 |
 |
||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
BIBLE STUDY MATTHEW 16:1-28 REVIEW: Chapter 15 consisted of two main sections: 1) a controversy over the importance of tradition, and 2) the issue of Gentiles sharing in God’s salvation. In the first part of the chapter, Pharisees and scribes criticized Jesus’ disciples for not strictly observing the “tradition of the elders” in ritually washing their hands before eating. They held that tradition was as important as the written law. In reply, Jesus shows that for him the written law was more important than tradition – indeed, tradition in some cases can actually conflict with the written law (such as honoring one’s parents – the 4th commandment). And ultimately, true religion depends upon the condition of one’s heart in having a right relationship with others and with God – not by the observance of rituals and traditions. In the second part of the chapter, Jesus heals the daughter of a Canaanite woman after she makes the case that “even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Next Jesus heals many people who are apparently Gentiles, and then repeats his miracle of feeding thousands of people from a small amount (7 loaves) of bread and a few small fish. Again, it is inferred that many of these people are Gentiles, since the number “7” is often symbolic of Gentiles just as the number “12” is symbolic for Jews – also the baskets used to collect the leftovers were those usually used by Gentiles. The point of these passages is that God’s salvation through Jesus – although first made available to the Jews as God’s chosen people – now is also available to the Gentiles as well! CHAPTER 16:1-4 “The Signs of the Times” “The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test Jesus they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” Then he left them and went away.” It was very unusual for the Pharisees and Sadducees to be mentioned together (the only other place in Matthew where this is so is Matthew 3:7), since they were opposed to each other in almost every way. For example: the Pharisees believed in angels and in a resurrection of the dead, the Sadducees did not; the Sadducees accepted only the first five books of the Bible (the Torah) as the authoritative teaching of God, the Pharisees also accepted the teachings of the prophets and the Psalms; the Pharisees lived according to both the written law and the tradition of scribal law, the Sadducees accepted only the written law in the Torah as valid; and – perhaps most important, the Pharisees were not a political party and rejected involvement in politics, while the Sadducees actively collaborated with the Roman government in order to retain their wealth and privileges. The only thing that they seemed to have in common was their hostility to Jesus. They come together to “test” him by asking him to produce a “sign” from heaven. (The Greek word peirazontes also means to “tempt” – see Mt. 4:1 – thus perhaps implying that Satan was working through them!) Jesus replies that they understand the “signs” of the heavens when it comes to weather forecasting, but refuse to understand the “signs” of the times – namely, that they should repent – because they are an evil and adulterous (apostate) generation. The “sign of Jonah” (also referred to earlier in Mt. 12:38-42) was that people recognized God’s word and repented of their sins when they heard it. This was something that the Pharisees and Sadducees would not do – and so Jesus left them rather than engage in any further argument with them (because they obviously would not change their minds and hearts). CHAPTER 16:5-12 “The Dangerous Teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees” “When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. Jesus said to them, “Watch out, and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” They said to one another, “It is because we have brought no bread.” And becoming aware of it, Jesus said, “You of little faith, why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? How could you fail to perceive that I was not speaking about bread? Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!” Then they understood that he had not told them to beware of the yeast of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” This passage is actually a continuation of the previous one about Jesus’ controversy with the Pharisees and Sadducees. The disciples had forgotten to bring any bread with them, and apparently they were very worried about this. Why? Because they were now back in Gentile territory on the other side of the lake – and no orthodox Jew could eat any bread that had been baked or handled by a Gentile – therefore the disciples could not go and buy the bread they needed. At first the disciples apparently think that Jesus is adding an additional warning – to also avoid buying bread from Pharisees and Sadducees – the groups he has just been in conflict with. This makes them even more worried, since this would make finding “clean” bread almost impossible. Jesus, of course, was not talking about literal bread – so he tells them two things. First, he reminds them that he had provided people with plenty of bread from just a little in his miracles of feeding five thousand and also feeding four thousand. That is, they are to trust that he will provide what they need. Jesus has already referred to this back in his “Sermon on the Mount” in Matthew 6:25-33 – and it is a message that we need to remember for our lives today as well. Do not worry – for God loves us and will take care of us! Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, Jesus tells them again to “beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees” – and this time the disciples understand that he is referring to their teaching. The Jews often saw yeast as being a metaphor for an evil influence – as something that was liable to spread through life and corrupt it (see 1 Corinthians 5:5-8). (Jesus had also used the example of yeast as referring to the kingdom of heaven in Mt. 13:33, but this was an exception rather than the rule.) What was the evil influence of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees that Jesus was warning his disciples against? William Barclay in his Daily Study Bible commentary states:
