Matthew 16 ~ understand

Matthew 16

16 The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.

2 He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ 3 and 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. 4 A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away.

5 When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. 6 “Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

7 They discussed this among themselves and said, “It is because we didn’t bring any bread.”

8 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? 9 Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 11 How 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.” 12 Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.


13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter,[b] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I 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.” 20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

21 From 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, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”

23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 27 For 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 they have done.

28 “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

This is the Scripture where Peter recognizes Jesus as Lord. We overshadow the fact Andrew introduced Peter to Jesus saying John the Baptist has called Jesus the long awaited Messiah.

Peter and the other disciples have arrived with expectations.
They have seen signs and signs and signs like the Pharisees.

Jesus is telling them constantly - like Jonah - who brings salvation through God - He is leaving. God does that. He creates in Peter the awareness of relationship - a personal relationship and then the embodiment of that person of salvation will leave.

Jesus is saying HE has provided a tall ship with a Star of Bethlehem to sail towards.

The very permanent Roman Empire is gone.
The very prominent Caesarea is gone.
The Church Jesus Christ provides with Love - is here for these millenniums.

+ Jesus is also saying all through the passage that the signs are seen all the time, because the Bible is Living and Active, Jesus is saying we see signs of God.

God clearly is saying man jumbles up the holiness of God. Does this disgust and horrify God? Are we doomed to have a barrier with God because of sin and unworthiness - flaws and self-centeredness?

Life is a test. Not of how much bread we can hoard. Life is the person we are becoming today. Some self is required - we must love ourselves. Honor ourselves as someone God loves. After we place God's goodness first.

Peter sees the Glory of God and has relationship with Jesus his life reveals to be real.
Jesus knows this heart of Peter's. God's privilege is to live in our souls we comfortably call hearts.
Then Peter displays our desire to ask God to do the God thing and elevate us to comfortable.
God knows exactly what is going on.

We are the ones who are figuring this out. God wants us to go upward in His call.

Who had a call from God?
~ David was obedient to God's call. And loved God.

~ Samuel was obedient to God's call and loved Saul. Oddly. God had to remind Samuel God was in charge. And Samuel Heard.

~ Jeremiah was reminded to love the people of God or his finger of accusation would rest upon Jeremiah.

~ Mary immediately chose obedience and gasped and sang of the fact the Call of God would be eternal. Like Jesus despising the shame and realizing the present sufferings would be eclipsed by Glory of God.

~ Joseph. Joseph was not aware of all of this. He was in confusion. Joseph in his state of disappointment and hurt chose mercy. God poured His Spirit forth into the mercy.


Joseph was surely working on God's work - mercy. David was working to believe God when his family was kidnapped from the ditch they lived in as mercenaries. Mary was working on believing God's Plan of goodness as she was facing a tiny town as a young pregnant, unmarried woman. Samuel was working on believing God's plan for the seat of Religious power and still holding on the the joy of God's love and obedience during real political fear.

God's call was not comfortable or easy. God was building people to stand in difficult times.

John 6:29
Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent."

All we have to do is believe in God. That He is who He says He is and His promises are true.

The task of Jesus and God is much harder in dealing with the aspects of His Creation. A God saved task to save the World in Jesus Christ - how is this working even today - this passage suggests we take goodness and add in the prevarications, the restlessness, the boredom, the variations, the demands of a selfish people -

Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.


Father God, the people who love you have a call from God the Almighty, adopting them as His Family. We pray God to have the wisdom, heart and joy with diligence to do all the Love, works and Words You would have us to speak and act upon.

Father God, we pray that all Your children will open their eyes to see Jesus and the Joy He brings forth to us each day when we see with gratitude. We pray for His Children.

We pray with Jesus, not pulling Your responses from You - instead knowing the Joy You have in us.

Amen in Jesus.

Thank You, Jesus!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

 

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