Matthew
16:21-17:13
Lesson 33
16:21-17:13
Lesson 33
Matthew 16:21-28
Jesus predicts His own death 21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. 22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. 23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. 24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. 28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom. Matthew: 17:1-13 The transfiguration 1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. 4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. 5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. 7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. 8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. 9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead. 10 And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? 11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. 12 But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. 13 Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist. |
Margin notes:
"Be killed, and be raised again the third day." (16:21) - This is the first time Jesus tells His disciples that He will be put to death and resurrected. The disciples were expecting the Messiah to be a great military/political leader. They didn't understand Jesus' true mission and why He had to be crucified. He will have to tell them again (Matthew 17:22-23; Mark 9:31-32) and again (Matthew 20:18). "Thou art an offence unto me." (16:23) - "You are a hindrance to me." "Thou savourest not the things that be of God." (16:23) - "You don't understand the ways of God." "Let him deny himself, and take up his cross." (16:24) - Christians must deny themselves the temptations of this world and should expect to face persecution (2 Timothy 3:12). "Whosoever will save his life shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." (16:25) - "Whoever clings to their life will lose it; whoever will give their life for Me, will find it." This is such an important teaching, that Jesus will reinforce it in Matthew 10:39, Mark 8:35, Luke 9:24, 17:33, and John 12:25. This is Jesus' second most quoted phrase in the Bible. His most quoted is, "follow me." "For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels." (16:27) - Jesus repeatedly promised us that He will return (Matthew 24:27; 24:29-30; 24:37; 25:31; Mark 8:38; Luke 17:28-30; 21:27; John 14:2-3). "He shall reward every man according to his works." (16:27) - When Jesus returns, He will judge mankind (Psalm 62:12; Romans 2:5-10; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10; Revelation 22:12). "Verily." (16:28) - Means "truly." "There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom." (16:28) - True to His word, Peter, James, and John saw Jesus in His heavenly splendor six days later (7:1-2). "The Son of man." (16:28) - Another name for Jesus, first used in Daniel 7:13-14 and Ezekiel 4:1. "Bringeth them up into an high mountain apart." (17:1) - Jesus left everyone else behind and brought Peter, James, and John to a mountain. Since they were near Caesarea Philippi, the mountain was probably Mount Hermon. "Transfigured." (7:2) - Jesus' face shining like "the sun" and His clothes "white as the light" confirmed His divine nature. Jesus is the Messiah prophesized in the Old Testament and not just another prophet. See "Question Two" below. "Moses and Elias." (17:3) - Elias (Elijah) represented all the prophets, while Moses symbolized the Mosaic Law. Their presence showed that Jesus was the prophesied Savior and the fulfillment of the Mosaic Law. Any Jew who revered Moses and Elias would see this as God's stamp of approval on Jesus. "Talking with him." (17:3) - Elias and Moses talked to Jesus about His coming crucifixion (Luke 9:31). "Three tabernacles" (17:4) - Tabernacles were shelters/shrines used by Jews to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. Peter wanted to build the tabernacles and stay where they were. "A bright cloud overshadowed them." (17:5) - Just as it did when Moses climbed the mount (Exodus 19:9), 24:15). This was another stamp of approval on Jesus. "A voice out of the cloud." (17:5) - This was not the first or only time God spoke from heaven (Matthew 3:17; John 12:28-30). "Hear ye him." (17:5) - "Listen to Him (Jesus)." We should listen, because Jesus speaks for God (Deuteronomy 18:19). "Sore afraid." (17:6) - "Very afraid." "Save Jesus only." (17:8) - "Except for Jesus." "Jesus charged them." (17:9) - "Jesus told them." "Elias truly shall first come." (17:11) - Elias will arrive before Jesus, as prophesied in Malachi 4:5-6. "Elias is come already." (17:12) - Elias had already come in the form of John the Baptist (Matthew 11:10-14; Luke 1:13-17). "Whatsoever they listed." (17:12) - "Whatever they desired." "Likewise shall the Son of man suffer of them." (17:12) - "Also, Jesus will suffer at their hands." |