on the poor is one thing I see that we are losing today. I'm not speaking of high taxes that rob one group and give to the other. I'm not talking of giving away someone else's money. I'm speaking of giving from our own means to help someone who can't help himself. We have lots of people that want to raise taxes and give away someone else's money while they sit and draw a large salary. Real giving though is giving of what we have, not looking to the rich to do all the giving. The rich should give but they should do that from their own hearts. Forcing them to give by high taxes is not biblical giving.

Remember the church at Laodicea?

Revelation 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

Having a priority of outward religious ordinances, ceremonies, observances that may or may not be ordained of God would be what is referred to as the doctrine of the Pharisees. Doing religious things for show or because of tradition and despising others who are not like they are may be what is referring to without any real compassion or love for the people that are in need or suffering.

True religion is helping spread the word of God that will reconcile the lost back to God, not putting on a show that really doesn't help anyone but only draws attention to the ones doing the outward religious duties.

Adding to the gospel or taking away from it would come into play here. The Sadducees took away from the true doctrine and the Pharisees added or substituted their own tradition for the word of God. Even observing the true things of God but for outward show, not from the heart could be like the Pharisees. Doing all the right things but for the wrong reasons also come into play but in most cases, traditions is substituted for what is right and holy.

Jesus is not teaching against true doctrine. Jesus taught doctrine. The modern day ecumenical movement teaches that doctrine divides and concentrates more on service. This is deadly. Jesus is not teaching to throw away doctrine and just serve. Without right doctrine and the doctrine of Christ, no one will be saved from sin or born again by the spirit of God which is necessary for salvation.

The Pharisees and the Sadducees were not concerned with repenting of sin and changing their life. They already thought they were religious and had no need or repentance. They were religious though in only outward show, not inward change of a heart toward God. They honored God with their lips in outward worship but not from the depths of their soul which would mean that their service toward men would bring them to God and insure of their salvation. We then give out of a heart of love and we serve because we love God and love our neighbor as ourselves. True doctrine is turning from sin.

Today we have the doctrine of the Nicolaitans which sets up hierarchy and rules over people. The Pharisees did that also. They thought they had higher education and were better than anyone else. They gloried in titles, upper seats in the synagogues and such. The church can be in danger of doing the same thing by dressing differently than the laity, puffing themselves up with titles of bishops, archbishops and such. It is okay to have good godly leadership for accountability and making sure the flock is kept safe from the wolves but when we go too far in this as the Pharisees did, we are into Nicolaitism. Some believe the Nicolaitism means something else but this meaning is the some I lean toward.

In Christ we are the same. Some are called to leadership but for the sake of protection, accountability and teaching, not exalting one brother over another. While speaking of this in general, I must add that the priests in the Old Testament had to intercede, do sacrifices and had cleansing rituals because it was before Christ and the way of holiness was perfected and open to all who receive Jesus Christ.

We are not to throw the baby out with the bathwater and turn away from sound doctrine here. We are to throw out any doctrine that is a substitution for the doctrine of God. We are not to substitute tradition of men with the doctrine that comes from the word. The Pharisees did that, many churches both past and present have done that. We don't want to throw all doctrine out and overcorrect which is the mistake many make. The solution is to read the bible. Study the word and take heed to correct doctrine.

Deuteronomy 32:1 Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.
2 My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:

Sound doctrine is like a steady rain that showers and blesses a thirsty garden.

Proverbs 4:1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.

God's word understood in context is needed as much as food for the body. How sound doctrine brings us peace and blesses the inner soul of a believer is amazing.

Isaiah 29:23 But when he seeth his children, the work of mine hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel.
24 They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine.

We need both, sound doctrine and compassion on those that are lost without the truth or sound doctrine.

Mark 1:22 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.

We must remember that Jesus taught doctrine. We must learn the doctrine of God and not man.

Mark 12:38 And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,
39 And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts:
40 Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.

Beware of doing any religious things to be seen of men or to appear to be holy in the sight of men. God help us to be for real.

John 7:17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.

