Our chapter began with Jesus and his foes (vv.1-4) and continues with Jesus and his followers (vv.5-28).

Transcription

1 Introduction Our chapter began with Jesus and his foes (vv.1-4) and continues with Jesus and his followers (vv.5-28). Jesus is King by virtue of His virgin birth, predictive prophecy and power. Over His cross in three different languages was written; This is Jesus the King of the Jews. Who is this king? Jesus is the most important person who ever lived. The answer to the question of Jesus identity has been disputed debated doubted and for a few determined and believed! Some say Jesus was a myth or legend like Ulysses or Hercules. But the historical evidence is simply overwhelming for his existence. Jesus is a man of history. We know that Jesus was born in the reign of Augustus Caesar and crucified in the reign of Tiberius Caesar when Pontius Pilate served as Procurator of the province of Judea. Tacitus, perhaps the greatest Roman historian born in the first century speaks of Jesus. Josephus a Jewish historian born in AD 37 tells of the crucifixion of Jesus. A contemporary Bible scholar said that the latest edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica uses 20,000 words in describing this person Jesus. His description took more space than was given to Aristotle, Cicero, Alexander, Julius Caesar, Buddha, Confucius, Mohammed or Napoleon Bonaparte. Who is the most credible source of information about the King s identity? Why the King Himself! Charles Edward Jefferson described Jesus this way; There is something so pure and frank and noble about Him that to doubt His sincerity should be like doubting the brightness of the sun. In this passage Jesus will reveal his secret identity. Like most kids growing up I loved super-heroes (still do). Batman, Superman, Spiderman. Each of these super-heroes had a secret identity. My introduction to Superman was not through the comics but the 1950 s Superman Television Series that stared George Reeves. He played Clark Kent the mild mannered reporter for the Daily Planet. And of course Superman. His disguise? Brillcreme (hair gel) and glasses! Clark was always gone when Superman was around. Not a very clever disguise. What was Jesus disguise? Why did it take the disciples so long to figure out His identity? He turns water into wine. He raises people from the dead. He calms storms, walks on water. He manipulates matter. He heals the blind, the deaf, the lame and those suffering from demon possession. He looks human but never sins. He teaches and represents God perfectly. Some of the most exciting Super-Hero stories centered around their enemies discovering their secret identity and using that information to threaten the hero s family or friends. If the friends found out the hero s identity they would also be placed at risk. Knowing the secret changed the relationship. 1

2 The King s Curious Question (vv.13;15) Matthew 16:13 20 (NKJV)13When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am? Jesus asks His question in the region of Caesarea Philippi. The region is lovely. There were pools of water and rich forests. The area is about 25 miles north of the Sea of Galilee near the slopes of Mount Hermon. The territory was ruled by Philip (the brother of Herod Antipas). Archeology reveals the area was littered with pagan, Greek and Roman idols. The city was for the most part taken over by the worship of Greek gods most notably the ancient god Pan (Bacchus). When Philip became the ruler he renamed the region after Tiberius Caesar and Philippi served to distinguish it from Caesarea by the Sea. In ancient times at different times it was occupied by the Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Syrians, Egyptians and Philistines! What does world think of Jesus? Thousands of years later people still wonder about the identity of Jesus! Some try to complicate His identity. Graffiti found on a wall of St. John s University: Jesus said unto them: Who do you say that I am? And they replied: You are the eschatological manifestation of the ground of our being, the kerygma in which we find the ultimate meaning of our interpersonal relationships, And Jesus said; What? When Jesus uses the title Son of Man it is clearly Messianic in nature and speaks of His identification with humanity. Oddly enough it only used by Stephen (see Acts 7:56) and John (see Rev. 1:13; 14:14) in the New Testament. 15He said to them, But who do you say that I am? Jesus now asks the entire group of disciples. Jesus moves from the general to the specific! Again context is King (pun intended)! The disciples have walked and talked with Jesus. We know of His genealogy (chapter 1) and birth (chapter 2) and message (chapter 3). We have been shown the principles of the king (chapters 5-7) and the power of the King (chapters 8-10). We saw His message rejected; His works denied; his principles attacked and then a series of parables about the Kingdom (chapter 11-13). The first half of Matthew s gospel has dealt with the revelation of the King and continued with the rebellion against the King! Jesus by His character and conduct and miracles have made their own impression. What will you say? How will you answer this most important question? Jesus is not who we think He is; unless we come to the same conclusion that he came to about Himself! He claimed to be the Son of the Most High God. He claims that He will sit on the right hand of power and that means He has access to the very power of God. Think about that for a moment. Jesus claims that whatever God can do He can do. And He claims He will return. The Disciple s Careful Answer (v.14;16) 2

