Matthew 16

1-12 When Jesus got to the coast of Magdala and came into the part of Dalmanutha which is a district of Magdala, Pharisees and Sadducees came and started talking and pressuring or tempting Jesus that He would shew them a sign from heaven. The Pharisees and Sadducees did not get along and were at odds against each other (Acts 23:6). The Sadducees always try to maintain their own way and authority, so they were in favor with Roman to keep their position. The Pharisees hated the Roman power and desire that they be over thrown and conquered. Because of Christ and His works, both Pharisees and Sadducees unite against Christ. Jesus was doing good and helping many people. But the Pharisees and Sadducees were not pleased because people were going to Him instead of them. They were so jealous that they had council to find a way to kill Him (John 11:47-53; Mark 3:6; Matthew 26:59; Mark 14:1). 

 

The rulers in Israel were always asking for signs (Matthew 12:38; Luke 11:16) and they were plenty of signs that they missed. The Pharisees had no sympathy for human suffering and in many cases they were their affliction was the cause. The miracles that they saw Jesus do was a reproach to them. Jesus answered them and point them to the weather (nature). When it is evening and the sky is red, you say it will be fair weather and in the morning, when the sky is red and overcast, you say it will be foul weather today. How can you discern and see what kind of weather it will be but you cannot discern the signs of the times? Then Jesus said they are a wicked and adulterous generation, the only sign that will be given is the sign of the prophet Jonas. What is the sign of the prophet Jonas? Luke 11:29-30, so Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, Jesus is the sign to this generation. The city of Nineveh was also a wicked city Jonah 1:2. In Jonah 3:1-4, Jonah went into the city and cried against it saying, in forty days Nineveh shall be destroyed. The people believed him and repented from their evil works and the city was not destroyed.

 

Jesus is also a sign in the generation He is in because it is just as wicked. Jonah said in forty days Nineveh shall be destroyed. Jesus said in Matthew 23:38, 

 

Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.

 

What Jesus was saying is Jerusalem was going to be destroyed, because they kept rejecting Him. From 30 A.D. unto 70 A.D. which is forty years. In 70 A.D. Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans. When Jesus was on earth constantly trying to reach the people of that city, especially the rulers, they rejected Him. Jesus started His ministry in 27 A.D. and He was crucified in 31 A.D. and also sent prophets and messengers, but they refused. Jonah said in forty days the city was going to be destroyed and they believed it and repented. Jesus said Jerusalem was going to be destroyed (Matthew 24:2; Luke 19:41-44; Luke 21:20-24) in forty years and those that believed escape because there was a sign given and an opportunity to leave before the city was doomed. Jesus had given His disciples warning and to watch for the sign and not one Christian was destroyed in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. During that time the Feast of Tabernacles was assembled and the Romans came under Cestius to surround the city, but then, they unexpectedly left when everything was in their favor to attack. This was the sign and the opportunity to leave and those who recognize the sign left and was able to make their escape.

 

We have to be mindful and watchful to discern the signs of the times. It should lead us to seek our Saviour more and more so we can repent and be spared from the destruction of the world which Jerusalem was a type. Then Jesus left and departed.

 

When the disciples met up with Jesus again from feeding the four thousand and had forgotten to take up the bread that was leftover, Jesus said unto them be careful of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. They didn’t understand what He meant, but thought of forgetting the bread. Jesus perceived what they were thinking and said you have little faith, don’t reason about the bread or the fragments that was leftover. I am not speaking of the physical or leaven of bread, but the bread regarding the Pharisees and Sadducees. Then the disciples understood that Jesus was talking about the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees. 

 

What is the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees? Jesus said except your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. The Pharisees were self righteous and self-seeking, all their works were for praise and to be seen of men, but inside their were full of dead bones. Jesus said in Luke 12:1 their leaven (doctrine) is hypocrisy and the commandments of men which they themselves come up with (Matthew 15:3-9). The Sadducees also had their own doctrine and in Acts 23:8, they say there is no resurrection, although they asked Jesus about it (Matthew 22:23-33), no angels or spirit. The words of the Pharisees and Sadducees plant unbelief in people’s heart so that it causes to think not upon the words and works of Christ. This is why Christ also said "Take heed that no one deceives you" Matthew 24:3

 

There was danger that the crafty reasoning of the Pharisees and the Sadducees would leaven His disciples with unbelief, causing them to think lightly of the works of Christ. DA 407.3

 

13-20 Jesus ask his disciples what have you heard people say who I am? and some of them responded by saying John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets that is risen again (Luke 9:19). But then Jesus get personal and ask them, but who do you say that I am? and Peter answered and said "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus says flesh and blood has not reveal this to you, but my Father which is in heaven. Then Jesus says, on this will I build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Jesus also says "Thou are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church…" Peter is the one that said that Jesus is the Christ. So here we have a rock and a piece of a rock which is a stone. Peter signifies a stone, so the church will not be built on this. As a matter of fact, the gates of hell did prevail against Peter when he denied his Lord with cursing and swearing. But the "Rock" which is Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Upon this the church shall be established and when the rain falls and the floods come and the winds blow, the house shall not fall, for it was founded upon a rock (Matthew 7:24-25). What Peter professed as Christ being the Son of the living God is the foundation of every believer’s faith. We completely depend upon Him. It is only the Holy Spirit that can teach and reveal this to us. Knowing this gives us the keys of the kingdom of heaven.

