Matthew
16:1-20
Lesson 32
16:1-20
Lesson 32
In this lesson:
Jesus rebukes the Pharisees (16:1-4).
Peter confesses Jesus (16:13-20).
This lesson concludes the "Proclamation," the public announcement that the Messiah had arrived. In the last twenty-seven lessons, Matthew told us the words and miracles of Jesus.
Elias challenges the pagan priests of Baal.
By American illustrator Jerry Harston (1943-2009)
By American illustrator Jerry Harston (1943-2009)
Study Tip:
Click on the links to learn more.
Click on the links to learn more.
Who was -
Elias -
Elias (Greek for Elijah) is perhaps the most famous of Israel's prophets. No other is mentioned more often in the New Testament. Elias (Elijah) was born in Tishbeh, Gilead, and was devoutly religious. He preached against the growing paganism under Israel's King Ahab and his wife, Jezebel. Under Ahab, Israel turned away from God (1 Kings 19:10) in favor of the false god Baal and his wife Ashtoreth. Baalism was a cruel and vicious religion introduced to Israel by Jezebel. Followers of Baal took part in sex orgies and sacrificed infants, placing their remains in jars. Elias called for Israel to repent and brought the priests of Baal to justice (I Kings 18:40). God gave Elias the power to perform miracles (2 Kings 1:9-14; 2:8). He raised the dead, called fire down from heaven and caused the rain to stop for three and a half years (1 Kings 17:1; James 5:17). Elias ascended into heaven without dying in "a chariot of fire" (2 Kings 2:11). Centuries later, he stood with Moses at Jesus' side during the transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-13; Mark 9:2-8). The Old Testament promised that Elias would return just before "the day of the Lord" (Malachi 4:5-6). To learn more about Elias, see 1 Kings 17:1-20, 1 Kings 18:1-46, and 2 Kings 1-2.
Jeremias -
The Hebrew prophet Jeremiah, also called Jeremy. He is the author of two Old Testament books, "The Lamentations of Jeremiah" and "The Book of the Prophet Jeremiah." From the village of Anathoth (Jeremiah 1:1), three miles northeast of Jerusalem, God "ordained" Jeremias a prophet before he was born (Jeremiah 1:5). Jeremias lived in the sixth and seventh centuries BC and was known as the "weeping prophet." His story is one of perseverance, as he was persecuted by his fellow Jews and even his own family (Jeremiah 12:6) for prophesying that unless Israel renounced idolatry, it would fall into the hands of their enemies. Four successive Jewish kings ignored his warnings to repent. Jeremias was imprisoned (Jeremiah 37:15), and King Jehoiakim tried several times to kill him (Jeremiah 36:26). As Jeremias foretold, God punished Israel for its sins. The Babylonians defeated the Israelites and destroyed Jerusalem. Many Jews, including King Jehoiakim, were taken to Babylon as slaves. Jeremias eluded the Babylonians and fled to Egypt. He correctly predicted that Israel's captivity would last seventy years (Jeremiah 25:11) and that Babylon would be destroyed. You can learn more in "The Book of the Prophet Jeremiah."
Elias -
Elias (Greek for Elijah) is perhaps the most famous of Israel's prophets. No other is mentioned more often in the New Testament. Elias (Elijah) was born in Tishbeh, Gilead, and was devoutly religious. He preached against the growing paganism under Israel's King Ahab and his wife, Jezebel. Under Ahab, Israel turned away from God (1 Kings 19:10) in favor of the false god Baal and his wife Ashtoreth. Baalism was a cruel and vicious religion introduced to Israel by Jezebel. Followers of Baal took part in sex orgies and sacrificed infants, placing their remains in jars. Elias called for Israel to repent and brought the priests of Baal to justice (I Kings 18:40). God gave Elias the power to perform miracles (2 Kings 1:9-14; 2:8). He raised the dead, called fire down from heaven and caused the rain to stop for three and a half years (1 Kings 17:1; James 5:17). Elias ascended into heaven without dying in "a chariot of fire" (2 Kings 2:11). Centuries later, he stood with Moses at Jesus' side during the transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-13; Mark 9:2-8). The Old Testament promised that Elias would return just before "the day of the Lord" (Malachi 4:5-6). To learn more about Elias, see 1 Kings 17:1-20, 1 Kings 18:1-46, and 2 Kings 1-2.
