The Instructions Of The King

The Instructions Of The King

Our Text: Matthew 18

It is fair to say the biggest hindrance to the Church has been the Church itself. When Christian people bicker and fight amongst themselves then the Church does not set much of an example to that lost soul looking in. When the Church sides with the immorality of the world it has not followed the truth of the Word of God and to that lost soul that is looking in he sees no difference from that of his own life.

The Church needs to be busy about the Masters work and leave off the ways of the world that have been seeping into God's House for a long time now. We need to be ashamed and humble our selves before God.

I am a Christian who attends a Baptist church, not because it is Baptist, but because I believe the doctrine is the closest thing to the New Testament church as taught by the Apostles.

Like Oliver Green said, when someone comes along with a doctrine that follows the doctrine of the New Testament church in the time of the Apostles in a better way then, I may go to a different church.

The main thing is to be in a Bible believing Church and that means the entire Word of God. I find the most accurate version to be the King James Bible.

The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy these words:

1Ti 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know [how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth].

In this chapter we will continue to see what Jesus taught His disciples about principles and relationships, especially involving the kingdom of Heaven. We must remember that this is not the church but these lessons are needed by today's believers as well.

What we will see is that after the transfiguration of chapter 17 is that these disciples showed more concern for their own status in that soon coming Millennial Kingdom than in the actual building of it.

*****Our Text:

Mat 18:1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

Mat 18:2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

Mat 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Mat 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Mat 18:5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

Mat 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

Mat 18:7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

Mat 18:8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.

Mat 18:9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.

Mat 18:10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

This very first verse connects these events with the events of chapter seventeen:



Luk 9:37 And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him.

Luk 9:38 And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child.

Luk 9:39 And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him.

Luk 9:40 And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not.

Luk 9:41 And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither.

Luk 9:42 And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.

Luk 9:43 And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples,

Luk 9:44 Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.

Luk 9:45 But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.

Luk 9:46 [Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest].

The questions of the kingdom stayed so much in the mind of the disciples that they were loosing track of their purpose.

As the church, we also have a place reserved in Heaven but if God did not have a purpose for us here while we yet live, then He would have taken us on to Heaven when he saved us.

There is not single child of God that has more influence with Him than another. We all have a job in the army of God and it is on that one thing that we will be judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

1Co 12:4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

1Co 12:5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

1Co 12:6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

1Co 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

1Co 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

1Co 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

1Co 12:14 For the body is not one member, but many.

We receive the Holy Spirit upon being washed in the blood of Jesus. It is that very Spirit that will then give us a gift with a meaning and a purpose in the body of Christ.

Excluding Judas (the betrayer) and adding Matthias those 12 disciples will judge the nation of Israel during the Millennial Kingdom as it written, all on the same standing.

To emphasize, Jesus Christ sat a small child in the midst of them. With this child in plain site Jesus began to teach some valuable lessons.

1.) A child at that time was dependant totally upon it's father. A child knows nothing of itself but must be taught by it's father. A child must depend on it's father.

a.) In order to enter into the kingdom of heaven then that person must have a childlike dependence on the "One"(God) who offers up the kingdom.

2.) A child had no rights at home, all rights belonged to the parent. The child could not exert his will against his father but was subject to his father's will.

a.) The position in the kingdom of heaven depends on taking that position as a child.

3.) Only those that subject themselves to the will of the Father who is in Heaven can enter into that Heaven.

4.) To receive the Father one has to also receive His Children.

Mar 9:35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire [to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all].

Nothing like this had ever been taught in the history of the world.

This brings to the importance of these words:

Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

We must humble our selves before God as a child. True humility means knowing yourself, accepting yourself, and being yourself, to the Glory of God.

There are two extremes we have to avoid:

1.) Thinking less of ourselves than we ought to:

As Moses:

Exo 3:11 And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?

We know Moses as one of the great men of the Bible and probably one of the two witnesses in the Book of the Revelation of Christ.

2.) We can also think too much of ourselves:

Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Rom 12:4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:

Rom 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

3.) The servant of God will not deny the gifts God has given to them but will use them to the Glory of God.

An unspoiled child of God will:

1.) Trust in Him for everything.

2.) Depend on Him for all things.

3.) Desire to make others happy through knowledge of Jesus Christ.

4.) There will not be a selfish desire to be greater than others.

5.) He will not boast of his accomplishments.

None of us want to be servants but God requires us to have the mind of a servant.

Jesus points out four attitudes about children:

1.) "become as little children"

2.) "humble himself as this little child"

3.) "receive one such little child"

4.) "despise not one of these little ones"

We must be careful that we do not become a stumblingblock to any child of God.