3 14So they said, Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. The answer the disciples give reveal the rich differences of opinion already circulating during the Christ s earthly ministry. What do all the names have in common? They are all examples of men called by God and used by God for God s ultimate purposes for His people Israel. Clearly all these men spoke for God. Herod Antipas believed that Jesus was John the Baptist come back to life (14:1-2). Others believed He was Elijah since this prophet mysteriously disappeared and will reappear and precede the Messiah (see Malachi 4:5). Some Jews believed that Jeremiah was immortal (since his death is not mentioned in Scripture) others believed Jeremiah died in Egypt. Everyone who heard Jesus knew there was a supernatural authority that surrounded His speech. All these men were voices of warning. All of these men called the people of Israel to repent of sin and return to God. John the Baptist called on the people to confess their sin and physically demonstrate their willingness to turn and obey God through the act of baptism. John told soldiers to stop oppressing people. He told tax collectors to stop stealing from people. He told fathers to stop neglecting and ignoring their children but to minister to them. John s was a moral voice. Elijah was a prophet and miracle worker. You will recall that Elijah was taken into Heaven by a fiery chariot. The prophet Malachi predicted his return (4:5-6) Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse. No perhaps Jeremiah the prophet! See how Jesus cares for the lost. Look at His tears sorrows and compassion. See how he weeps for the lost! See how he cares for the lost sheep of Israel. Look how he suffers! Is Jesus the voice of judgement? Is Jesus simply one more in a long line of prophets sent by God? Some may have speculated whether Jesus was the prophet foretold in Deuteronomy 18: I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. (v.19) And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him. Who are you Jesus? A voice of warning; a whacky miracle worker; the voice of judgment; the voice of God? 16Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Peter s answer includes two great concepts; one speaks of the messianic identity (You are the Christ) and the other His Deity (the Son of the living God). 3

4 This is the answer that is unacceptable to the world at large. This is the answer the world condemns and the cults deny. All other answers are deficient, insufficient, inadequate, incomplete. This is the answer that divides the Kingdom of Christ from the Kingdom of the cults. To the world Jesus is ascended master; alien arrival, prophet, teacher; but to the Christ follower; the Jesus Believer; He is King of Kings, Lord of Lords, God of God, Light of Light, True God of True God, begotten not made! Jesus is Lord and God. The King s Classic Answer (vv.17-20) 17Jesus answered and said to him, Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. The Lord Jesus uses a play on words! You are Peter (a small stone petros) and upon this rock (petra) a large rock foundation I will build my church. What is Jesus saying? In the Roman Catholic tradition it is claimed that Peter is the first Pope and gives Peter the power to dispense grace through Peter and then through the Church. But is that what the text is actually telling us? Remember the context. What is at issue? The identity of Jesus. Peter rightly says; You are the Christ the Son of the living God (v.16). The statement is made by revelation from the Father in heaven (v.17). When Jesus uses the term petra (a foundation stone) the word is feminine not masculine which cannot be a proper name. The Lord Jesus does not say upon you (Peter petros) but on this rock (petras) or divine revelation and profession of faith I will build my church. Which makes more sense? That Jesus is founding His church on Peter and entrusting it to Peter and to Peter s successors or that Jesus is founding His church on Himself and entrusting its future to Himself? I think it is safe to say that the rock in part refers to all that Jesus has done to accomplish our salvation. But the emphasis is on Peter and the response of Jesus. It may be that the most likely interpretation and explanation of the statement is the confession of faith that Peter gives and all true believers must also give (see Life Application Bible Commentary; p. 326). Peter does not fabricate or manufacture the doctrine of Christ s divinity. The Father reveals it to him. The truth about Jesus comes from the Father and comes from Heaven. Human beings did not invent the doctrine of the Deity of Christ. 4

