Matthew - Week 52

The Son of Man 

READ 

Matthew 16:13-14 

13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” 

Caesarea Philippi was north of the Sea of Galilee. Here Jesus questioned His disciples to learn what others were saying about Him. Their answers were similar to what you would hear if you asked people today who they think Jesus is. Some think Jesus was a good person or a great teacher or even “one of the other prophets,” but they don’t recognize Him as the eternal Son of God. 

REFLECT 

Have you ever asked a person, “What do you think of Jesus?” This would be a good question to ask in your witnessing about Him. 

RESPOND 

With a fellow believer, make a decision to ask some people who they think Jesus is. Then share with each other what you heard. Also talk about if this led to more openings to talk about Jesus.  

The Son of the Living God 

READ 

Matthew 16:15-16 

15 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 

This reveals Jesus’ direct question of the disciples. Regardless of what others think; He wanted to know what they thought. Peter, often a spokesman for the others, said He was the Messiah. “Messiah” is a Hebrew word; “Christ” is a Greek word. Both mean “anointed one.” Peter further described Jesus as “the Son of the living God.”  

REFLECT 

Think of Jesus’ method as one you could use. Ask a person what others say about Jesus then ask the individual what he or she thinks about Him. 

RESPOND 

Use this example from Jesus to share with others that it does not really matter what others say about Jesus; each one must personally stand before Jesus to give account. Read Romans 14:11-12 to see a biblical basis for this. 

Upon This Rock 

READ 

Matthew 16:17-18 

17 Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. 18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.” 

This has been a controversial passage. Peter’s name meant “rock,” a masculine word. When Jesus said, “upon this rock,” a different word was used in another gender. “Peter” referred to a little rock or stone; whereas “upon this rock” referred to a huge boulder or bed-rock. With the various opinions, it seems the one that fits the context best is that Jesus was building the Church upon Himself. The powers of “hell” is actually “hades” and referred to the place of death. Not even death could keep Jesus from building His Church, which would take place after His death on the Day of Pentecost. 

REFLECT 

Think of what Jesus has accomplished by building His Church, of which every believer is a part today. 

RESPOND 

Read 1 Corinthians 10:1-5 to see how Jesus was referred to as a “rock” in Old Testament times. See also 1 Peter 2:7-8 where Peter referred to Jesus as “the rock.” 

Keys of the Kingdom 

READ 

Matthew 16:19 

19 “And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.” 

The understanding of the Greek text helps explain this verse. The Perfect tense referred to something already completed with a continuing effect. The New American Standard Bible translates this verse according to the Greek tenses, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” No believer can bind and loose someone; only God can do that. The believer can announce, however, that what has been bound and loosed in heaven has been done on earth.  

REFLECT 

Think of the privilege you have of telling a believer he or she has been loosed from their sins by trusting in Jesus as Savior. It is sobering to have to remind them they are still bound in their sins if they have not believed in Jesus. 

RESPOND 

Read John 20:23 for a verse similar to Matthew 16:19. The same explanation from the Greek text applies to this verse also. You can announce someone’s sins have been forgiven or not forgiven depending on whether the person has believed in Jesus as Savior.  

A Stern Warning 

READ 

Matthew 16:20 

20 Then he sternly warned the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. 

Some see this as a turning point in the ministry of Jesus. He told His disciples to no longer go to the nation of Israel with the message that He is the Messiah. The leaders had many opportunities to hear and believe and had rejected the message. There was no need to make any more appeals to them. Jesus will now turn His view toward the cross and His death for the nation and for the entire world. 

REFLECT 

Have you known of some who have rejected Jesus as Savior and there is no need to tell them again of His saving grace? 

RESPOND 

Read some Old Testament passages that refer to this type of problem. See Proverbs 1:24-26 and Hosea 8:2-4. Pray for your friends to turn to Jesus before it is eternally too late and not to harden their hearts against Him. See 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 that says today is the day of salvation.