Like the good Shepherd, God seeks the lost and God saves them. As His servants WE MUST NOT CAUSE THEM TO PERISH.

We would be foolish to also think that these things did not apply to the way we raise our own children. I'm sure child neglect is a serious matter to Our Father in Heaven.

Humility is a much desired trait of the redeemed of the Lord:

1Pe 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

1Pe 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Jesus was not telling us to maim our own bodies but He was telling us instructing us to perform "spiritual surgery" on ourselves, removing anything that could cause us or others to stumble.

A truly humble person lives for Jesus first and others next. In fact a good rule of thumb still is the word JOY:

Jesus

Others

Yourself

*****Our text:

Mat 18:11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

Mat 18:12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?

Mat 18:13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

Mat 18:14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

The goals of Jesus should be the goals of every Christian. We should want what God wants!

God wants every living breathing human being to be saved. It's up to God if that takes place. It is in the hands of God and not in our hands but we should have the attitude that all are in need of salvation and be open witnesses to all that will hear God's message. He does the calling and He does the saving.

OUR JOB IS TO BE THE WITNESS. Not only in theWord of God but in our daily lives. There are always those that are looking at those who claim to be Christian.

There is no greater words about the shepherd than that in John 10:

Joh 10:6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.

Joh 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

Joh 10:8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.

Joh 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

Joh 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Joh 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Joh 10:12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

Joh 10:13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

Joh 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

Joh 10:15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

Joh 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

*****Our Text:

Mat 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

Mat 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

Mat 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

Christ Jesus has already announced His intention to build His Church. We also know that the building of the Church is still future, after the cross. He has said that no Church exists at this time of His life on this Earth.

And so the words He spoke now to the disciples are in anticipation to the gathering out of the assembly of God. (The Church)

The "Church" is not the same thing as the "Synagogue"!

Jesus had already answered their question about who will be the greatest. He had said that true believers must be as little children and Born of God.

Jesus had spoke of His "mission" to save all that are lost.

Jesus spoke of His "grace" in seeking those that stray.

Now His teaching falls on those that have sinned. He speaks directly of the brother who has sinned!

Jesus will now address how a brother who is in sin is to be treated:

If a brother is in sin, whether it be intentional or unintentional another brother is to go to that brother and point out that sin to him.

The object is to restore and regain this brother. This should only be done after earnest prayer, in meekness and only after self judgment.

God gave these words to the Church:

Gal 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

Gal 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Gal 6:3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

Gal 6:4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

Gal 6:5 For every man shall bear his own burden.

Gal 6:6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.

Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Gal 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Gal 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Gal 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.Gal 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

Gal 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Gal 6:3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

Gal 6:4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

Gal 6:5 For every man shall bear his own burden.

Gal 6:6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.

Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Gal 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Gal 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Gal 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

1.) We can see that the first step is to treat our brother in a personal manner and not over expose the committed sin to others.

2.) If he will not listen as it would be your understanding against his own understanding then another witness or two should be taken both having the same manner of preparation. (Prayer, in meekness, and self judgment)

3.) After this fails then it should be presented to the entire Body of Christ all in the same manner, in prayer, in meekness, and self examination. And if everyone in one accord and there is no repentance then step four will be taken.

4.) Let him be as a heathen and a publican:

Heathen means today:

In modern usage the word denotes all nations that are strangers to the revealed Word Of God.

Publican means:

The class designated by this word, in the New Testament, were employed as collectors of the Roman revenue. A collector of toll or tribute. Among the Romans, a publican was a farmer of the taxes and public revenues,and the inferior officers of this class were deemed oppressive.

Both were hated by the Jews!

We must also understand that this is the function of the Church to the brothers in Christ. These same rules are not to be used on the "lost". We may judge our brother to a degree but we are witnesses only to the lost of this world. It is God and His Word that will judge the "Lost"!

*****Our text:

Mat 18:18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Mat 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

*****VERILY: means In truth, in fact, certainly.

What we see is that the Lord has given authority not to the Apostles but to the assembly, The Church to act on Earth for Himself. The authority of the Church is absolute. The Apostles are to teach but this cannot take place till after the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Christ. It will begin at Pentecost. The proof being in the first sermon of the Apostle Peter.

It is the Church that has executive power! The Church is to act according to the rules laid down by Jesus in harmony with His Word.

It is necessary to maintain unity among believers because this has been required by the Lord for answered prayer. Corporate prayer is simply not effective unless it is done in unity and in agreement.

God said that where two or three that gather together in agreement with Him that He also would be there with them to pray.

We must stay focused on the goal, which is to save this brother.

Church discipline is not the Church acting as policemen but exercising the authority of God through a local Body of Christ to restore and erring child of God.