5 Jesus also says I will build My church (indicating the building of the church is still future). This is the first mention of the church in the New Testament. The church began on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2). Once again we are forced to wrestle with the context: The King s Identity. Who or what is the petra the foundation stone chief cornerstone of the church? In the Old Testament the rock speaks of God and not man (see Deuteronomy 32:4,15; Daniel 2:45; Psalm 18:2). What does Jesus say? Later in Matthew 21:42; Jesus said to them, Did you never read the Scriptures: The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord s doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes? Peter believed Jesus to be the stone (see 1 Peter 2:4-8; Acts 4:11-12 with Psalm 118:22). Paul believed Jesus to be the rock and names Christ Rock in 1 Corinthians 10:4 and calls Christ Head of the church (see Ephesians 1:20-23; 4:8-16; 5:23; Col. 1:18). Did Peter ever claim to be the Pope or the Head or the chief apostle? Just the opposite (see 1 Peter 5:1-4). What could this passage mean? We shouldn t neglect the last half of the verse: and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. The gates served as entry ways to somewhere. The gates of city provided entry into that city. The gates of Hades may mean the portal to the underworld or the place of the dead. It may mean the place where Satan has rule or dominion. Does Satan have the power to wage war against God and His Saints? It would seem the answer is yes. But will Satan prevail against God or His Church? The answer is no according to Jesus. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) contend that the early church engaged in a wholesale apostasy and that their so called Prophet Joseph Smith was called by God to restore the true Church. In a very real sense Islam makes the same claim that Jesus was not the final prophet with the final word. In their world-view Muhammad is God s Prophet with God s final Word in the Quran. The Lord Jesus makes the promise that Satan cannot and will not defeat the Church. The Lord Jesus makes the promise that the Church cannot ultimately be destroyed and Jesus will provide protection for all who believe in him and by faith are united to Him and His Church. This statement describes the future of the Church and then Jesus makes a faithful charge to the church (v.19). 19And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Controversy surrounds this verse as well. What are the keys? Are these keys the stewardship entrusted to Peter concerning the Kingdom? Are these keys to the church or keys to the 5

