Matthew 16:1-28
16:1 Try to relate this to yourself. Do you appreciate or enjoy when someone continues to test and taunt you? When you are being a true and fair friend, is it fair to be constantly challenged despite it? God wants to have an honest relationship with you, He does not require that you constantly pass tests and challenges; in fact, God loves us despite the fact that we constantly fail. He loves us more because of our strength in the face of vulnerability. We should return our love to Him the same way. Do not demand proof from God, He doesn't participate in relationships that are bought. He wants your authentic love, just as you want authentic love for yourself. Love Him for who He is and what He stands for because that is what He loves you for.
16:2-3 God says, you're all so focused on the troubles and content of what is right in front of you but you neglect to be concerned about the bigger picture. We lose ourselves in the worries and technicalities of our anxiety's and desperation for immediate proof and reward. Jesus reminds them that the Future is stand right before them -- Jesus, Jesus is the future and is bringing the word which will save and make new their futures and yet they look right through Him. Don't look right through the truth.
16:4 Jesus warns them and us that generations of people will come who will neglect to see and understand that God is present and that time is passing speedily toward our time of again being with Him. Jesus is saying, signs will be all around us (just as Jesus stands before these Pharisees and Sadducees as a sign) but as a whole, we will not see them.
Again: Jesus says what needs to be said and departs. Jesus does not linger to continue in argument or to put on a show or circus of pretty words. He states the truth simply and continues on in purpose. What a beautifully instructive lesson. Stay focused and unencumbered by gossip and argument.
16:5-11 The disciples are still rather confused when it comes to understanding Jesus' teaching through parable and metaphor. I think this is for our benefit. God is a patient and successful teacher. He is letting you know that even if it takes a multitude of times to teach you something, He is going to be there teaching as long as you are willing to learn.
Remember the bread metaphor from chapter 15? Bread is the word. Jesus is reminding us that we have to be careful to only partake in His word. No other way of life is as patient, forgiving, healing and instructive as Gods. In fact, a lot of people want to create their own twists on the word of God for their benefit. You can trust God %100. A lot of people can and will lead you astray if you let them. God never will. Anything anyone ever tries to teach you must be backed up with what is written by God. Trust Him to verify what is truth and what is not. Do not trust anybody else to tell you what is and what is not.
16:12 The words that the Pharisees are teaching to people is backward and hypocritical. They are making people's lives harder and more confusing. There is always, in every generation, some version of the Pharisees. There is always somebody who does not understand the word of God and is derailed from its path. Don't walk that path with them.
16:13 Jesus wants to know if the disciples are listening and learning from Him or if they are listening and giving their attention to the gossip around them.
16:14 The disciples reveal the content of the gossip going around among people. Everyone has a different opinion of who Jesus is... none of them are correct.
16:15 Jesus is saying, "You've been with me, you have seen what I am doing and how I live, who am I based on YOUR knowledge and observation?"
16:16 "You are the son of God", he responds. How full of wonderment that moment must have been. God has spoken through this man, because all knowledge comes from God, and it has been stated so perfectly simple that Jesus is an embodiment of God. That is a moment you can be a part of if you accept the opportunity. Be with God.
16:17 Jesus is saying, do not let this moment escape you, Simon (also called Peter) Bar-Jonah (which means son of the Dove) God has given you this truth. Humans are capable of the impossible if they allow God to ignite it within them. God gives infinite wisdom when we open our eyes and hearts and hands to Him.
16:18 Peter, meaning rock or stone. A part of the foundation. Peter is given this name because his work will be instrumental in continuing on the word of God. If you pass on truth, you are also part of this infinite house.
Jesus is saying that God will build an amazing home for all of us through those who love him. Together we make up His family and He provides the warmest, truest shelter for us. Nothing can come against the safety and wisdom that God gives us.
16:19 Jesus teaches us God's home is our home if we want it. Who we become on earth is our key to heaven. Truth and fairness welcomes you home if you were truthful and fair. When you let go of greed and wealth and fame, in Heaven you also free of the deceitful pursuit and consequences of those things. Greed contributes to so much pain and disparity in the world... let it go, Heaven does not value you by your worth in material gain. Be free of it here and enjoy eternal freedom there.
16:20 Jesus does not want to be celebrated as a celebrity. Also, Jesus does not want who He says he is to confuse or misdirect people. Jesus wants people to understand who he is by what he says and does. He wants to be authentic. He wants to win our love because we recognize the beauty and love that is within Him. Do not love something or someone or God because of what they say they are but because of how they act. Likewise, be a person someone can trust because of your actions and not because you spend your days telling them how great and truthful you are. Actions speak.
16:21 The disciples finally understand the complete mission. Jesus, the son of God has manifested himself on earth for a great purpose, to teach a great message. The disciples understand that they are meant to spread and continue the message and therefore, knowing their purpose, Jesus explains to them why it is so important - His time there is limited.
