A sign
Mat 16:1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would show them a sign from heaven.
He had warned his disciples about these religious leaders, they had evil hearts. Sometimes people hide behind titles and justify themselves because of their title. God sees their hearts, not the titles they go by. Were they God's representatives? Who called them?
Luke 6:22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
Luke 6:23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
They may separate you to steal, kill and destroy God's work in you. They wish to control you, so remember that we are now separated unto God and for his service. We are to follow the Good Shepherd and be with those who follow him.
2 Cor 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
2 Cor 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2 Cor 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Mat 16:2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
Mat 16:3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?
Mat 16:4 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. And he left them, and departed.
Mat 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
This shall be the sign from Jesus for those who can see. He shall be killed, His blood shed for our forgiveness of sins. He shall arise on the third day to everlasting life. This is our sign and our hope. This is the gospel message that we preach.
Thou art the Christ
Mat 16:13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
He had previously warned them of those who were false leaders who were among their religious leaders. Now he asks them to see if others knew who he was. Do others discern that Jesus, the Son of Man is the Messiah, the Son of God?
Mat 16:14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
All the names listed were prophets of God, who heard from God and spoke his message. Many still believe that Jesus is only a prophet. He was none of the above, although he was a prophet and much more as God's son.
Mat 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
Salvation knowledge is personal, who do you say I am? A good question to ask when witnessing. Who do you say Jesus is?
1 Cor 12:3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Mat 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Way to go Simon Peter, you discerned by the Spirit of God the identity of Jesus. The Spirit testifies of the Father and the Son.
John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
It is important to understand who Jesus is; not was. He did not disappear in death 2000 years ago, he is risen alive forever more. He alone can save us from sins and give us eternal life. There is only Christ Jesus, the door to heaven. All other ways are false.
Head of the Church
Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Many take this to mean that Peter is the rock that the church will be built on. This led to a line of rulers over a church, the popes, supposedly descended from Peter. No, the Lord Jesus is the head of the church. See how a little error can start another church system? There is but one church, those who trust in Christ, the rock and his saints are those who trust in him. The other church system tends to lead into idolatry. Taking away from Jesus and making the way difficult. One head, Christ is the head of the church.
Christ, the head of the church
Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Eph 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
Eph 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
Eph 1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Jesus Christ, the rock
1 Cor 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
1 Cor 10:2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
1 Cor 10:3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
1 Cor 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
Simon Peter calls Jesus the chief cornerstone
1 Pet 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
1 Pet 2:7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
1 Pet 2:8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
Peter means little rock, follower of the rock, just as Christian means little Christ's, followers of Christ Jesus.
Mat 16:19 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.
There is kingdom power given to those who trust in Jesus, the Christ; it was not for Peter alone. Peter was one of the first to identify Jesus as Lord and Christ. All who trust in his name have access to His Spiritual authority. That is why we pray in the name of Jesus, it is in His authority, not our own. Yet all he has belongs to us who receive and are received by Him.
Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
John 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
Mat 16:20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
It was not yet time for him to be glorified. The religious leaders would only blindly seek to kill him. The natural man cannot understand the spiritual. Each must receive from God, to be able to understand and it was not yet time. We understand, we know that Jesus is the Christ, the head of the church and the rock of our faith. Through him is kingdom power over all spiritual things. We are children of God through Christ Jesus.
Take up your cross
Mat 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
This is the first reference by Jesus of the cross. Apparently the disciples were familiar with this cruel Roman torture of putting convicted criminals on the cross to die with shame and ridicule from the world. Do not be surprised that when we die to self and follow Jesus, that the world will persecute you and ridicule you. This is the work of the devil, which we leave behind as we follow Jesus. Our life is no longer self actualized, as is so popular in the world. It is following God's lead, which requires the study of His word and the sensitivity to the voice of God and the Spirits leading in all that we do.
Mark 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
Rom 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Mat 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Rom 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Mat 16:26 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?
Mat 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Mat 16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Col 3:24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
Col 3:25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
Mat 16:28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
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