Lessons from Matthew 16: Decisions

What decisions did you make today?

You and I are all faced with questions and decisions based on those questions. They are a regular, daily part of our lives, from the moment we wake up until we go to bed at night. We are continually asking ourselves things like, What will I eat for breakfast? What shall I wear today?

Yes, questions and their answers occur regularly in our daily lives. Some make little difference but some have great impact.

Where should I live? Do I get married? And if not what do I do then? If I do get married, who do I marry? Do we have children, and if so how many? Do I go to college or do I get a job, or both?

These kinds of questions and their answers have great impact on our lives, not only now but also into our future.

But there is one question and answer that will impact our lives not only now but also into eternity.

That question is found in today’s lesson. And it was Jesus Himself who asked the question. It’s the most important question you and I and every other person who will ever live will answer:

“Who do you say Jesus is?”

The answer to this question will determine how you live now and where you will live in eternity. The answer to this question, or lack thereof, will determine your eternal consequences. It’s the choice of heaven or hell, eternal destruction or eternal joy. God or Satan.

The answer to this question and its effects on our lives begins here and now. The choice between sin or sanctification, selfishness or self-denial. May we all come to the conclusion that nothing in this life takes priority over a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Which brings me to the main truth for today’s lesson.

A confession of Christ involves the cross of Christ.

As we open up Matthew chapter 16, we will hear how Jesus condemned the religious leaders and cautioned His disciples regarding false doctrine (verses 1-12). Next we will see that Jesus commended Peter’s confession of faith about who Jesus is (verses 13-20). And lastly we will see that Jesus began preparing His disciples for His suffering that led to the cross (verses 21-28).

Jesus Warns of the Religious Counsel – Matthew 16:1-12

As we have moved along in our study of Jesus Christ through the gospel of Matthew we have seen the many miraculous things Jesus did up to this point. From the healing of the sick, the driving out of demons, the feeding of both the 5,000 Jews and the 4,000 Gentiles. We have also heard of Jesus’s marvelous and powerful teachings.

And though all this should have brought the people, and especially the religious leaders, to the conclusion that Jesus was the Christ, the long-awaited Messiah, they failed to believe it. Even though they had witnessed so much with their own eyes and heard with their own ears, they rejected Him.

Their refusal and unbelief, their opposition to Jesus and the things of Jesus, continued to grow and multiply and manifest itself, especially in the religious leaders. The Pharisees and Sadducees were diametrically opposed to one another but they were more opposed to Jesus and His teachings.

And so verse 1 tells us that these two groups of religious leaders joined forces. They deliberately sought out Jesus, set on testing, tempting, Jesus to prove who He was. In all actuality, the religious men, those responsible for the spiritual well being of the people, were hoping that Jesus would fail to prove Himself. Then they could eliminate Jesus once and for all.

Don’t we all know people like that?

Maybe you used to be one of them. You know, people who know enough about the Bible and God’s character to try and test or tempt you to mess up. In fact, they delight in the debate presenting their views and their limited understanding, all in the hopes they’ll catch you in their snare.

But Jesus wasn’t about to give in to their pious, hypocritical religious trap. So when they asked Him for a sign from heaven, He refused. He first accused them of being more aware of and more discerning of their earthly surroundings than they were of the things of God. Especially the Savior who had come to seek and save the lost, the Promised One of Israel right there in their midst.

These leaders were so spiritually blind that they missed all the signs of His coming and His presence.

They had been given more enlightenment than anyone else. They knew the OT scriptures. These were men who had heard the stories handed down generation after generation about how great God was. And they knew about God’s promised Messiah.

But when He arrived, they refused to acknowledge the truth that was right before them.

Jesus called them a wicked and adulterous generation. They were more interested in the signs of God than they were in the Word and will of God!

Does this sound anything like the world we live in today?

Terri Hamman

Faith & Fitness Coach