#59 WHO DO YOU SAY JESUS IS? (Matthew 16:5-20; Mark 8:13-30; Luke 9:18-21)

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1 #59 WHO DO YOU SAY JESUS IS? (Matthew 16:5-20; Mark 8:13-30; Luke 9:18-21) Jesus returns from feeding the four thousand in the district of Tyre and Sidon (Matt. 15:29-39) where the Pharisees and the Sadducees demanded another sign (Matt. 16:1-4). EVENT #1: BEWARE OF THE LEAVEN FROM FALSE TEACHERS MATTHEW 16:5-12 MARK 8: 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. 14 Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15 And he cautioned them, saying, Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod. 16 And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. 17 And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up? They said to him, Twelve. 20 And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up? And they said to him, Seven. 21 And he said to them, Do you not yet understand? 1. Reached the other side (Matt. 16:5) Referring to the Sea of Galilee. 2. They had forgotten to bring bread (Mk. 8:14) After Jesus fed the four thousand, the disciples didn t bring the leftovers on their trip. They thought Jesus was upset with them about it. The situation was more of a letdown than anything else. 3. Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees (Matt. 16:6) As mentioned in the parables of Matthew 13, leaven is often used to represent sin and corruption (see Ex. 12:8; 12:15-20). The teachings of the religious leaders and Herod (many of his supporters were Sadducees) was spreading and causing much harm to people. A. Barclay, It was the Jewish metaphorical expression for an evil influence. To the Jewish mind leaven was always symbolic of evil leaven stood for an evil influence liable to spread through life and to corrupt it. B. 1 Cor. 5:6-8, Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore

2 celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 4. Gal. 6:9, A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 5. O, you of little faith (Matt. 16:8) Jesus calls out the disciples lack of remembrance of what He did to feed thousands upon thousands of people. A phrase often used by Jesus (see Matt. 6:30; 8:26; 14:31; 16:8). His concern wasn t about what to eat, but a matter of what to do when confronted with the false teachings of the religious leaders and King Herod (Mk. 8:15). A. David Guzik, Jesus charged His disciples with three things: Ignorance, because they didn t understand that He was using material things (leaven) to illustrate spiritual things (the dangerous teachings and practices of the Sadducees and Pharisees). Unbelief, because they were overly concerned with the supply of bread, when they had seen Jesus miraculously provide bread on several previous occasions. Forgetfulness, because they seemed to forget what Jesus had done before in regard to providing bread. 6. 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. (Matt. 16:12) The disciples realized Jesus was warning them of false teaching, and to rely on Him for spiritual food. Jesus said in John 6:35, I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. EVENT #2: BLIND MAN HEALED MARK 8: And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. 23 And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, Do you see anything? 24 And he looked up and said, I see people, but they look like trees, walking. 25 Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26 And he sent him to his home, saying, Do not even enter the village. 1. They came to Bethsaida (v. 22) A village located on the northeastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, and on the eastern side not far from the feeding of the five thousand. This village is also home of Peter, Andrew and Philip (Jn. 1:44). 2. Blind man and begged Him to touch him (v. 22) The blind man had faith that all it would take is a simple touch from Jesus, and he would be healed. 3. And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, Do you see anything? (v. 23) This healing took place in stages for a reason. Jesus uses this to illustrate the progression required to overcome spiritual blindness. Just like the gradual healing of this blind man to see, so too, did the disciples understanding of the spiritual matters progress for the better.

3 4. I see people, but they look like trees, walking (v. 24) This implies the man wasn t born blind. 5. Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. (v. 25) The final touch of Jesus (which was requested by the blind man from the start) eliminates the blindness and restores him to complete sight. EVENT #3: PETER THE ROCK MATTHEW 16:13-20 MARK 8:27-30 LUKE 9: 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. 27 And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, Who do people say that I am? 28 And they told him, John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets. 29 And he asked them, But who do you say that I am? Peter answered him, You are the Christ. 30 And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him. 18 Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, Who do the crowds say that I am? 19 And they answered, John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen. 20 Then he said to them, But who do you say that I am? And Peter answered, The Christ of God. 1. Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi (Matt. 16:13) Once again Jesus removes Himself to a Gentile populated area that was 30 miles from Bethsaida (14 hour trip). A trip Jesus took only this one time. (Mount Hermon is located in Caesarea near the source of the Jordan River. Herod Philip was the tetrarch of that area).

