Reading Scripture helps us know God's Love. Every Bible verse is written for you. Jesus Christ is all mankind's Light. John 1!

Thursday, June 09, 2011

Matthew 16:1-19 ~ sign of the times






Matthew 16:1-19


English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible


And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ 3 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. 4 An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.”

So he left them and departed.
5 When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. 6 Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 7 And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.” 8 But Jesus, aware of this, said, “O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? 9 Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 11 How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

12 Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock [
the Greek words for Peter and rock sound similar ] I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

You have to love Jesus. In our Tuesday Women's Bible Study, our Deacon pointed out Mark 1 has everything Jesus does happening very quickly. The words immediately, directly, all at once - all words of Jesus' power.

Jesus IS the Son of God. The men writing the Scripture - Are - directed by the Holy Spirit. Many times the way the paragraphs and the sentences, the Scriptures are written, convey a greater meaning. I've been advised - don't put in a whole Chapter - it's too long - it won't hold the reader's attention. Yes and No. One, we are here to worship and love the Lord. Two, every single word of the Lord has meaning. Even when we look at different versions, and different languages - God's meaning is powerful.

So..... today. Jesus is laughing at the Pharisees. A sign. A sign. A sign. One? No. Not one sign. Multitudes. Pharisees, behold the deaf hear, the blind see .... and..... the Pharisees remain unconvinced... enough to pry their fingers off of their positions of influence and power.

Notice how these paragraphs of God's Word are put together. A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. Yes, God's word is amazing. Jesus skirmishes with the religious (not relationship) and takes His followers to Caesarea. Caesarea - why - this is the power the Temple of God's Pharisees are resting on. 'King' Herod is not from David's line and Judea is a Roman/client/puppet state. Caesarea is Caesar's city and Herod is appointing the Priests of the Temple.

Jesus takes His followers to "Rome" to tell them: And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

No other organization, Empire, has 2,000 years.... except God.

Here is the Royal Stoa - Herod built this public building - was used for the purchase, sale of animals for sacrifices, and exchanging coins for Tyrian half-sheckels which were regularly paid by pilgrims as tax for the Temple upkeep. Not the building Jesus used for teaching - but where Jesus would have gone to throw over the tables. Jesus said den of thieves as He threw the tables over.

Okay, pulling up the picture of the Royal Stoa and an archaeological fragment of it...



Fragment left by the 70 AD destruction by later Emperor Titus. 70 AD would have been Jesus' natural lifespan.



So, today's passage has Jesus telling His followers in Caesarea about the coming Church. Jesus' Church. The Rock. In Caesarea.

Here is a picture of the first St. Peter's Basilica built by Emperor Constantine from 326 -333 AD. It was of typical basilica architecture. Romans were famous for the architecture. Domes, Arches, Concrete, Columns - there were many forms this building could have taken. Typical basilica (basilica - Roman public building) architecture was the Royal Stoa beside the 2nd Temple in Jerusalem. Herod had built a Roman basilica on the 36 acres of the Temple. 103.6 metres (340 ft) Emperor Constantine (who naively believed Christian citizens would be more controllable) built a very similar basilica upon Peter's tomb:


Our Minister, Clark Lowenfield, says each Sunday, "There are no coincidences, just works of God."

Jesus saw His Church would overcome the gates of hell, He saw it would be overcome Roman Empire authority. Think of all the criticisms of the Church. How many times men have used God's Church for their own power. God's Christian Church is sometimes the Pharisees Jesus spoke against. And before we are all worked up over the inadequacies of the Church, let's remember this is Scripture for us... today.

Who were the Pharisees? They were the people who valued their image more than they valued a relationship with God's Son. They are... me.... and you.

John 2:24-25
But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.

Jesus, ultimately, did entrust His life to God and gave that life for you. He knows what is in the heart of mankind. He knows about the Popes who didn't give grace and mercy. He knows about the crusades to burn people into loving the Lord. He know the priests who gave such pain to people trying to follow Jesus. He knows you and your heart. Your gifts and your sins.

Luke 13:34
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!

Father God, open our hearts to You. Let us be willing to be gathered to You as Your Child. Let us rest in Your Grace. In the name of Jesus Christ. We pray for Your world-wide Church for Your love to fill and direct the people You send. Let us be Your Temple and not Herod's Royal Stoa. In Jesus' name. Amen.







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Email registry at bottom.! “All Scripture is inspired by God” (2 Timothy 3:16). Men “moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2 Peter 1:21). The Holy Spirit carried men along, moving and guiding them as they wrote in their own words what God wanted them to say. The Bible is unique; comprised of 80 separate books, & written over a period of thousands of years by more than 40 writers with one Author, spanning the centuries, different states of peace & war & different situations in life. The Bible answers the question: of who is God, who is man & what can their relationship can be. Although the Bible was written on perishable material and copied by hand for many centuries, its accuracy is not in doubt, proven by Dead Sea Scrolls and papyrus from 2,000 years. The Bible has survived persecution & criticism to be read with great interest in each generation. The Bible gives witness to the greatness of the Creator. A loving Father concerned for all of his creation. With each verse of the bible witnessing to God is love and the multitude & vastness of His attributes. The Bible was written for you. <><

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Who Jesus Is
1 Timothy 1:1-11 ~ God our Savior, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope
Matthew 16:13-20 ~ who do people say the Son of Man is?