*****Our Text:

Mat 18:21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

Mat 18:22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

Unless the lessons of the Word of God result in forgiveness, relationships cannot be mended and strengthened. Peter recognized this but, we cannot just assume that it is our brother that will sin against us. We then have exalted ourselves above our brother and lack humility. We all make mistakes!

When Christ died on that cross he unleashed limitless forgiveness. Where there is "agape" love, there can be no limits in forgiveness.

Eph 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

Eph 3:18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

Eph 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Eph 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

Eph 3:21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Again Christ teach teaches the Church:

Col 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

Col 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

Col 3:14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

*****Our Text:

Mat 18:23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

Mat 18:24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

Mat 18:25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

Mat 18:26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

Mat 18:27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

Mat 18:28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.

Mat 18:29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

Mat 18:30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

Mat 18:31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.

Mat 18:32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:

Mat 18:33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

Mat 18:34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

Mat 18:35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.Mat 18:23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

Mat 18:24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

Mat 18:25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

Mat 18:26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

Mat 18:27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

Mat 18:28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.

Mat 18:29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

Mat 18:30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

Mat 18:31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.

Mat 18:32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:

Mat 18:33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

Mat 18:34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

Mat 18:35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

In order to teach the principle of forgiveness Jesus uses a parable.

Let's put this in perspective. At the time of Jesus the entire levy of taxes for all of Palestine was only about 800 talents a year. This man was stealing funds from the king and actually thought he could get out of debt.

800 talents in our day would be about 10 million dollars. This man owed 10 thousand talents. This man owed about 125 million dollars to this king. This man could never repay this debt.

That sounds a whole lot like my debt I owed when the Lord paid my debt. I had a debt I could not pay.

This man's belongings and all his family would never be enough to pay this debt. We can see the "typology" in these statements. You cannot accumulate enough in this world to get you into Heaven. Only with God's mercy and His Grace can we obtain eternal life!

This servant did just as we all have to do. We have to humble ourselves before a righteous God.

The Master was moved with this man's plea and forgave him.

Oh what a Savior!

Act 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Heb 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Heb 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.

Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

Why because I had a debt I could not pay. My blood would have meant my life.

What is propitiation?

The act of appeasing wrath and conciliating the favor of an offended person; the act of making propitious.

In theology, the atonement or atoning sacrifice offered to God to assuage his wrath and render him propitious to sinners. Christ is the propitiation for the sins of men.

He is all that is needed for propitiation in behalf of our sins, the propitiatory sacrifice provided by the Father's love removing the estrangement, appearing God's righteous wrath against the sinner. A father may be offended with a son, yet all the while love him.

Rom 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be [a propitiation] through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

1Jn 2:2 And he is [the propitiation] for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

1Jn 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be [the propitiation] for our sins.

Now the true test of the forgiven ones:

This servant did not deserve this forgiveness but did it change him?

Let's not forget what a parable is all about:

A fable or allegorical relation or representation of something real in life or nature, from which a moral is drawn for instruction.

A parable is the placing side by side or comparing earthly truths, expressed, with heavenly truths to be understood.

This servant left the presence of this king. You if we are truly saved we will never want to leave from the presence of our King, Our Lord, Our God.

When he did he found a servant that had owed him some money. Now a pence at the time of Jesus was a day's wages. This man owed 100 pence which could have been paid with 100 days of labor.

This unjust servant, who had left the presence of the Lord, had no forgiveness in his heart.

Now we could see this in two different ways but we must be careful. We could say that in "typology" that this man was saved and then lost his salvation and we would be in great error.

What we really should realize is this parable relates to the kingdom heaven, which is not the Church though a great principle can be observed here.

The truth is that he had not ask for forgiveness with a open heart. He had not truly invited the Lord Jesus into his heart.

James says:

Jas 2:8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well:

Jas 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Jas 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

Jas 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

This servant who had had the opportunity to avoid prison was now placed into prison. The king had these words:

Mat 18:33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

Mat 18:34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

Mat 18:35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

In other words:

If you want to live by the justice of this world rather than the justice of God, then you can have it your way.

It was the actions of this servant that sent him to hell rather than the freedom offered by this king.

The world's worst prison is the prison of an unforgiving heart. When we refuse to forgive others we are imprisoning our selves in our own torment.

Let's Pray!

The Transfiguration Of The King

THE TRANSFIGURATION OF THE KING

Text: Matthew 17

The word "transfigured" is a very interesting word. The Greek word is "metamorpho" and it means to transform, literally or figuratively to metamorphose, or to change. The word is a verb that means to change into another form. It also means to change the outside to match the inside. The prefix "meta" means to change and the "morphe" means form. In the case of the transfiguration of Jesus Christ it means to match the outside with the reality of the inside. To change the outward so that it matches the inward reality. Jesus' divine nature was "veiled" in human form and the transfiguration was a glimpse of that glory.