4 2. Now it happened that as he was praying alone (Lk. 9:18) He asked his disciples, Who do people say that the Son of Man is? (Matt. 16:13) It is so awesome that Jesus was praying prior to asking this question to His disciples. Son of Man Jesus uses the selfdesignation from Daniel 7:13 that speaks to His humble beginnings, authority on earth, and future reign as King. 3. And they said, Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. (Matt. 16:14) Notice that many Jews believed Jesus was a resurrected prophet of old, or John the Baptist who recently was beheaded by Herod. John the Baptist was referred to be like Elijah by Jesus in Matt. 11:14. Elijah Many thought Jesus was Elijah because he came in his spirit (see Lk. 1:13-17), and because of the prophesy of Mal. 4:5-6 that states his return prior to the Day of the Lord: Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction. Jeremiah Was a prophet that called people to repentance and was hated by the religious leaders of the day. All of these views point to the people believing Jesus was a prophet who would deliver them before the coming judgment of the Romans. 4. He said to them, But who do you say that I am? (Matt. 16:15) Jesus gets specific and wants to see if His disciples believe He is God. This is after Jesus warned the disciples of the false teaching of the religious leaders and healed a blind man (illustrating spiritual blindness). 5. Simon Peter replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. (Matt. 16:16) Peter speaks to the divine nature of Jesus. Christos - The Anointed One. (Heb. Mashiach). A. There are historical and archaeological reasons why Jesus took His disciples a long way to ask this question. Before the name change of the city to Caesarea (from Philipp II in 3 BC), it was called Paneas named after the Greek god Pan where a worship temple was built at the base of the rocky cave and spring to offer sacrifices to Pan. Legion speaks of Pan being able to cross over to Hades and back. Thus, many believed the base of the cave was the access point to Hades. (There was also a white marble temple built to the godhead of Caesar). B. Perhaps this explains why Jesus took His disciples all the way to Caesarea. To point out that He is the One True God (not idols like Pan), and the coming church will endure in the midst of the many false worship centers to come. 6. 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. (Matt. 16:17) Peter had witnessed the miracles of Jesus and heard His messages. This declaration was by divine inspiration and beyond the lies and conjectures of the religious leaders. 7. 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. (Matt. 16:18) A. Rock. These Jewish men, steeped in Old Testament Scripture, recognized the rock as a symbol of God. He is the Rock, His work is perfect (Deut. 32:4). The Lord is my Rock, and my Fortress (Ps. 18:2). For who is God save the Lord? Or who is a rock save our God? (Ps. 18:31). But let s investigate the Greek words that the Holy

5 Spirit led Matthew to use. Thou art petros [a stone], and upon this rock [petra a large rock] I will build My church. Jesus had given Simon the new name of Peter (John 1:42) which means a stone. The Aramaic form is Cephas, which also means a stone. Everyone who believes in Jesus Christ and confesses Him as the Son and God and Saviour, is a living stone (1 Peter 2:5, nasb). Jesus Christ is the foundation rock on which the church is built. The Old Testament prophets said so (Ps. 118:22; Isa. 28:16). Jesus Himself said this (Matt. 21:42), and so did Peter and the other Apostles (Acts 4:10 12). Paul also stated that the foundation for the church is Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 3:11). This foundation was laid by the Apostles and prophets as they preached Christ to the lost (1 Cor. 2:1 2; 3:11; Eph. 2:20) 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. (Matt. 16:19) This is not to mean that Peter was the first Pope or stands at the Pearly Gates to let people into heaven (see 1 Pet. 5:1-4). A. A better translation comes from Williams Translation: 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. B. Keys symbolize authority/access. Thus, Jesus was giving Peter the authority to open the door of faith to Jews and Gentiles. Peter was the one who spoke publicly on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2); preached to the Samaritans (Acts 8:14) and the Gentiles (Acts 10). C. Loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven This phrase speaks to what Rabbis would speak to the people. They would bound (prohibit) and loose (permit) them in a particular law. Thus, Jesus was giving His disciples (who would become apostles) to be the ones who would lay the foundation and set the rules for the early church (see Eph. 2:20). 9. Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ. (Matt. 16:20) This time was for His disciples. Jesus was preparing them to become apostles who will one day launch His church. 1 Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 58.