Matthew - Week 53

Looking Ahead to Jerusalem 

READ 

Matthew 16:21 

21 From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead. 

Jesus described what He was facing, but it must have been a shock to the disciples. Some had followed Him because they thought He would be King and now He is talking about His death. A dead king is not what they were expecting. He assured them, however, that He would rise from the dead on the third day. Surely this was too much for the disciples to understand. 

REFLECT 

It is easy now to be hard on the disciples for not understanding what Jesus said. What would you have thought had you been one of the disciples at that time? 

RESPOND 

Talk with a fellow believer about those Jesus predicted would cause Him terrible suffering and wanted Him put to death—the religious leaders. Some today are against religion, so was Jesus in His day. “Religion” is mankind’s impossible attempt to reach up to God; “Christianity” is God reaching down to man in the person of Jesus. 

A Human Point of View 

READ 

Matthew 16:22-23 

22 But Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things. “Heaven forbid, Lord,” he said. “This will never happen to you!” 23 Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.” 

Some consider Peter to have been the first pope. He certainly failed the test here; he did not believe what Jesus said. Jesus viewed Peter’s opinion as coming from Satan himself. Understandably, Peter was only seeing things from the natural point of view and not from God’s point of view. Peter’s comments reveal that the disciples still did not understand what Jesus was telling them so close to His trial and death—and resurrection. 

REFLECT 

Does your heart go out to Peter and the other disciples? What they were hearing from Jesus was beyond anything they could think of or had ever heard.  

RESPOND 

Consider some things that are difficult to understand. Read 2 Corinthians 5:20-21. Do you understand how that is possible? The test is whether you believe it and place your trust in Jesus as Savior. 

The Worth of a Soul 

READ 

Matthew 16:24-26 

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 26 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” 

Notice the word Jesus used when He asked if any of the disciples wanted to be His “follower.” Some know about Jesus—Judas Iscariot did, but he was not a follower. Knowing information about Jesus does not save one from condemnation, only trusting in Him as Savior does. Even the wealthy who had so many possessions really had nothing if they had not believed in Jesus.  

REFLECT 

Do not be impressed with a person’s earthly possessions or even how much one knows about the Bible. If a person has not trusted in Jesus there will be eternal separation from God at death. 

RESPOND 

Talk with a friend about Jesus’ comment about one taking up his cross. A cross in that day was the symbol of death, and the Roman Empire often used this cruel form of punishment. Taking up the cross would include not only the suffering and shame that went with it but even being willing to die for Jesus. Read Hebrews 12:1-4 that reminds believers about Jesus enduring the shame of the cross for them. 

The Glory of the Father 

READ 

Matthew 16:27-28 

27 “For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds. 28 And I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.” 

Observe that no one escapes meeting God face to face. Their eternal destination depends on their relationship with Jesus. Believers will stand before Jesus to be judged for their works as believers (see 1 Corinthians 3:10-15). Unbelievers will stand before the Great White Throne judgment and be judged for their works as Christ-rejecters (see Revelation 20:11-15). What did Jesus mean when He said that some of those present would see Him coming in His Kingdom? Read on to the next lesson. 

REFLECT 

If you have trusted in Jesus you will someday be rewarded as a believer. Those not believing in Jesus will be judged according to their works, which seems to indicate different degrees of punishment.  

RESPOND 

With a fellow believer, read the two passages above that describe the judgments of believers and unbelievers. Use one to encourage believers and the other to warn Christ-rejecters. 

Transformed on the Mountain 

READ 

Matthew 17:1-2 

1 Six days later Jesus took Peter and the two brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. 2 As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. 

This answers the perplexing statement of Jesus in Matthew 16:28. Remember there were no chapter divisions when this was originally written so one would go directly from the last verse in Matthew 16 to the first one in Matthew 17. This passage also reveals that Peter, James and John had become especially close to the Lord Jesus. As they watched, Jesus’ appearance completely changed similar to the way it will be when He comes to set up His kingdom.  

REFLECT 

Think of the tremendous privilege it was for these three disciples to be a part of this experience. How would you have felt to be part of this time? 

RESPOND 

Read Revelation 1:12-16 to see the vision of Jesus that the apostle John described. This introduces the message to the seven churches of Revelation.