CHAPTER 16:13-20 “Peter’s Confession at Caesarea Philippi” “Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.” This is one of the most significant passages in the entire gospel of Matthew. It tells us about whom Jesus is; it tells us about the importance of Peter; and it also tells us about the church prevailing against “the gates of Hades”. Let us look at each of these things in more detail. First, this passage tells us about whom Jesus is. In the district of Caesarea Philippi – a city known for its many temples to various deities – Jesus asked his disciples what people were saying about him (“the Son of Man”). After the disciples answer that people were speculating that he might be John the Baptist (as Herod did in Mt. 14:1-2), Elijah (who was supposed to appear as the forerunner of the Messiah (see Malachi 4:5-6. also Mt. 11:14), Jeremiah (mentioned several times in Matthew’s gospel – Mt. 2:17, 16:4, 27:9), or one of the (other) prophets, Jesus asks them whom THEY say he is. Ultimately, our faith must be a personal confession rather than a report of what others believe and say! Peter states his belief that Jesus is the Messiah (Christ), the Son of the living God – that is, someone much greater than any of the prophets just mentioned. Jesus then praises Peter, stating that this answer was a direct revelation to him from God. So it must be for all of us when it comes to our faith in Jesus Christ. As Luther states in his Small Catechism: “I believe that I cannot by my own understanding or effort believe in Jesus Christ my Lord, or come to him. But the Holy Spirit has called me through the gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, and sanctified and kept me in true faith.” Secondly, this passage tells us about the blessing and the promise that is given to Peter. Simon is called Peter (petros) – a word play on the Greek word for “rock” (petra). Jesus says that on this rock he will build his church (ecclesia - community). This statement is interpreted different by Roman Catholics and Protestants:
Peter is also told that he will be given the “keys” of the kingdom of heaven – and that whatever he binds on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever he looses on earth will be loosed in heaven. Traditionally, Christians have understood this to mean the authority to forgive or retain sins (“the Office of the Keys”). However, that probably is NOT the original meaning of this statement, but rather that Peter (or the church as a whole) had the authority to bind or to loose various teachings and requirements of the Torah. This would have been especially important for Matthew’s original community of Christian Jews – and would certainly be in accordance with Jesus’ parable (Mt. 13:52) that “every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.” In other words, to value both tradition (“to bind”) and what is new (“to loose”). Finally, this passage tells us about the church prevailing against the gates of Hades. This has often been misunderstood in that usually people think about the forces of evil and death (Hades) attacking the church – and yet not overpowering it. Indeed, this is the image portrayed in Martin Luther’s famous hymn “A Mighty Fortress is our God”. But actually, it is the other way around – the church is attacking the forces of evil and death, and the gates of Hades can not withstand against what God is doing among us and through us! CHAPTER 16:21-23 “The Great Rebuke” “From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” Most Jews of Jesus’ time were looking for a Messiah who would be a “warrior king”, and very probably so were Jesus’ disciples as well. Jesus, however, began to show them that his Messiahship would be opposed by his enemies and that he would therefore suffer and be killed (before being raised on the third day). Peter, speaking for all the disciples, tries to dissuade Jesus from this kind of thinking – and so Jesus rebukes him, calling him “Satan” (literally “The Adversary”) and a “stumbling block” to him. It is often true that Satan uses our closest friends and loved ones to try to keep us from doing God’s will – and that is what was happening with Peter. Peter was trying to dissuade Jesus from going to Jerusalem to suffer and die for two reasons: 1) because he – like most people – thought that this must NOT happen to the Messiah, and 2) because he truly loved Jesus and did not want anything bad to happen to him. Do we sometimes try to keep people from following God’s will because of our preconceived opinions or because of our love for them? Do others sometimes do this with us? CHAPTER 16:24-28 “The Great Challenge” “Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life? For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” In this passage Jesus starkly lays out what it means to be his disciples. How far this is from casual “church membership” that many people have! Let us look at Jesus’ expectations in greater detail…
Jesus goes on to say that “those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.” When Matthew wrote his gospel, the church was often under persecution – and Christians were sometimes under great pressure to abandon their faith. But by “saving” their life in this way, they would lose the peace and joy of having a relationship with Christ. On the other hand, remaining faithful to Christ would give them a peace and joy and purpose for living which would be more than worthwhile – even if that should result in persecution or even death. Today we may not be facing overt persecution for our faith, but there are still many pressures that tempt many Christians to abandon serving Jesus in favor of other worldly priorities. By doing so they may “save” their life in the short run, but end up “losing” what is ultimately important! Finally, Jesus gives both a warning and a promise. The warning is that there will be a judgment for how we have lived our lives. The promise is that those who follow Jesus will also experience the glory of his kingdom. (This promise became literally true for Peter, James, and John immediately after this when Jesus was transfigured in Mt. 17:1-8.) I (Pastor George) believe that at the end of time our relationship with Jesus will be just like it is now – but even more so! If following and serving Jesus is not a central priority for us now, our relationship with him at the judgment and beyond will be even less so. Indeed, Jesus will say “Depart from me…” (Mt. 25:41). But for those who love and faithfully follow and serve Jesus now, our relationship with him at the end will be even more so! We will see and experience his glory! May this be so for us! -------------------- George R. Karres, Pella Lutheran Church 418 W. Main Street Sidney, MT 59270
|
||||