Jeremias -
The Hebrew prophet Jeremiah, also called Jeremy. He is the author of two Old Testament books, "The Lamentations of Jeremiah" and "The Book of the Prophet Jeremiah." From the village of Anathoth (Jeremiah 1:1), three miles northeast of Jerusalem, God "ordained" Jeremias a prophet before he was born (Jeremiah 1:5). Jeremias lived in the sixth and seventh centuries BC and was known as the "weeping prophet." His story is one of perseverance, as he was persecuted by his fellow Jews and even his own family (Jeremiah 12:6) for prophesying that unless Israel renounced idolatry, it would fall into the hands of their enemies. Four successive Jewish kings ignored his warnings to repent. Jeremias was imprisoned (Jeremiah 37:15), and King Jehoiakim tried several times to kill him (Jeremiah 36:26). As Jeremias foretold, God punished Israel for its sins. The Babylonians defeated the Israelites and destroyed Jerusalem. Many Jews, including King Jehoiakim, were taken to Babylon as slaves. Jeremias eluded the Babylonians and fled to Egypt. He correctly predicted that Israel's captivity would last seventy years (Jeremiah 25:11) and that Babylon would be destroyed. You can learn more in "The Book of the Prophet Jeremiah."
The Gospel According to St. Matthew
The King James Bible
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Matthew 16:1-20
Show us a sign 1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. 3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? 4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed. 5 And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. 6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. 7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread. 8 Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread? 9 Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? 10 Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? 11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? 12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. 13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus* the Christ. * Some original manuscripts leave out the name "Jesus." |
Margin notes:
"The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came." (16:1) - Jesus' fame was growing. So once again, the Pharisees traveled long distances to challenge the Messiah (Matthew 15:1), and this time, they brought the Sadducees. "Desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven." (16:1) - This is the second time the Pharisees tested Jesus by asking Him to perform a miracle (Matthew 12:38). Jesus will be tested again in Mark 8:11, Luke 11:16, and John 6:30. "The sky is red and lowering." (16:3) - "The sky is red and overcast." "Adulterous." (16:4) - The Pharisees and Sadducees had not committed adultery against their spouses. After pledging their love for God, they betrayed Him. "Generation." (16:4) - "People." "There shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas." (16:4) - Jonas (Jonah) was "resurrected" from the belly of the whale after three days (Jonah 1:1- 2:10). Jesus is telling the Pharisees that the only miracle they will see is His resurrection after three days in the grave. Quite a miracle! Even after the resurrection, they did not believe. "Beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees." (16:6) - "Beware of the teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees." Jesus is comparing yeast to false teachings. Yeast was used to make dough rise. A small piece of dough from each baking was set aside to make the next baking rise. In verses 16:11-12, Jesus expands this analogy of leaven to show how just one sinner can influence many people and generations. Jesus will repeat this warning in Mark 8:15. Paul also used the analogy of leaven in 1 Corinthians 5:6-8 and Galatians 5:7-10). "They reasoned among themselves." (16:7) - "They discussed among themselves." "The five loaves of the five thousand." (16:9) - Jesus is referring to when He fed five thousand people with just five loaves of bread and two fish (14:15-21). "The seven loaves of the four thousand." (16:10) - Jesus fed four thousand people with just seven loaves of bread and a few fish in lesson 31 (15:32-38). "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees." - "Beware of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees." "Bade them." (16:12) - "Told them." "The doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees." (16:12) - "The teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees." "Caesarea Philippi." (16:13) - A Roman town 120 miles north of Jerusalem, fifty miles from Damascus, thirty from Tyre, and twenty miles north of the Sea of Galilee at the foot of Mount Hermon near the city of Dan. The city was built by Herod Philip and named after the Roman Emperor Tiberius Caesar and himself. Caesarea Philippi was a center of Greek-Roman culture and awash in paganism. It had a mixed population of Jews and Gentiles and is today a small village called Banias. Caesarea Philippi should not be confused with the city of Caesarea on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. This passage and Mark 8:27 