6 kingdom and does that make a difference? Cleary they are keys to the kingdom of heaven! They can t be the keys to death or eternity because Jesus clearly holds those (see Rev. 1:18). Keys in the Bible are often used as symbols or metaphors for authority and stewardship (see Isaiah 22:22; Luke 11:52). Peter used these keys when he opened the door of faith (Acts 14:27) to the Jews (Acts 2), the Samaritans (Acts 8), and the Gentiles (Acts 10). This is stewardship, not lordship (see Wiersbe s Expository Outlines on the New Testament; p. 63). And what of this binding and loosing? What does it mean to bind things on earth that become bound in heaven? In Matthew 18:18 the phrase is used in the context of church discipline and the power is given to Peter and all the disciples. In the first century in the days of Jesus the phrase was used to describe Rabbi s who would forbid something or permit something. In Matthew 18 the keys of the Kingdom represent authority, and ability to exercise discipline, legislation and administration. Williams translates this passage Whatsoever you forbid on earth must be what is already forbidden in heaven, and whatsoever you permit on earth must be what is already permitted in heaven (v. 19WMS). Does the Church tell heaven what to do or does Heaven tell the Church what to do? Some suggest it means the ability to announce the forgiveness of sins (see John 20:23). Jesus protects His Church by giving her the keys to the Kingdom. Take a look at my wife s key ring! She has the keys to our house and to our church and to her car. But she does not have the key to my car! Why? Because she refuses to drive it! She has access to everything I have access to! If she wants to move my car or drive my car she knows where to find the key! 20Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ. Why does Jesus command (sternly order) the disciples to tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ? Clearly they do not understand the implications of Peter s confession! Everyone expected God s Messiah to lead a revolt against Rome and deliver the nation from Rome. People were not looking for a Messiah who deliver from the bondage of sin! The Jews expected a conquering King! No one was ready for a Messiah rejected by leaders, suffer for sin, be killed and rise from the dead! In one sense the disciples themselves did not believe this and would have to literally see it for themselves! Conclusion Did anyone else confess that Jesus is the Lord in the Bible? Nathaniel does in the first chapter of John. Jesus told Nathaniel I saw you under the fig tree. Nathaniel declared you are the Son of God you are the King of Israel. Why didn t Jesus say, Blessed are you Nathaniel flesh and blood did not reveal this to you but my Father in Heaven? In Luke 5; after a miraculous haul 6

7 of fish Peter acknowledges that Jesus is Lord and says; Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord! At that point Jesus does not say you are Peter (a small stone) and upon you I will build my church. In John 6 and Matthew 14 Jesus feeds the 5,000 and Peter said; Truly you are the Son of God. You alone have the words of eternal life. Jesus doesn t say; I will build my church. Why? Even though these words are found earlier in each case it is an emotional response to a physical miracle! You saw me under the fig tree! You must be the Son of God. Look at these fish. You must be the Son of God. You fed 5,000 people with next to nothing. You must be Son of God. Here Peter s response is not some emotional outburst based on witnessing a miracle! This is a carefully thought through conclusion based on revelation from God the Father (see Jon Courson s commentary pp.60-61). The Church is the creation of Christ. Based on His identity and mission. The Church has to get the identity of Jesus right and the mission of Jesus right. Later Jesus will talk about the cost of discipleship (see vv.21-23). Clearly the church should be moral, supernatural, compassionate and thoughtful in both doctrine and deed. But only Peter said you are the Christ the Son of the Living God. The Church is not simply a platform for political activity or moral musings or to satisfy intellectual curiosity. The Church is first the place where we worship Jesus as Lord it is the place where we get to know Jesus and discover and embrace His mission. Jesus is not simply your life coach or political advisor or intellectual mentor or power for miracle ministry. Jesus is everything. Where Jesus is believed and loved and honored and obeyed there will be power, evangelism, compassion. Where Jesus is honored people will be taught. Who is Jesus? To the Artist He is the One Altogether Lovely; To The Architect He is the Chief Cornerstone; To The Astronomer He is the Sun of Righteousness. To the Baker He is the Living Bread. To the Banker He is The Hidden Treasure. To the Biologist He is life; To the Carpenter He is the Sure Foundation; To the Doctor He is the Great Physician; to the Educator He is the great teacher. To the Farmer His the Sower and the Lord of the Harvest. To the Florist He is the lily of the valley and the Rose of Sharon. To the geologist He is the Rock of Ages. To the horticulturist He is the True Vine. To the Judge He is the righteous Judge. To the Juror He is the True Witness. To the Jeweler His is the Pearl of Great Price. To the Editor His is the Good Tidings of Great Joy. To the Eye Doctor He is the Light of the Eyes. To the Philosopher He is the Wisdom of God. To the Printer He is the True Type. To the Servant He is the Master. To the Student Incarnate Truth. To the Laborer He is Rest To the Sinner The Lamb of God who takes away the Sin of the World. To The Christian He is the Son of the Living God, the Savior, the Redeemer, the Lord. 7