 

"The keys of the kingdom of heaven" are the words of Christ. All the words of Holy Scripture are His, and are here included. These words have power to open and to shut heaven. They declare the conditions upon which men are received or rejected. Thus the work of those who preach God's word is a savor of life unto life or of death unto death. Theirs is a mission weighted with eternal results. DA 413.6

 

When we share the gospel of Christ, we are giving them the keys of the kingdom. If they accept, they will be loose here on earth, which will allow them also to be loose in heaven. They will be free from sin, but if they don’t accept, they will continue to be bound on earth which will also bound them in heaven and will not be free from sin which will keep them from heaven. In Luke 11:52, Christ pronounces a woe upon the  religious leaders because they have kept away the key so others can know the gospel and because of that they are hindered.

 

The gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Against what? against the church, whose foundation is Christ, the Son of the living God, who I will build my church, the gates of hell cannot prevail against that foundation. Psalm 116:3; Proverbs 5:5; Psalm 55:15; Revelation 6:8 so hell is also associated with what? Death. And Jesus said in Revelation 1:18, I have the keys of hell and death. So when Jesus said the gates of hell shall not prevail against it, He is saying not even the powers of death and all its’ forces can prevail against the church of the living God Revelation 12:7. Jesus also told them not to make known that He was the Christ.

 

21-23 Jesus starts to tell them that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer and be killed and then raise again on the third day. But Peter allowed Satan to use him to rebuke Jesus to try to convince Him that this will not happen. Because Satan understands that Christ was coming to die for the sins of the world. Jesus then tells the truth and rebukes Peter, but He knew it was Satan and told him "Get thee behind me Satan" Jesus was going to allow the scriptures to be fulfilled. 

 

24-28 Jesus says to His disciples, that if you are going to follow me, then you must deny your yourself and take your cross and follow me. What does it mean to deny yourself? Titus 2:11-12 is to look and follow Christ and allow Him to teach you how to deny ungodliness and worldly lust. Ungodliness is ungodly lust Jude 1:17-19, 15-16;  Romans 1:18. So Christ is asking us to deny ungodly sin in the flesh. Not to let sin have dominion over you Roman 6:12-14, 19; 7:25 and all it takes is to yield whether to unrighteousness unto sin or to righteousness unto God. This is done by choice. When we chose Christ and deny ourselves we are walking after the Spirit and not after the flesh, the flesh with the affections and lust will have to be crucified Galatians 5:24. So we should mortify (make dead; put to death; worn out; destroy the strength of; deprive of power) the earthly members of the flesh and put on the image of God that created us Colossians 3:5-10; because we will have to give an account 1 Peter 4:2-5. This is denying yourself. 

 

Self is the enemy we most need to fear. No form of vice has a more baleful effect upon the character than has human passion not under the control of the Holy Spirit. No other victory we can gain will be so precious as the victory gained over self. MH 485.1

 

What does it mean to take up his cross? Taking up the cross is to be obedient Philippians 2:8 Christ became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. You will hold the cross unto death, bear it unto death, hold on to it unto death. Taking the cross is to give glory to God and be crucified to the world Galatians 6:14. Not to trust in the flesh or mind the earthly things Philippians 3:3-4, 17-19. Whoever does not bear his cross and come after Jesus cannot be his disciple  Luke 14:27; People will try to convince you to come down from the cross or don’t bear it Mark 15:30; Simon of Cyrenian bear the cross after Jesus Luke 23:26; To take up the cross means to have suffered in the flesh and this is having the same mind, that we no longer live in the flesh but to the will of God 1 Peter 4:1-2, 14-16, 2:23; to take the cross also means to endure and despise the shame Hebrews 12:2-5; 5:8; Psalm 22:6-8; 

 

First angel’s message - Fear God (deny self, denying all ungodliness and worldly lust; crucify the flesh 2 Cor 7:1) and give glory  to him (You should glory in nothings else, except the cross and to take up your cross and bear it Gal 6:14) for the hour of his judgment is come ( Jesus said follow me and we should follow Jesus into the Most Holy Place Rev 14:4)

 

Not to deny self and take up the cross and follow Jesus, we would end up trying to save our life and Jesus said, if you try to save your life, you will lose it, but if you lose your life for my sake shall find it. Because your life will be hid with Christ in God Colossians 3:3

 

Christ is saying two things to us. That we should have self denial 16:24 and self sacrifice 16:25

 

What profit is it to not deny self (which is to fulfill the lust thereof), not to take up your cross (not giving glory to God) and follow Jesus and then go and do whatever you want which you will go to try and gain the whole world and then lose your own soul. There is nothing out there in the world that a man can give in exchange for his own soul. Because all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, which is not of the Father, but is of the world 1 John 2:16. Jesus will come in the glory of his Father with his angels and shall reward everyone according to his works.

 

Then Jesus says, there shall be some standing here which shall not see death until they see the Son of Man coming in His glory and kingdom. This was fulfilled six days later at the Mount of Transfiguration.