Day Sixteen – Wednesday, January 22, 2025

One Year Journey Through the New Testament

Matthew 16

Welcome to our journey through the New Testament!

Debate Over a Sign from Heaven

Mark 8:11, 12 (Parallel)

1 Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven. ² He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; ³ and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. ⁴ A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” And He left them and departed.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mt 16:1–4.

Points to Ponder:

• The Pharisees again challenge Jesus as to His identity.
• They asked for a sign. They wanted to see Him do something that would prove He was the Son of God.
• How ludicrous! They had seen Him heal the sick, cast out demons, and even raise the dead!
• Jesus was tired of the antics. He told them that the only sign they would see was the sign of Jonah. Only, Jesus would not be in the belly of a great fish, but rather in the belly of the earth.
• Jesus told them that they would have made great weather forecasters, but they could not expect a particular sign from Him other than His death and resurrection.

Withdrawal of Jesus

Mark 8:13–21

⁵ Now when His disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. ⁶ Then Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.”⁷ And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have taken no bread.”⁸ But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread? ⁹ Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? ¹⁰ Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up? ¹¹ How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?—but to 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 doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mt 16:5–12.

Points to Ponder:

• After Jesus left them, they got in a boat to go to the other side of the lake. They forgot to take any bread for the trip.
• Jesus warned them of the dangers of the “leaven of the the Pharisees….” They initially thought He was scolding them for not bringing bread.
• Jesus explained that they needed to watch out for the teaching and influence of the Pharisees.
• He reminded them of the miracles of feeding the 5000 and the 3000, and scolded their lack of faith that He could produce actual bread if necessary.
• Lord, help us to always remember Your blessings to us so that we can believe for those blessings we need.

Revelation of the Person of the King

Mark 8:27–30; Luke 9:18–21

¹³ When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”¹⁴ So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some 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 answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”¹⁷ Jesus 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.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mt 16:13–17.

Points to Ponder:

• Jesus asked a probing question. “Why do people say that I am?”
• They told Him all the possible things they had heard, like a second coming of John the Baptist or Elijah or Jeremiah.
• He then changed the question and asked who the disciples said that He was.
• Peter’s answer, although deeply contemplative for the fisherman Peter, was brilliant. He said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
• Jesus affirmed Peter for hearing the voice of God and understanding the truth.

Revelation of the Church

¹⁸ And 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. ¹⁹ And 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.”²⁰ Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mt 16:18–20.

Points to Ponder:

• Jesus goes on to give Simon (Peter) the name he would be known by more so as his life continued, Peter.
• This was descriptive of Peter’s temperament, especially after the day of Pentecost. Peter was a rock-solid, never-say-die individual who would go all the way to martyrdom defending the gospel.
• Jesus is not saying hear that He would build His church on Peter, but on the firm foundation of a confession that Jesus is Lord.
• On that confession, the church would be unstoppable. The disciples would have spiritual authority to bind and loose, We have that same power today.

Revelation of Jesus’ Death

Mark 8:31–33; Luke 9:22

²¹ From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.²² Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!”²³ But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mt 16:21–23.

Points to Ponder:

• Jesus then moved into a period of telling His disciples about His impending death and resurrection.
• Peter could not take the devastation of such a claim, and took Him aside to scold Him. He told Jesus this could not happen.
• Jesus looked at Peter and corrected him. He even called him Satan, signifying that the words of scolding he spoke were not from God.
• Jesus’ destiny was to die and rise again so that we could live!

Revelation of Jesus’ Reward

Mark 8:34–37; Luke 9:23–25

²⁴ Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. ²⁵ For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. ²⁶ For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mt 16:24–26.

Points to Ponder:

• Jesus then tells His disciples that following Him was not going to be easy. He even states that it will be like carrying a cross, denying oneself for the cause of Christ.
• He makes it clear that desiring worldly goods would not be worth anything if it cost one his own soul.
• Following Christ would be hazardous and difficult, but the reward would be great.

The Prophecy of the Second Coming

Mark 8:38–9:1; Luke 9:26, 27

²⁷ For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. ²⁸ Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mt 16:27–28.

Points to Ponder:

• Jesus then tells them of the second coming of the Lord.
• They may not have fully understood at this point, but Jesus gave a beautiful picture of Him coming back with the angels to reward His servants.
• He even told them the coming of the Lord is imminent, close, not long to happen.
• Will we see Jesus’ return in our lifetime? It is possible, for His coming is closer than at any time in history. However, we cannot know the day or time. We must be ready.

__________________________________________________________________________

All Scriptures from New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

Join us this afternoon at 5:00 pm for a discussion of this chapter live online. Live@5 with Dr. Greg Sloop can be found on Facebook on the Dr. Greg Sloop page or on the Kannapolis Church of God Facebook page or Youtube page.