The Bible says:

Heb 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, [through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;]

Therefore, the transfiguration of Jesus Christ displayed the Shekinah glory of God incarnate in the Son. The voice of God attesting to the truth of Jesus' Sonship was the second time God's voice was heard. The first time was at Jesus' baptism into His public ministry by John the Baptist.

The Bible says:

Mat 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Mar 1:11 And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Luk 3:22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

Therefore, the transfiguration of Jesus Christ was a unique display of His divine character and a glimpse of the glory, which Jesus had before He came to earth in human form. This truth is emphasized for us in a passage in the Apostle Paul's letter to Philippi:

Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Php 2:6 [Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

Php 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.]

Php 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

Php 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The Son of God came to earth in the form of a man to be the true servant of God and to give mankind the greatest gift ever given, eternal life. The transfiguration of Jesus Christ was a visible sign [in the presence of reliable witnesses] of the reality of the power of God and the glory, which is Christ Jesus.

The transfiguration of Christ Jesus was one of the greatest records in the New Testament of His earthly ministry. God laid His "Glory" aside and put on human flesh in order to redeem the entire human race. We get a Biblical glimpse of the "glorified body" of Christ that He will return in.

This transfiguration was a fulfillment of what Jesus had told the disciples just a week earlier:

Mat 16:28 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.

That kingdom, the kingdom of God is then Christ in All His Glory:

Luk 9:27 But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, [till they see the kingdom of God.]

Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

Rev 19:12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

Rev 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

*****Our Text:

Mat 17:1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,

Mat 17:2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

Mat 17:3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

This chapter begins with the "Glory of the Lord" and ends with a gold bearing fish.

Jesus had separated Himself and the disciples from the multitudes in order to teach and to pray. These two things must go together!

Luk 9:28 And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and [went up into a mountain to pray].

The transfiguration took place while Jesus was praying and the Apostle Peter would never forget this day:

2Pe 1:16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, [but were eyewitnesses of his majesty].

2Pe 1:17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

2Pe 1:18 [And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount].

1.) His clothing was changed:

Mat 17:2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and [his raiment was white as the light].

a.) His clothes were like lightening:

Luk 9:29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.

glistering: to flash out like lightning, to shine, be radiant

b.) His clothes were whiter than anyone could make them:

Mar 9:3 And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.

2.) His appearance was changed:

Luk 9:29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered,

Jesus looked strange to those that saw Him.

The Apostle John wrote:

Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

This was the "glory of God" in the Tabernacle:

Exo 40:34 Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

Exo 40:35 And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

Exo 40:36 And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys:

Exo 40:37 But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up.

Exo 40:38 For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.

In the Temple:

1Ki 8:10 And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD,

1Ki 8:11 So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD.

This was the "Glory" that had departed from the Temple because of the apostasy of Israel:

Eze 10:18 Then the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims.

Eze 11:22 Then did the cherubims lift up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.

Eze 11:23 And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city.

This Glorious Savior was at this time on Earth in His glory form and His name was Jesus.

He would later reveal Himself to Stephen:

Act 7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,

Act 7:56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

To the Apostle Paul:

Act 9:3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and [suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven]:

Act 9:4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

Act 9:5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

Act 22:6 And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, [suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me].

Act 22:11 [And when I could not see for the glory of that light], being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus.

Act 26:13 At midday, O king, [I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me] and them which journeyed with me.

And to the Apostle John on Patmos:

Rev 1:16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: [and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength].

Christ Jesus will reveal His "Glory" to the World again but the World will tremble:

Mat 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Mat 25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

Mat 25:32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

Mat 25:33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

The redeemed, those written in the Lamb's Book of Life, will walk in that light for ever and ever in that City of New Jerusalem:

Rev 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

Jesus Christ was not transfigured by any external means! His light was and is the "Glory of God"!

Joh 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

Joh 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

The Glory of God had to be veiled so He could come to this Earth because what God said to Moses is still true:

Exo 33:20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.

Christ's "glory" was not surrendered at His birth but it was through the "virgin birth" that he was veiled by the flesh.

John the Apostle had these words:

Joh 1:6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

Joh 1:7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

Joh 1:8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

Joh 1:9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

God had always placed a vail between Him and His children to protect them from His "glory". The vail of the Tabernacle and of the Temple served also this purpose, not to separate God from His people but to protect them so He could be present with them. That vail was a show of God's "grace".

Jesus Christ is that new and living way to get close to God!

Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

Heb 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

We can also find that the original word used for "transfigured" is used only twice more in the New Testament:

Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye [transformed] by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

2Co 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are [changed] into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

God's "Grace" transforms us now and in the "Rapture", WE WILL BE CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON.

John wrote again:

1Jn 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

1Jn 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

*****Christ Jesus was now joined by Moses and Elijah. This was significant because Moses represented the Law and Elijah represented the Prophets.

All the Law and all the Prophets point to Christ and are fulfilled in Christ:

Luk 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

Heb 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

Heb 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Not one Word of the Bible will go unfulfilled!

*****Our Text:

Mat 17:4 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.

Mat 17:5 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.

Mat 17:6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.

Mat 17:7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.

Mat 17:8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

Mat 17:9 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.

There is no doubt that these two great men of the Bible had come from the presence of God for they also had glorified bodies and what did they talk to Jesus about:

Luk 9:30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:

Luk 9:31 [Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem].

The Greek word used for departure is "exodus". They spoke to Jesus of the cross, His death, His burial, His resurrection and His ascension back to Heaven.

In the Old Testament, God was the liberator of His people Israel and in the New Testament God had come to liberate all His people of the World.

All that is required is to believe, "Faith". For the believer death is an "exodus" from the bondage of this life into the glorious liberty of life in Heaven, eternally.

Oh, What a Savior!

Because Jesus died and paid the price, we have been redeemed, purchased and set free!

It's a good time to point out that Moses and Elijah were easily recognized. I believe we can see from this that every saint of God will recognize each other and be recognized by all others when we become glorified.

The Bible says:

1Co 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; [but then shall I know even as also I am known].

We can even see another "type" here. Moses is a "type" of all saints that sleep in Jesus and whom the Lord will bring with Him when He comes.

1Th 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

Elijah is a "type", because he did not see death, who will be caught up from Earth.

1Th 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

When Peter suggested the three tabernacles, he had in mind the Feast of the Tabernacles. Tabernacles speaks of the day when the Son of God will tabernacle among men, wipe away every tear, and bring in the "golden age" which men have dreamed of since time began.

This feast speaks of Christ's Millennial Kingdom. This feast speaks of a new beginning without the ravages of the curse of sin. In that day, the earth will give her full bounty, all animals will be docile:

Amo 9:13 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt.

Amo 9:14 And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them.

Amo 9:15 And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God.

Isa 65:25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.

This feast celebrates the fact that armies will no longer march, every man will sit under his own fig tree and righteousness will become a reality in the earth:

Mic 4:4 But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.

But this day can only come under the conditions God had laid down to Moses:

Deu 30:1 And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee,

Deu 30:2 [And shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee] this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul;

Deu 30:3 That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, [and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee].

At this time of Jesus, He was being rejected by His own people:

Joh 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

Peter had looked forward to the coming of the Messiah and this transfiguration

had confirmed his belief but it was not time. He had not listened to the Words of

Christ. The cross could not be bypassed:

Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

It was impossible for Israel to experience the fulfillment of the Feast of the Ingathering(Tabernacles) until the nation turned it's faith to the Messiah.

This transfiguration was a picture in "type" of the second coming of Jesus to redeem His people Israel:

Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

Rom 11:27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

Rom 11:28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.

But not until after the Rapture of the Church.

It was as Peter had all this in mind when a cloud enveloped all that were upon that mountain and it literally terrified them.

Mar 9:7 And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

Luk 9:35 And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

Paul wrote to us all:

Heb 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

Heb 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

God the Father will not permit His beloved Son to be put on the same level as Moses and Elijah.

Jesus only is God's pattern. Jesus only is our means of salvation:

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

The world today also rejects the Lord Jesus Christ and there will not be another cross.

*****Our Text:

Mat 17:10 And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?

Mat 17:11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.

Mat 17:12 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.

Mat 17:13 Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.

All these things had somewhat bewildered these Apostles so they asked a question of Jesus:

"Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?"

The Bible says:

Mal 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

Their question was, since Jesus was the Messiah who had already come and they had witnessed the glorified body of Elijah, why then do the scribes teach that Elijah would still come?

Jesus told them that the prophesy "would be fulfilled". The prophesy states that this will not happen until before the "dreadful" day of the Lord.

Peter had a more clear understanding of this when he preached his first sermon to the beginning Church:

Act 2:19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:

Act 2:20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:

Act 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

John notes this day in the Book of Revelation:

Rev 6:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

This day will not happen until the fulness of the Gentiles has been complete.

Jesus goes on to say that in spirit, Elijah had already come and he was also rejected by his own people.

The disciples knew this then was John the Baptist.

Remember Elijah brought judgment on the children of Israel and when he comes back he will have another ministry:

"And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers"

This has not happened yet.