tell us that Jesus visited Caesarea Philippi. This was probably as far north as Jesus ever traveled. "Some say that thou art John the Baptist." (16:14) - See Matthew 14:2. "Or one of the prophets." (16:14) - See Matthew 21:11. "Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ." (16:16) - The title "Christ" means the "anointed one." Peter is acknowledging that Jesus is the Messiah. It's been three years since the disciple Andrew introduced Peter to the Messiah (John 1:41). Earlier, Peter and the rest of the disciples called Jesus "the Son of God" after seeing Him Walk on water (Matthew 14:33). "The living God." (16:16) - An Old Testament name for Jehovah, meant to differentiate the true God from false idols (1 Corinthians 12:2). "Simon Barjona." (16:17) - "Simon, son of John." "The rock." (16:18) - See "Question One" below. "I will build my church." (16:18) - As prophesized six hundred years before the birth of Christ in Zechariah 6:13. "I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven." (16:19) - "Peter opened the door of salvation on the day of Pentecost, to the Jews (Acts 2), and later to the Gentiles (Acts 10). Not that he was given the power to forgive sins, but to proclaim the terms of forgiveness." ("Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; page 442). The keys to heaven were also given to the other Apostles. "Whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (16:19) - In Jesus' day, to "bind" meant to forbid and to "loose" meant to allow. Jesus repeats this message in verse 18:18. "Charged he his disciples." (16:20) - "Warned His disciples." |
You can read a second account of this segment in Mark 8:11-21.
New Living Translation
Matthew 16:1-20
Leaders Demand a Miraculous Sign
1 One day the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus, demanding that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority.
2 He replied, "You know the saying, 'Red sky at night means fair weather tomorrow;
3 red sky in the morning means foul weather all day.' You know how to interpret the weather signs in the sky, but you don't know how to interpret the signs of the times!
4 Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign, but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah." Then Jesus left them and went away.
Yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees
5 Later, after they crossed to the other side of the lake, the disciples discovered they had forgotten to bring any bread.
6 "Watch out!" Jesus warned them. "Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees."
7 At this they began to argue with each other because they hadn't brought any bread.
8 Jesus knew what they were saying, so he said, "You have so little faith! Why are you arguing with each other about having no bread?
9 Don't you understand even yet? Don't you remember the 5,000 I fed with five loaves, and the baskets of leftovers you picked up?
10 Or the 4,000 I fed with seven loaves, and the large baskets of leftovers you picked up?
11 Why can't you understand that I'm not talking about bread? So again I say, 'Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.'"
12 Then at last they understood that he wasn't speaking about the yeast in bread, but about the deceptive teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Peter's Declaration about Jesus
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"
14 "Well," they replied, "some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets."
15 Then he asked them, "But who do you say I am?"
16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."
17 Jesus replied, "You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.
18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means 'rock'), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.
19 And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven."
20 Then he sternly warned the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
The "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word-for-word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
Leaders Demand a Miraculous Sign
1 One day the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus, demanding that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority.
2 He replied, "You know the saying, 'Red sky at night means fair weather tomorrow;
3 red sky in the morning means foul weather all day.' You know how to interpret the weather signs in the sky, but you don't know how to interpret the signs of the times!
4 Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign, but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah." Then Jesus left them and went away.
Yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees
5 Later, after they crossed to the other side of the lake, the disciples discovered they had forgotten to bring any bread.
6 "Watch out!" Jesus warned them. "Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees."
7 At this they began to argue with each other because they hadn't brought any bread.
8 Jesus knew what they were saying, so he said, "You have so little faith! Why are you arguing with each other about having no bread?
