Matthew 16

S - Matt 16
O -
1The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.2He replied, "When evening comes, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,'3and in the morning, 'Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.4A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah." Jesus then left them and went away.
v1 - the Pharisees wanted more compelling proof of Jesus' divine authority than his miracles, but he refused because the request came from unbelief.This was asked back in Matt 12:38, and Jesus gave the same reply.It is interesting that he says the Pharisees and Sadducees "cannot interpret the signs of the times". because of their unbelief? or because God works in ways that can't be explained.
6"Be careful," Jesus said to them. "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees."
referring to the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees (v12)


8Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, "You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread?9Do you still not understand? Don't you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?10Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?11How is it you don't understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees."
Again, like in Matt 15, it's as though Jesus is saying to them: you spiritually dull people! where is your faith. It seems insane that Jesus can perform these incredible miracles and yet when the same situation comes around the 3rd time, the disciples still lack faith and don't trust that Jesus will bring them through once more. Goes to show that Jesus' answer to the Pharisees and Sadducees is spot on. Many of the modern generation yearn for miracles and signs, but even if there are many miracles performed and witnessed by people, that doesn't mean their faith in God is strengthened, when it really should.
13When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"14They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
Caesarea Philippi - region was especially Pagan. Originally namedd after Greek god Pan, "Paneas" (Banias)
15"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"16Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
The OT equivalent (Messiah) is used of anyone who was anointed with the holy oil, e.g. priests and kings of Israel.
Idea of being chosen by God, consecrated to his service, endued with his power to accomplish the assigned task.
Toward end of OT period, "Christ" assumed special meaning - denoted the ideal king anointed and empowered by God to rescue his people from their enemies and establish his righteous kingdom.
Messiah - tended to be political and national in nature. (Probably why Jesus seldom used the term).
17Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man,but by my Father in heaven.18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hadeswill not overcome it.19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."20Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.
v18 - In Greek "Peter" is petros - detached stone and "rock" is petra - bedrock. Several interpretations - The 'bedrock' on which the church is built is1) Christ2) Peter's confession of faith in Jesus as the Messiah v163) Christ's teachings - one of the great emphases of Matthew's Gospel4) Peter himself, understood in terms of his role on the day of Pentecost (Acts2), the Cornelius incident (Ac10) and his leadership among the apostlesEph 2:20 - church is "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone"
Church - this word only used by Matthew in the Gospels (here and twice in 18:17).In Septuagint - used for the congregation of Israel.In Greek circles of Jesus' day it indicated the assembly of free, voting citizens in a city.
Hades - Greek name for the place of departed spirits, equivalent to Hebrew Sheol."gates of Hades" may mean "powers of death" - all forces opposed to Christ and his kingdom (but see note on Job 17:16)
v20 - Because of the false concepts of the Jews, who looked for an exclusively national and political Messiah, Jesus told his disciples not to publicized Peter's confession, lest it precipitate a revolution against Rome.21From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.


The beginning of a new emphasis in Jesus' ministry. Instead of teaching the crowds in parables, he concentrated on preparing the disciples of his coming suffering and death.


22Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!"23Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."Satan - a loanword from Hebrew, meaning "adversary" or "accuser". 
24Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.25For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.26What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?27For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.28I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."v28 2 interpretations...1. prediction of the transfiguration which happened a week later (17:1), and which demonstrated that Jesus will return in his Father's glory (16:27)2. Refers to the Son of Man's authority and kingly reign in his post-resurrection church. Some of his disciples will witness - even participate in - this as described in Acts. context seems to favour the first view (note 2 Pe1:16 - In Christ's transfiguration the disciples received a foretaste of what his coming willl be like when he returns to establish his eternal kingdom"
P - I read the references from the study bible from those 2 interpretation parts and learnt a lot. Thanks God. Thanks Spirit.