John the Baptist preached repentance and neither of them had seen much results.

Christ Jesus said that the Word of God will stand and the teachers of the Law were not in error with this scripture.

In the Book of Mark it is written of this same incident:

"how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought"

In other words, why did not the scribes not teach the truth about the Messiah. These things were also written in God's Word.

Since Jesus had been proven to be the Messiah and therefore their King, why would the kingdom not accept Him?

The Old Testament had seen not only the Messiah but also a Messiah that would suffer and die to provide salvation for sinners. This they had rejected and therefore could not accept their King.

The "death" of Christ had to precede the "reign" of Jesus Christ!

This was not clearly understood by the Old Testament prophets:

1Pe 1:10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:

1Pe 1:11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

*****Our Text:

Mat 17:14 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,

Mat 17:15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.

Mat 17:16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.

Mat 17:17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.

Mat 17:18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

Mat 17:19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?

Mat 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Mat 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

This son was really a sick young man:

Matthew says he was an epileptic, (lunatic),suicidal and very ill.

Mark says he was also mute(deaf), falling to the ground, foaming at the mouth.

Luke a doctor said this was an only son and would scream went he went into convulsions.

We can see that this boy was at least demon possessed.

If we look at this spiritually we can see in "type" that we have the Lord returning from the mountain and He finds Satan exercising his destroying power. Remember there will multitudes waiting on the Lords return and Satan will be dominate on this Earth during the tribulation period.

The returning Lord will find misery, suffering, and a world filled with unbelief.

We know the disciples had been given to cast out demons but they were helpless because of unbelief.

We must realize that this is not a reflection of the Church. These disciples represent the Jewish remnant of that time after the Rapture of the Church and in the tribulation period.

Rom 9:27 Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:

This remnant of Jewish believers will be in existance after the Church is complete and in the presence of the Lord. This the remnant that will preach the coming Kingdom to all. They are known as the 144,000.

Rev 7:4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

They will not be able to cast out the demon world, only the coming of the Lord can do that.

Luk 18:7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

Luk 18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

What we should concentrate on as the Church in these scriptures is that we see a company of believers whom God has placed certain powers and yet are unable to use that power. God has given certain powers to the Church!

We are believers in the midst of an evil world. Our world is not going to get any less evil.

2Ti 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

2Ti 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

The Christian believer has been given victory over this evil world:

1Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Then we should ask ourselves why we are just as powerless as these disciples at the foot of this mountain.

It is because of our unbelief! It is unbelief that gives Satan his power in this world!

Faith can and does remove mountains and all other obstacles.

We must start here:

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

If the Lord is forever in our hearts and in our sight, our faith will be noticeable. The Lord Jesus gives all his disciples the remedy for this failure:

Mat 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

1.) Prayer means communion with the Lord and total dependence upon Him.

2.) Fasting is losing sight of self; self denial. God must be first in our lives.

*****Our Text:

Mat 17:22 And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:

Mat 17:23 And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.

Again Christ instructs these men about His death and yet they still did not understand.

Mar 9:31 For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.

Mar 9:32 But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.

They were still confused about the Old Testament teachings. We have already seen that there were parts of the Old Testament that were not taught about the Messiah and many other things. This is another reason every God called preacher should preach the entire Bible. This is the only way to hold down confusion and every believer should themselves study the entire written word of God.

2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2Ti 2:16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

Christ was telling these disciples that all hope of glory and the kingdom could only be realized by His death and His resurrection.

Heb 2:8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.

Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

This instruction produced two results because of a lack of "faith".

1.) They were still much confused but were afraid to ask Him about it.

2.) They were also filled with grief at the thoughts of His death.

*****Our Text:

Mat 17:24 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?

Mat 17:25 He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?

Mat 17:26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.

Mat 17:27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

In the beginning God had given Adam dominion over nature and this would have included the fish of the sea.

Gen 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Psa 8:6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:

Psa 8:7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;

Psa 8:8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.

Man lost this dominion because of sin!

Jesus exercised dominion over all His creation:

The animals.

Mat 21:1 And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,

Mat 21:2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.

Mat 21:3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.

Mat 21:4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,

Mat 21:5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

Mat 21:6 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,

Mat 21:7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.

The birds:

Mat 26:34 Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

Jesus had what Adam had lost:

Today believers do not have dominion over nature but we do have the power to be good stewards of the things God has provided for us. That includes all that nature provides. God cares for His own and makes sure that all of nature is working.

This is the only miracle in the Bible where a miracle was done to provide a need for Christ. Jesus did not use this power selfishly. He did not want people to be offended because He as a Jew and did not support the Temple and it's ministries.

Rom 13:6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.