Good News for us to remember and Think Upon
Animals are found in Heaven ~ 6 Prophets See Animals in Heaven

Anger, Jealousy=Trouble




The Bible explains the Bible, Prophetically

Bible - in your hand, today

Bible Accuracy



Blessing







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Blessing - unaware

Boundaries

Brothers
Christmas - His Word Upholds the Universe - December 25th


Psalm 135 ~ who is in your midst
John 1:1-14, 16, 29-51 ~ He was in the world

Details - Putting it all together and discovering it is about God

Psalm 108 ~ In triumph I will parcel out Shechem

Determine your own path, just love Him

Judges 16 ~ like any other man
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Earthquake

Every Day, Still Today
Today, Yesterday, Tomorrow


Exodus - History












Heavenly Hosts
His Messengers of Light












Elements of Nature Displaying HIS Glory
Exodus 40:16-38 ~ In the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was erected.

I Decide What is Right and Wrong - God noticed this in the Garden of Eden from Eve

Individualism and Groups

It's the End of the World as We Know it, And I Feel Fine. (One of our most read posts.)
Grandpa - The Bible is Really the Life Story of People and
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Gates of Heaven


Gifts of God, all of us


Giving - God certainly is





























Glory


God sees His Creation as Good!!!


Gravity






















Good Friday

Gossip

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Greatest

Grief, Forgiveness, Homecoming


Hated Emotion - Fear




































History - Is There History Showing Jesus was Alive - VERY EXTENSIVE HISTORY

Holiness


Holy Spirit ~ Manifestations

Homeward Bound, still a sojourner

Honey, Do this

Invitation
John 3:31-36 ~ that God is true

Israel - Destroyed Completely and Rebuilt. A sign of Jesus. Existing today.

Jesus clearly put a Foundation for His Resurrection to be Believed by the Multitudes of all of Israel and the Nations

Jesus and His Childhood Privacy
Nazareth - What Jesus did See Growing Up

John the Beloved Disciple


The Journey of Joseph


























Live It
Psalm 117 ~ Praise the Lord
Psalm 82 ~ rescue the weak and the needy
2 Samuel 4:1-12 ~ David answered
Hebrews 12 ~ Thankful
Psalm 31:3-8,17-21 ~ Thou hast redeemed me
Isaiah 40:1-11 ~ His reward is with Him
Matthew 13:31-32 ~ the birds of the air come and perch in its branches
Matthew 6:25-34 ~ your heavenly Father knows that you need
Luke 11:29-32 ~ Rise up
Psalm 126 ~ shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves
Luke 14:15-24 ~ there is still room
Joshua 1:1-9 ~ I am giving
Acts 5 ~ speak in the name of Jesus
John 1 ~ the Light shines
John 3:5-8 ~ born again
~ they went on from there and passed through Galilee
Judges 20 ~ Israel

Losing a Loved One - Passing ON

Revelation 21:22-27 ~ those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life

Not Being Tossed Back and Forth with Emotion
Ephesians 4 ~ speaking the truth in Love

Marriage
Romans 7:1-12 ~ bear fruit for God
1 Corinthians 7 ~ For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband
Genesis 37:12-24 ~ when Reuben
Psalm 143 ~ Your steadfast love
Psalm 86 ~ For great is your steadfast love

Media... taking it down the path
1 Corinthians 10 ~ Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God





Mercy, an Inseparable Component of Truth
Matthew 23:23-26 ~ clean
1 Samuel 12 ~ serve the Lord with all your heart
Matthew 22:34-40 ~ The great and first commandment. And a second is like it

Miscellaneous
Job 38 ~ Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.
Psalm 19 ~ the heavens declare the glory of God
2 Kings 5:1-15 ~ a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper
1 Chronicles 13 ~ the Lord blessed the household of Obed-edom










Peace




Pharisee ~ Religion
Luke 11:42-46 ~ Woe to you Pharisees!


Pictorial Images of the 12 Tribes of Israel








Picture It


















Overcoming, with God's help!


Positive Attitude in Trouble




Prophets - the Law and the Old Men in Robes or People who Love the Lord. Flaws and Virtues. What They Sought in the Lord and What Drew Them to Him.



Praise



























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Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words

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Restore

Revelation 8:2
Seven Angels who stand before God

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Deuteronomy 8
Jeremiah 23


Rock


SALVATION! What is needed?

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Second (3rd or 4th) Rate Seventh Level of Heaven

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Time Management





Life and Travels of Paul

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The World Changed Rapidly after the first Easter



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Worry

Wrathful, Nasty Old God from the Old Testament

Yahweh




Years - Thousands of Them are Yesterday in His Sight


80 Books of the Bible
Holy Spirit Approved by the First Council Nicaea and St. Nicholas
Included by the Essenes in the Dead Sea Scrolls
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