Jesus explains to them what will come in the future, that He will be persecuted and executed. Jesus teaches them that there is no death for those who love God and promises that He will be alive, will come alive, visibly for the purpose of teaching them (and the world!) this message.
16:22 Peter is aghast. Peter is saying, "But you are the son of God! How can anyone kill you? How is it possible for them and why would they want to!"
The disciples frequently ask questions that even today people are still asking. I think God did this on purpose. We are all a part of the same family; we all have the same questions and God wants to answer them for all of us.
16:23 Jesus teaches a strong message here, let's get into it.
By asking these questions, Peter reveals that he is missing so much, maybe ALL, of what Jesus has been teaching Him. It is really important that Jesus' message is heard and understood by these men, because they will be the first to carry on His mission.
God is not alive, is more powerful than any other person, group, force or idea. He created the world, humanity the universe, and therefore, He created everything that the world, humanity and the universe are capable of. He made everything that is possible, possible.
Jesus wants us to understand that everything He does is in purpose. God is allowing Jesus to die so that a strong message will be taught. God does not lose to these evil men, He allows the evil men to make their errors. Why? He does this because God is fair. He lets everyone decide who they want to be. He also wants the world at that time to see that God is above death. Jesus cannot die. They can kill or torture Him but he is alive in God eternally just as you will be alive eternally.
Many people will preach that Jesus is the savior because He died. Incorrect, they are missing the entire message! Jesus is the savior because he was WILLING to come preach and teach and love the world DESPITE the fact that He knew he would be rejected and killed by the world. He loves us so much that we went through this terrible and unimaginable pain and circumstance to save the very people who were torturing and killing Him. God's love is great and so forgiving, you must understand this.
Jesus came and taught the world and through those teaching, He has saved so many. Jesus' death did not save people, God did not seek revenge for our mistakes, instead He did the opposite. He gave us even more. He gave us a living embodiment of Himself (even though He knew we would use and abuse it). He came to teach us and his teachings are what save us, what make our lives tolerable and understandable and happy even though the world can be so cold and difficult. He came to be with us, to teach us to be kind and fair and honest.
He does not die and Peter forgets this. No one has power over God. Do you know who believes they have power over God? Evil. For Peter to think evil can win over God, he is proving that his complete trust and understanding is not on God's side. God always wins. Jesus gave His life in two ways 1) He dedicated it to teaching instead of the enjoying it for himself and 2) He allowed people to take His life so that He could show the world that there is no death when you are with God. You rise, always. With God you rise.
16:24 Jesus is saying, "If anyone wants to teach with Me, to teach in My name, come with Me and follow." If you want to teach and be with God you have to realize that not everybody will accept you. Even Jesus had many adversaries. You will too. Teach as Jesus did... without force, without anger, without confusion. You must be courageous and strong. Jesus is saying, if you follow me, you will have to give up any love or desire you have for greed or material. When dedicate yourself to God, in all things you must keep Him with you. You must because selfless. You dedicate yourself to bringing God to others, to spreading the word, and not to acquiring wealth or fame for yourself. It's not a road without bumps but God gives you the strength and endurance to travel it nonetheless.
You can't do both adequately - you can't entertain and spoil yourself AND be truly and fully of God. You have to choose one because they each will take over your whole life. Good for the good and wealth will corrupt you.
Take up the cross means that you take up the effort and accept that it might get difficult. But God will give you the strength.
16:25 This verse means that if on earth, your mission is selfish and you only look out for yourself and you try to be wealthy and famous, greed will overtake you. You deny your spot in heaven if you trade it for earth. How does that happen? They key to heaven is compassion and honesty. If, to gain wealth on earth, you lose your compassion and honesty, you lose your keys to heaven. To lose your life means to lose your selfish life. Give every beat of your heart to loving and trusting God and watch your happiness abound.
16:26 Compared to heaven, this life on earth is so little. God does not want you to trade this life for a wonderful, eternal one. You might conquer this whole world but when you die you will have nothing. Do not take 5 minutes of greedy fun for an eternity of peace and wonderment.
16:27 By the end of your life, God is going to give you what you have earned. That can be a great moment for you. He will return to you the love you gave to others.
You are welcomed by God according to your works. Some churches will try to tell you that you are saved just for believe in God. Wrong. The Bible states often and clearly that what you DO determines how God will judge you. You must work. Do not be lazy or ignore His word. Work. Be kind, be honest... let your compassion accomplish great things and change lives (including your own!).
16:28 Here Jesus is saying that some of them around Him will see God before they die. How is this? Because Jesus is an embodiment of God and they are there with Him, seeing Him. They see Him even before they die.
