Scripture reading – Matthew 16
Today’s Scripture reading is Matthew 16, a pivotal chapter in Christ’s earthly ministry. He had ministered in the Gentile territory known as Decapolis, a region of ten independent city-states located on the southwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee. There, He performed the miracle of feeding the four thousand with seven loaves of bread (Matthew 15:34-39).
Christ’s Confrontation with the Pharisees and Sadducees (Matthew 16:1-4)
Despite His miracles, the Pharisees and Sadducees came to tempt Jesus and demanded of Him yet another sign— “a sign from heaven” (Matthew 16:1). Jesus refused their demand. He rebuked them and said they could predict good and bad weather by looking at the sky; however, they refused to see the obvious…that Jesus Christ was the Messiah! (Matthew 16:2-3). Reproving the Pharisees and Sadducees as “a wicked and adulterous generation,” Jesus foretold there would be “no sign given…but the sign of the prophet Jonas” (Matthew 16:4).
What was the sign of Jonah? (Matthew 12:39-40)
It was the historical event when Jonah was “three days and three nights in the whale’s belly” (Matthew 12:39-40; Jonah 1:17). So, the sign that Christ was the Messiah, “the Son of man,” was that He would “be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (this was fulfilled when Christ died on Friday, was buried, remained in the tomb on the Sabbath, and sometime Sunday morning was raised from dead, that being the third day, Matthew 12:40).
Danger: “Beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees” (Matthew 16:5-12)
Soon after His controversy with the Pharisees and Sadducees, Jesus and His disciples departed. When they arrived at their destination, the disciples conversed among themselves that “they had forgotten to take bread” (Matthew 16:5). Jesus interrupted their discussion and “said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees” (Matthew 16:6).
The disciples, supposing Christ’s comment arose from their failure to bring bread, concluded, “It is because we have taken no bread” (Matthew 16:7).
Take a moment to consider the irony of the disciples’ presumption that Jesus was concerned they failed to bring bread on their journey. After all, they had witnessed Him feed five thousand men with a lad’s sack lunch and four thousand with seven loaves on another occasion. Despite the miracles they witnessed, the disciples’ focus and faith were not in Christ. How did they fail to see Christ’s divine, unlimited resources to provide for their sustenance?
Hearing their controversy, Jesus warned the Twelve: “O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?” (Matthew 16:8) Jesus then asked, “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?” (Matthew 16:11) The disciples then realized that Christ’s concern was not leaven (i.e., yeast) but “the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees” (Matthew 16:12).
The Pharisees tended to be legalistic, ritualistic, and self-righteous. Often described in the New Testament as proud and self-righteous, they focused on outward appearance rather than men’s hearts. Many came to elevate rabbinic traditions to equal authority to the Scriptures.
The Sadducees were the group from which the high priest and chief priests often arose. They are generally considered to have been the religious liberals of the day. They were politically powerful and willing to compromise their offices for political expediency.
While the Pharisees and Sadducees differed, they found a mutual goal in their desire to oppose and destroy Christ.
“Whom Do Men Say That I the Son of Man Am?” (Matthew 16:13-20)
Matthew 16:13-20 finds Christ and His disciples at “the coasts of Caesarea Philippi” (Matthew 16:13). Two towns named Caesarea are found in the Gospels. The first is Caesarea by the Sea, located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea north of Jerusalem. It is the site of a beautifully preserved Roman theater and ruins of a city and fortress.
The other city was Caesarea Philippi, which had religious and political significance in Christ’s day. King Herod the Great had built a temple of white marble there to honor Caesar Augustus, thus identifying the region with Emperor worship. Understanding the religious significance of Caesarea Philippi, Christ asked His disciples as he entered “the coasts of Caesarea Philippi…Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” (Matthew 16:13).
Jesus loved the title “Son of man.” It appears at least eighty times in the New Testament, and Christ used it exclusively for Himself. Nevertheless, though Jesus questioned the disciples what the multitudes were saying of Him, the more important question was:
“Whom Say Ye That I Am?” (Matthew 16:16)
Simon Peter, often the first disciple to speak, answered Christ with a marvelous confession that is the confession of all the redeemed: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16)
From a child, Peter was taught to look, wait, and live in anticipation of the coming of the Messiah. Peter’s confession implied his faith that Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament Messianic prophecies. He believed that Jesus was more than a man; He was “the Son of the Living God” (Matthew 16:16).
Christ’s Affirmed Peter’s Confession (Matthew 16:17-19)
Jesus answered Peter and said, “Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 16:17). Peter’s confession was a divine revelation.
Christ’s affirmation of Peter’s statement has been a point of division and contention in “Christianity” for two millennia. Jesus said, “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. 19And 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” (Matthew 16:18-19).
For nearly fifteen centuries, the Roman Catholic Church has espoused the erroneous doctrine that Christ taught that Simon Peter is the church’s foundation and has “the keys of the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 16:19). Therefore, contends the Catholic church, Peter is the head of the church. He has the authority to determine who enters heaven (Matthew 16:19).
Closing thoughts –
What do the Scriptures teach? Is Simon Peter the foundation of the church? No!
The Scriptures teach that Christ, not Peter or the Pope, is the Head of the Church (Ephesians 1:21-22; 5:23). It is a fallacy, a monumental error, to believe that a mortal man is the foundation of Christ’s Church!
Peter’s confession that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the living God” is the foundation upon which the Church is built! Jesus declared, “Thou art Peter [Petras; a large piece of rock], and upon this rock [Petra; a massive rock] I will build My church…” (Matthew 16:18).
More important than what the multitudes said was what the disciples believed. Peter had followed Christ and witnessed His miracles. However, it was his faith in God’s revelation that brought him to believe and confess, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).
What do you believe? Will you confess Christ as your Savior?
Copyright © 2024 – Travis D. Smith
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