Rom 13:7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

Rom 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

Jesus did not hesitate to break the traditions of the Pharisees but He obeyed every Law of God.

Moses had written:

Exo 30:11 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Exo 30:12 When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them.

Exo 30:13 This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering of the LORD.

Exo 30:14 Every one that passeth among them that are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering unto the LORD.

The original tax was used to gather money to make the silver sockets for the Tabernacle. After this the money was used to support the ministry of the Tabernacle and then the Temple.

This money was a reminder to the Jews that they had been redeemed from Egypt.

We as believers know that we have been redeemed by the precious Blood of the Lamb of God.

1Pe 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

1Pe 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

1Pe 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

1Pe 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

This is not the only miracle in the Bible regarding fish:

Luk 5:4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

Luk 5:5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

Luk 5:6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

Jesus only needed one fish and one lost coin and another time he used Peter.

1.) Someone had to lose a coin of the exact amount, a half shekel or about 60 cents. This was the yearly tax for two people.

2.) This fish had to locate this coin in a specific body of water and wait till Peter had arrived and had to recognize Peter from any other fisherman.

3.) Peter had to go the exact place and cast his line for a fish to take the hook with a mouthful of coin.

Christ had performed other miracles in and around Peter:

1.) Jesus had healed Peter's mother-n-law.

2.) Jesus had helped Peter to catch fish.

3.) Jesus had helped Peter to walk on water.

4.) Jesus had healed the ear of Malchus that Peter had sliced off.

5.) Through Jesus Peter was delivered from prison.

Peter later wrote in the scriptures:

1Pe 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

If we trust in the saving work of Jesus Christ and believe the whole Word of God, He will meet all our needs.

Let's Pray!

The Identity Of The King

THE IDENTITY OF THE KING

Text: Book Of Matthew 16

Sunday School Focus: Matthew 16: 13-19, 21-27

What we will see in this chapter is a marked turning point in the ministry of Christ Jesus. The twelve disciples will openly identify Jesus as the Christ, God's Messiah. Jesus will speak of the Church. Jesus will declare His intention to die and be resurrected. The world will see Her Savior.

Last week in our study we saw the enemies of Our Lord. We should notice in the scriptures for today we see another group mentioned. We saw them earlier but let's look again.

1.) Who really are the Pharisees?

The Pharisees were the strictest religious sect among the Jew. It could be said that they were the religious upper class. They not only kept the letter of the law (Moses Laws) but they enforced the keeping of the Oral laws pasted down from generation to generation. Placing more emphasis on the Oral law if conflict developed as we have seen. Christ Jesus uncovered the wickedness in their hearts, they were hypocrites and let's not be confused, hypocrites are lost as Job's turkey.

2.) Who are the scribes?

The scribes had the care of the written law and studied it. We already know as Christians unless you are guided by the Holy Spirit, the Bible will not make a lot of sense to the lost world. They will see the words of salvation and then they will have to believe to go further. The scribes made the manuscripts, taught the law, explained the difficulties, kept the records and were sometimes referred to as lawyers.

3.) Who were these Sadducees?

First we can readily see they did not know Jesus, that's why they were so "Sad You See"!

The Sadducees were the very opposite from the Pharisees and the scribes. The Pharisees hated the Sadducees and the Sadducees were the sworn enemies of the Pharisees.

The sect called the Sadducees were actually a reform movement against the sect of Pharisees. They denied the supernatural, in fact they denied almost everything the Pharisees taught.

With these things in mind we will now see as these groups are joined together, even traveling to the land of the gentiles, to confront the Lord Jesus Christ. They both now have a common cause, "opposing the Lord Jesus Christ, His Enemies.

They all had the same satanic hatred for Our Savior. We can see as the remnants of all these sects are alive and well in our day. We call Sadducees the modern day humanist (the liberal movement) and those of the Pharisees, those that place man's word above God's Word (the traditionalists). As we speak they seek to form a union a world wide brotherhood of men against Christianity and the Lord Jesus Christ.

*****Our Text:

Mat 16:1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.

Mat 16:2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.

Mat 16:3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

Mat 16:4 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.

Let's look at a lack of faith. This group that hated Christ Jesus so much came together to ask Jesus for some special sign from Heaven.

The word "sign" as it is used here means more than a miracle or a demonstration of power as they had already seen in the miracles that Jesus had done and were not denied. The word "sign" as they requested meant much more. They wanted to see a "wonder" in the heavens just for themselves. This the fourth time they had asked for a sign.

Mat 12:38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.

Mat 12:39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:

Mat 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Joh 2:18 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?

Joh 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

Joh 6:30 They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?

Joh 6:31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

Joh 6:32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.

