A Deeper Look at Matthew:  An End-Times Bible Study
Copyright 2012
 
 
Matthew 16
 
            This chapter begins with the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to Jesus, tempting Him, and asking Him to show them "a sign from heaven."  Why would they do this?  Hadn't they seen enough signs from Jesus already - healing all kinds of people, raising the dead, and creating enough food to feed thousands?  What is wrong with them that these signs are not enough to show that Jesus is indeed the Son of God?
            So Jesus responds to the them, saying they can interpret what kind of weather it will be based on what the sky looks like; He goes on to say to them, "O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?  A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas [Jonah]."
            Why are these religious leaders "wicked and adulterous" for wanting to see a sign from Jesus?  Well, because they are unbelieving and have NO FAITH!  They only believe in what they can see with their own two eyes.  Note what Jesus says to doubting Thomas in John 20:29b: "Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed."  I will tell you something else - even if Jesus did a miraculous sign for them - they still would not believe in Him.  Simply, these Pharisees and Sadducees were not children of God (John 8:44).  They are the enemies of Jesus and would not believe in Him even if He were to come down off the cross!  The people of the devil don't embrace the children of God just like oil does not mix with water!
            Jesus departs with His disciples and comes to the other side.  However, they had forgotten to take bread (16:7).  So, then, Jesus says to them, "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees."  The dimwitted disciples don't understand what Jesus is saying and reason that Jesus is bringing up the fact they do not have any bread to eat.  Jesus rebukes them for their lack of faith and in not believing God will provide for them, even if they have no bread.  He reminds them of the mighty miracles of feeding the four thousand and five thousand from practically nothing.  Jesus explains to them that He was not talking about bread but the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.  Finally, they come to understand that Jesus was talking about the DOCTRINE of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
            In 16:13, upon coming to the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, He asks His disciples, "Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
            They reply, saying that some believe He is John the Baptist, others Elijah, others Jeremiah, and some one of the prophets.  So Jesus asks them who they, the disciples, believe He is, and Simon Peter responds, saying, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."
            Jesus replies to him in 16:17-19, saying, "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.  And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.  And 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."
            Wow, those words to Peter are full of praise;  Jesus would build His church upon the rock, which is Peter.  Later on, Peter is named Cephas by Jesus, which means stone (John 1:42).  Note that in Acts 10 Peter is used by God to open the door of evangelizing the Gentiles.  This door is "loosed" in heaven just as it is "loosed" on earth.  Peter is given great responsibility in building the church of God.
            Jesus, in 16:20, commands His disciples not to tell anyone that He is Jesus the Christ.  From that point on, He begins to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, be tortured and killed, and raised to life on the third day.
            Upon hearing this, Peter takes Jesus aside and rebukes Him, saying, "Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee."  Jesus turns and tells Peter, "Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men."
            It is quite possible that the powerful words of praise and admonition Jesus spoke to Peter stirred up Peter's flesh - his pride - to the point that he usurps Jesus and begins to rebuke the Son of God.  Remember, when men praise you, do not believe it.  All praise and glory belongs to God, our Creator.  The minute you begin to believe the praise people heap on you for something you do or say is the same time you usurp and steal praise from the ONE who really deserves it.  God owns us!
            After rebuking Peter, Jesus goes on to tell His disciples that if any man wants to come after Him, he must deny himself and take up his cross, and follow Him.  He goes on to say in 16:25, "For whosoever will save his life will lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?  Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"
            Let us dissect these words.  What does Jesus mean when He says we must deny ourselves?  Well, it all depends on who you want to guide and lead you in your life.  Do you live your life according to the flesh or do you let the Spirit of God lead and guide you?  Are you pursuing your own selfish interests or are you about God's business?  Most people would not even consider asking such "silly" questions as these.  Of course they are out to pursue their own selfish interests, as in stockpiling money and material possessions.  Today, almost nobody is out to serve God and they would consider it ludicrous to "deny themselves" and serve God.  Most are only out to "gain the whole world."
            Jesus says another peculiar thing in Matthew 16:25; He says he who saves his lives will lose it, while he who loses his life for His sake, will find it.  Again, he who lives his life for himself and not for God, will lose his life, that is, go to hell.  However, he who "loses" his life - that is - gives his life to God to serve Him, will find "life," that is, eternal life.  Simply, living your life for yourself will land you in hell, while living your life for God will land you in heaven.
            Jesus makes another powerful statement in 16:26; what does it profit someone if they gain the whole world, but lose their soul in eternal hellfire when they die?  Investing your life in service to God is well worth the time and effort as, when you die, you will go on to eternal life.
            Jesus makes mention of His return in Matthew 16:27, saying He will come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He will reward every man according to his works.    
            Ask yourself what types of works you have stored up for Judgment Day.  Are your works those of the flesh (Galatians 5:19), or are they works dedicated to serving God and serving your fellow man?  Most will say here, that they work to serve others - but is that really true?  I mean, how much money do you really need, right?  Most people "serve" their fellow man in their work but that is not where their HEART is.  Their mind is not on serving; it is on the money.  Most people do not have a sincere heart when they "serve," as they only want to serve themselves by getting more and more money and moving on to a promotion or new job where there is even more money.  They have been brainwashed into thinking that money will make them happy.
            Furthermore, serving your fellow man insincerely is not true service - it is serving yourself.  And, when you are only thinking of serving yourself while you are "serving" someone else, you will be miserable.  No wonder so many people HATE their jobs!
            Jesus ends Matthew 16, saying to His disciples, that some of them will "not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom."  Obviously, none of the disciples lived to see the Rapture of the church or the Second Coming, but note what happens in the very next chapter of Matthew...