Tag: Matthew 16-19
A personal belief!
Scripture reading for October 10th: Matthew 16-19
The Pharisees and Sadducees were two groups of religious people that came to Jesus to test Him and sought to discredit Him. (Matthew 16:1-4) One day, they asked Jesus for a sign from heaven to confirm that He was Messiah. Jesus had just fed the 5000 with the loaves and fishes and had been doing many other miracles! (Matthew 14:16-21) Miracles don’t always convince people of truth!
Jesus’ response was to rebuke them. He told them that a wicked and adulterous generation would seek a sign. They would only be given the sign of Jonah, the prophet. He warned His followers to watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees. Jesus explained that the yeast was their teaching that would lead them and others away from the truth He was sharing.
They then traveled to Caesarea Philippi, an area at the source of the Jordan River. Jesus asked His disciples some key questions. “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” (Matthew 16:13) They told him various answers that were common among the people of that day. Jesus then asked them the most important question, “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15) Simon Peter immediately answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16) Jesus commended him for his answer. The Father had revealed this truth to him!
What conclusion have you come to regarding the identity of Jesus Christ? Is He someone who must show you one more “sign” before you will believe? Are you skeptical that He is the Son of God? Do you just feel that He is a prophet sent from God? All of these responses were present when Jesus walked the earth and was doing miraculous signs. Human reasoning and visual proof are well and good, but truth comes by revelation from God the Father. Revelation comes when we are humble and teachable enough to believe. Faith is the key ingredient, and that is a gift from God! (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Jesus concluded his remarks to Peter and the disciples after this discussion with a promise to build His church on ‘this rock’. The “rock” was Peter’s confession of who Christ was, not Peter himself. It is the only secure foundation for eternal life!
Who do you say that I am?
Scripture reading for October 9th: Matthew 16-19
The Pharisees and Sadducees were two groups of religious people that were in conflict with Jesus. They often came to Jesus to test Him or discredit Him in the eyes of the people. (Matthew 16:1-4) One day, they asked Jesus for a sign from heaven to confirm that He was Messiah. Jesus had just fed the 5000 with the loaves and fishes and had been doing many other miracles. (Matthew 14:16-21) He had offended the Pharisees earlier by warning the people about their hypocrisy. He called them blind guides who would lead their followers into a pit! (Matthew 15:12-14)
Jesus told them that a wicked and adulterous generation would seek a sign. They would only be given the sign of Jonah, the prophet. He then warned his followers to watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees. They didn’t understand. Jesus explained that the yeast was their teaching that would lead them and others away from the truth.
Next they traveled to Caesarea Philippi at the mouth of the Jordan River near Mount Herman. There Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” (Matthew 16:13) They told him various answers that were common among the people. Jesus then asked them the most important question, “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15) Simon Peter immediately answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16) Jesus commended him for his answer. The Father had revealed this truth to him!
How have you answered Jesus’ question? Is He someone who must show you one more “sign” before you will believe? Are you skeptical that He is the Son of God? Do you just feel that He is a prophet sent from God or someone famous who came back from the dead? Do people’s opinions shape your thoughts on Jesus Christ? All of these responses were present when Jesus walked the earth and was doing miraculous signs. Revelation comes when we are humble and teachable enough to believe. Faith is the key ingredient, and that is a gift from God! (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Jesus promised to build His church and told them that the gates of hell would not prevail against it . The “rock” was Peter’s confession of who Christ was, not Peter himself. Jesus is still building His church on that rock! It is the only secure foundation for eternal life!
Forgive My Brother Seven Times?
Scripture reading for October 11th: Matthew 16-19
When we are offended or hurt by another human being, particularly one who is close to us, one of the most difficult things to do is to forgive that offense. In fact, the Greek word for offense, “scandalon”, has a meaning related to the bait in a trap. If we choose to be offended, we take the bait and are caught in the trap! Many are the people who have been caught in the trap of offense and many are those who will miss heaven because they refuse to forgive others!
Jesus responded to Peter’s question, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” (Matthew 18:21-22) “Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.” (or seventy times seven) Jesus was trying to help Peter and his disciples understand the unlimited need that they would have to forgive others. It was so great that they could not keep track. To illustrate this point, Jesus told them a story.
In this story, a great king had a servant who owed him a sum roughly equivalent to $10,000,000. This servant could not pay back the debt, so the King ordered that he, his wife, his children, and all he had be sold. The servant begged the king for mercy promising to pay back everything; the king had compassion and forgave the debt! (Matthew 18:23-25) This same man then went out and found a man who owed him $20.00. He violently threatened him and had the man thrown in jail when he could not pay him. The poor man’s cries for mercy fell on deaf ears.
In due time, the king heard from others what had happened. He called in the servant on whom he had shown mercy. He reminded him of his mercy and asked why he did not show some mercy as well. The king then became angry and turned the man over to the torturers in jail. He would not get out until he paid all! The bottom line of this story was a picture of how our heavenly Father will treat each of us if we fail to forgive our brother from our heart!
Check your heart today! Have you forgiven those who have wronged you? Have you asked God to forgive you your sins and debt? Today is the best time to act!
Who Do You Say That I Am?
Scripture reading for October 10th: Matthew 16-19
The Pharisees and Sadducees are two groups of religious people that were often in conflict with Jesus. They often came to Jesus to test Him and to try to make themselves look good by discrediting Him. (Matthew 16:1-4) One day, they came asking Jesus for a sign from heaven to confirm that He was Messiah. Jesus had just fed the 5000 with the loaves and fishes and had been doing many other miracles. (Matthew 14:16-21) He had offended the Pharisees earlier by warning the people about the hypocrisy of those religious leaders. He called them blind guides that if someone would follow them, they would both fall into a pit! (Matthew 15:12-14) Now they were testing Him again!
Jesus’ response was to rebuke them and leave them quickly. He told them that a wicked and adulterous generation would seek a sign. They would only be given the sign of Jonah, the prophet. He then warned his followers to watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees. They didn’t understand. Jesus explained that the yeast was their teaching that would lead them and others away from the truth He was sharing.
They then traveled to Caesarea Philippi, an area at the mouth of the Jordan River at the foot of Mount Herman. There Jesus asked His disciples two key questions. Jesus asked them, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” (Matthew 16:13) They told him various answers that were common among the people of that day. Jesus then asked them the most important question, “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15) Simon Peter immediately answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16) Jesus commended him for his answer. He had come to the right conclusion, but not by man’s opinion or his own reasoning and mental ability. The Father had revealed this truth to him!
How have you answered Jesus’ question? What conclusion have you come to regarding the identity of Jesus Christ? Is He someone who must show you one more “sign” before you will believe? Are you skeptical that He is the Son of God? Do you just feel that He is a prophet sent from God or someone famous who has come back from the dead? Do people’s opinions shape your thoughts on Jesus Christ? All of these responses were present when Jesus walked the earth and was doing miraculous signs. Human reasoning and visual proof are well and good, but truth comes by revelation from God the Father. Revelation comes when we are humble and teachable enough to believe. Faith is the key ingredient, and that is a gift from God! (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Jesus concluded his remarks to Peter and the disciples after this discussion with a promise to build His church on ‘this rock’ and told them that the gates of hell would not prevail against that church. The “rock” was Peter’s confession of who Christ was, not Peter himself. Jesus is still building His church on that rock! It is a secure foundation for eternal life!