Bible Verse Synopsis 3-5-25
Matthew 16
Man has gathered the logic to tell when the weather will be good based on the color of the sky. Yet, they could not see the bigger picture. For the times were changing. Christ was amongst men for the first time. We are so blind we don’t see the forest through the trees. The error of man to simply overlook things. Overlook the traditions of God (like the Pharisees and Sadducees). Overlook His presence and influence on our daily life (All of man). The sign we all look for has already happened until the next sign. But our anticipation of that sign is faulty. We have no clue when to look.
The Pharisees believed Jesus to upset because they brought not bread. While Jesus was upset with their lives and their stock in Him. The lines they would recite and their reasoning was self serving. He then taught the disciples of the why these 2 groups of leaders spread false doctrine. So they too would understand.
Christ asks the disciples what men thinks He is. After their answer He asks them who they believe He is? Verse 16 - “And Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus blessed Him and described how the church will be built on that strong Rock of Faith. Eternal everlasting faith built on Christ is the answer to all of our prayers. Build our faith on the Rock of Christ as Simon Peter did and we will have great faith and love our God.
Jesus then begins teaching the 12 of the suffering He must face and necessity of the Cross. Peter rebukes Christ. The lack of understand here is obvious. Peter and the 12 did not understand. The Lord turned on Peter and said “Get thee behind Me, Satan”. When you rebuke Me, you support only the things of man. The things of man will fail again as they have failed forever. The things of Christ will last forever. We have to give up our lives as Christ did and carry our own Cross. This is the only way to find our true lives. What should we give in exchange for our soul? We should give up our sins and our desires of the flesh. This is the way to the Kingdom of God.