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Matthew

Selfish Thinking Prevents Godly Understanding

Matthew 16:5-7

Having seen how Jesus fed 5000 families (Matthew 14:13-21) and then 4000 families on different occasions, we might think that the disciples would not have any concern about the next meal. Either that or they would always ensure they had sufficient food supplies.  So it seems strange to read that they set out on another journey without food, because they forgot.
 

Religious Obsession Obscures God's Grace

Matthew 16:8-12

The disciples had left the bread behind (Matthew 16:7); so when Jesus talked about the 'yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees' (Matthew 16:6) they thought He was criticising their failure.  They did not want to be shamed by the Lord (Matthew 14:31) and tried to please Him.  However, His holiness was a continual reminder of their sinfulness, giving them an inner urge to do better but also the sinking realisation that they could not meet His standard.
 

Who Is Jesus?

Matthew 16:13-16

A person's true identity is very important.  Many pretend that they are something they are not; while some prefer not to be recognised for who they are or what they have done.  But understanding who you are talking to is essential for real relationship.  The trainee apostles had spent over a year with Jesus; they observed the integrity of His character, heard the wisdom of His teaching, saw His compassion and power expressed in many miracles.  But they had been rebuked for failing to trust Him (Matthew 8:26).
 

Rock-solid Faith

Matthew 16:17-20

Simon Peter had just confessed that he believed that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:13-16).  It was a huge statement and maybe it even surprised the brazen fisherman.  Peter’s confident announcement owed nothing to his intellect or Bible knowledge.  The truth came from God the Father as a gift to Peter; he could see exactly who Jesus was.  As he grasped the truth by faith, Jesus gave him a new name, Peter, which means ‘Rock’.  Of course, Jesus is the unchangeably secure Rock (Matthew 7:24), but everybody who trusts in Him is made unshakable and unashamed (2 Timo

On-side Or Obstacle

Matthew 16:21-23

Peter had just declared that Jesus was the Christ (Messiah), the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16).  It was God's direct revelation to him, and Jesus declared that such faith would become the foundation of the church (Matthew 16:18-19).  Peter would have felt that he was certainly 'on-side' with Jesus. It was the 'high point' of the disciples' interaction with Jesus: they were now confident they knew who He was.  But, at the same time, the divine countdown to the cross had begun.
 

The Cross Comes Before The Crown

Matthew 16:24-26

The disciples of Jesus were naturally sinful and selfish – like the writer and readers of Word@Work.  Their sinful instincts were to advance themselves and use anyone else, including Jesus, to do so.  Although they were on a training course to be the apostolic leaders of the church, they were more concerned with their own welfare.  So when Jesus told them that He would suffer at the hands of the religious leaders and be killed, they could not accept it: surely, they thought, Jesus would become the popular king of Israel and they would share His glory (Luke 9:46-48).
 

The Glorified Jesus

Matthew 16:27-28

For us human beings, death appears to be the end.  That is what the disciples thought when Jesus told them He would die at the hands of violent religious men (Matthew 16:21).  But after the cross comes the crown.  That's a certainty, because Jesus is the eternal King.  It was impossible for the disciples to visualise what Jesus meant in these verses, but the words had potent life in themselves, and the disciples remembered them (we know because they were written down) until they could understand.
 

Eye-Witness Evidence

Matthew 17:1-3

Six days previously, Jesus told the disciples that some of them would not die until they had seen Him in His glory (Matthew 16:28).  So soon that promise was fulfilled.  He took the three men who would become the leading apostles to show them something of His supernatural nature.  Why just three?  They were to be eye-witnesses who all saw and heard the events on that mountain, and were confident to give that evidence to the Early Church (Acts 1:8).
 

A Temporary Glimpse Of Heaven

Matthew 17:4-5

Jesus’ transfiguration was a unique occasion (Matthew 17:1-3).  Physically, Jesus was changed; His face and clothing were brilliantly white.  Relationally, Moses and Elijah were there too ... recognisable and talking with Jesus (Matthew 17:3).  It was a foretaste of heaven in which Jesus affirmed the previous ministry of the Law and the Prophets.  Moses had died, but Elijah was taken up to heaven alive in a whirlwind: they represented the church who would die before the Second Coming, and those who would still be alive at Christ’s return (1 Thessalonians 4:15).
 

The Effect Of God's Voice

Matthew 17:6-9

If the glorious appearance of Jesus with Moses and Elijah startled Peter, James and John (Matthew 17:1-4) - the audible voice of God terrified them. "While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, 'This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!'" (Matthew 17:5). They fell to the ground like the prophets Ezekiel (Ezekiel 3:23) and Daniel (Daniel 8:17-18).  The voice of God was awesome in its tone, power and content.
 

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