Seeking the will of God and giving glory to God is the path of right doctrine that must not be forsaken.

Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Let us be careful of the modern day teaching that wants unity at the price of forsaking all sound doctrine. Biblical unity is the opposite. Biblical unity is of the spirit and of the truth. A unity that forsakes the true doctrine taught in the word of God is a false unity like they had at the tower of Babel.

Matthew 16:13 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?
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.

This is the truth that is required for the salvation of any soul. We cannot be saved unless we believe that Jesus is the Son of the living God. Jesus brought up this subject for a reason. He wanted us to get this truth. We must believe that He came from God and that He is the only way of salvation. There is no other way or Jesus would not have had to die for the sins that we have committed.

Jesus died for our sins so that when we believe in Him, our sins are forgiven. Not only our our sins forgiven but our sins are cleansed and we are not held accountable for them. We must repent or turn from sin and believe in this Christ who God sent to save us from sin and from the consequences of sin.

Matthew 16:17 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.

The Spirit of God is the one that reveals this to a believer and causes the salvation of his soul.

Matthew 16:18 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.

Upon the truth being told here. Upon the truth that Jesus is the Son of God and the only way of salvation that God has sent to us. Upon this truth and this foundation is what the church (called out ones) is to be built. The church is not to be built upon Peter but upon the foundation of Jesus Christ. Peter's name meant stone. He is just one of the stones that is placed upon the rock which is the foundation of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 16:19 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.

This power to preach the gospel, binding and loosing and doing the works Christ gave them to do was not just for Peter but for the other apostles, for those that came after them and for as many as God would call. This is for all believers, not just Peter.

Proof:

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

In the book of Acts we see many preaching the gospel with miracles following them, not just Peter.

Every believer saved by faith in Jesus, is to receive the Holy Spirit and do the works Jesus calls us to do. Signs are to follow those that believe.

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Again and again I stress the spreading of the gospel is not just for the apostles or church leaders but all that God calls.

Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

This commandment to go into all the world and preach or teach is for all believers, not just the apostles and those in authority. We are to teach the whole word of God. We are to teach them to observe all the words of Christ, not pick and choose only the things we want to teach.

Matthew 16:20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

It could be that the time was not yet that they should plainly show that Jesus was the Christ. He had to die for sins first before all things were fulfilled. He couldn't become king and rule the world yet until He paid the price for sins and the gospel was preached over the entire world. The believers had to receive the power of the Holy Spirit after the resurrection of Jesus before they could properly proclaim the gospel to the whole world.

Matthew 16:21 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.
22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
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.
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?

When we come to Christ, old things pass away and all things become new. We are new creatures in Christ Jesus. We now must deny self and follow Christ. This may require different things for different people. We must put Christ first above all others. Should no one join me, still I will follow, must be the desire of our heart. If mother or dad do not follow, we must follow Christ. Notice I said Christ, not man or what man requires. If son or daughter do not follow, we must follow Christ. If we have to lose our jobs, our homes or our lives to follow Christ, we must follow Christ.

Matthew 16:27 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.

This is a strange statement to make. Some speculate that this means that there were some standing there that saw the vision on the mount of transfiguration immediately told of in the next chapter of Matthew. Some believe that it means that there will be people standing in that same spot when Christ returns. Some believe it means that the apostle John didn't really die and will be one of the two witnesses that return during the tribulation period.

However, I should state that Jesus said that they shall not taste of death until they see the Son of man coming so that would discount the two witnesses because they are killed during the tribulation. So I lean toward the mount of transfiguration interpretation but I'm open to other opinions on this verse.

Verse 27 though does remind us that Jesus is returning with His angels and will reward all according to their obedience to the word of God. Sound doctrine is still important.

I believe that God wants us to continually seek Him for understanding and not stop. We are never to think we know it all and do not have to seek further understanding. The closer we get to the Coming of the Lord, the more will be revealed to those that seek Him and the more will be covered up to those that oppose Him. Glory to God. God will reveal His word to those that love and seek His appearing. DC

Matthew 17