9 Don't you understand even yet? Don't you remember the 5,000 I fed with five loaves, and the baskets of leftovers you picked up?
10 Or the 4,000 I fed with seven loaves, and the large baskets of leftovers you picked up?
11 Why can't you understand that I'm not talking about bread? So again I say, 'Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.'"
12 Then at last they understood that he wasn't speaking about the yeast in bread, but about the deceptive teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Peter's Declaration about Jesus
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"
14 "Well," they replied, "some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets."
15 Then he asked them, "But who do you say I am?"
16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."
17 Jesus replied, "You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.
18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means 'rock'), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.
19 And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven."
20 Then he sternly warned the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
The "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word-for-word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
Today's questions:
1. Did Jesus say He would build His church on Peter (16:18)?
2. Why did Jesus tell His disciples not to reveal He was the Messiah (16:20)?
Pray for the strength to resist sin. Ask God for forgiveness when you fall into temptation and give thanks when you don't.
1. Did Jesus say He would build His church on Peter (16:18)?
2. Why did Jesus tell His disciples not to reveal He was the Messiah (16:20)?
Pray for the strength to resist sin. Ask God for forgiveness when you fall into temptation and give thanks when you don't.
Answers: (Do you agree?)
1. A common interpretation of verse 16:18 is that Jesus said He would build His church on Peter. However, some Bible scholars believe that "the rock" Jesus is referring to is Himself, the Son of God. They say that He is the foundation of the church. Still others interpret verse 16:18 to mean that Jesus would build His church on the truth that Peter confessed, and not on Peter himself. For example, the original Greek transcript reads; "Thou art petros (a small rock) and upon this petra (a large mountainous boulder) I will build my church." These scholars believe Jesus was saying, "You are Peter, and any man can move you, but the faith you have expressed in My deity (16:15-16) is a rock immovable as the mountains. On it I will build My church."
(From "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; page 442).
2. Some students of the Bible believe Jesus told His disciples not to tell anyone He was the Messiah because He wanted more time to teach. The disciples still didn't fully understand Jesus' mission, so how could they explain it to the world? Others believe it was because the growing crowds were attracting the attention of Jesus' enemies. At this point in His mission, Jesus didn't want to provoke anger against His group or have the crowds try to make Him king. Jesus preferred to wait until His resurrection when the truth of His identity would be apparent to all who sought it.
Application thought for the day:
How would your friends answer Jesus' question in verse 16:13. How would you answer the question in verse 16:15.
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1. A common interpretation of verse 16:18 is that Jesus said He would build His church on Peter. However, some Bible scholars believe that "the rock" Jesus is referring to is Himself, the Son of God. They say that He is the foundation of the church. Still others interpret verse 16:18 to mean that Jesus would build His church on the truth that Peter confessed, and not on Peter himself. For example, the original Greek transcript reads; "Thou art petros (a small rock) and upon this petra (a large mountainous boulder) I will build my church." These scholars believe Jesus was saying, "You are Peter, and any man can move you, but the faith you have expressed in My deity (16:15-16) is a rock immovable as the mountains. On it I will build My church."
(From "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; page 442).
2. Some students of the Bible believe Jesus told His disciples not to tell anyone He was the Messiah because He wanted more time to teach. The disciples still didn't fully understand Jesus' mission, so how could they explain it to the world? Others believe it was because the growing crowds were attracting the attention of Jesus' enemies. At this point in His mission, Jesus didn't want to provoke anger against His group or have the crowds try to make Him king. Jesus preferred to wait until His resurrection when the truth of His identity would be apparent to all who sought it.
Application thought for the day:
How would your friends answer Jesus' question in verse 16:13. How would you answer the question in verse 16:15.
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Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen, published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur, published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham, published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Atlas of the Bible" edited by Joseph L. Gardner, published by Readers Digest, Pleasantville, New York; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The New Testament" Recovery Version published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, California; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The New Scofield Reference Bible" published by Oxford University Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course, the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
© 2025 evolke
© 2025 evolke