Joh 6:33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

We have already seen and will continue to see that "miracles do not convict people of their sin" nor give sinful people a desire to seek salvation. The purpose of these miracles was to show the glory and the mercy of God, to fulfill scripture and to prove that the Messiah was among His people.

Thank God for His "Grace" without which there could be no salvation for we are certainly undeserving of it!

Our Lord mentioned the weather simply to show that there was plenty of evidence of the existance of God without any other signs:

Rom 1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

These Pharisees and Sadducees did not lack evidence they lacked faith from the from the heart.

Jesus told them they had spiritual adultery:

Jas 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

These men were worshipping a false God, a God that they had made up in their own minds, a God that did not exist! Had they been worshipping the true God they would have easily seen the Messiah that stood before them.

They would now see the sign of the "death", "burial", and the "resurrection". This was the true sign to Israel that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah come down from God.

This was the same sign that Peter preached on the day of Pentecost and over 3000 were saved.

*****Our Text:

Mat 16:5 And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.

Mat 16:6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

Mat 16:7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.

Mat 16:8 Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?

Mat 16:9 Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

Mat 16:10 Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

Mat 16:11 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?

Mat 16:12 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.

We have seen the ones that had no faith so lets look at those that should have abounded in faith.

A lesson we all can learn here is that those that do not believe nor have faith in God cannot be instructors of God's Word.

Because of all this opposition Jesus left for Bethsaida.

Mar 8:22 And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.

This was the home of Peter and Andrew. When Christ Jesus warned them of the leaven of these Pharisees, He was warning them of the spirit of hypocrisy, the teaching of these people. Christ reminded these disciples that He did not depend on them to provide bread for their own needs. This He could do at any time.

"Little Faith" was a phrase Christ used often with these disciples and how well it applies to all that know the name of the Lord. "Little Faith" is better than no faith at all. All God's disciples have many lessons to learn to graduate to the phrase "Great Faith". It's best to learn these lessons quickly.

*****Our Text:

Mat 16:13 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?

Mat 16:14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

Mat 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Mat 16:17 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.

Mat 16:18 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.

Mat 16:19 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.

Mat 16:20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

Jesus took His disciples into Gentile territory again. This was near the home of Peter and Andrew. This would have been about 120 miles from Jerusalem. This region was full of false religion.

There was:

1.) Baal worship

2.) There were the shrines to the Greek God Pan

3.) Herod had built a temple to worship Augustus Caesar

This is the setting in which Jesus ask, not just Peter but all His disciples:

"Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? "

To those of us that know and love the true Church, this is an important part of the Bible. Jesus Christ announced that he would not yet establish His Kingdom but HE WOULD BUILD HIS CHURCH!

The most important thing we need to know in our lives is "Who Is Jesus Christ"?

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

This and only this information will lead us to salvation:

Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

1Jn 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

1Jn 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

1Jn 2:20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

1Jn 2:21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

1Jn 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

1Jn 2:23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.

1Jn 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

1Jn 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

1Jn 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

His work and His person go together and cannot be separated.

It is still amazing to see how confused the public is about Jesus Christ the Savior to all mankind.

1.) Jesus was not John the Baptist raised from the dead!

2.) Jesus was not the fulfillment of the prophesy of Elijah!

3.) Jesus was a man of sorrows but He was not a resurrected Jeremiah!

4.) Jesus Christ was not just any other prophet, Jesus was the Messiah:

Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

We must never allow this world to influence us in knowing Jesus Christ. If we have a copy of His true and living Word we must decide from the facts presented to us from His Word.

It is Peter who has the right answer!

"Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God"

Peter said without a doubt that Jesus was the Messiah. "Christ" is not the last name of Jesus, "Christ" is Greek for Messiah, The Anointed One sent of God.

God will reveal in us the important things if we open up our heart to Him:

Mat 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

Mat 11:26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.

Mat 11:27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

It's called trusting in the Lord. It is the grace of God. This thing had been hidden from the Pharisee, the scribes and the Sadducees, given to the disciples. This the truth of the Gospel. God will reveal to us things in His Word that is not revealed by the false teaching and preaching in our churches.

This was not the first time that this was said of Jesus:

Joh 1:49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

Mat 14:33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

Joh 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

Joh 6:69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

Peter was told this by his brother on the first day he met Jesus:

Joh 1:41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

Why was this time different?

This was not an emotional response from someone that had just witnessed a miracle but it was a decision reached after observing all the facts from a man that was taught of God.

*****Our Text

Mat 16:18 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.

Mat 16:19 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.

Mat 16:20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

*****The Rock:

Jesus the Christ, now tells His disciples how He will build something new called His Church. The word "church" has not been seen in the Bible up until this time. Matthew is the only Gospel that has the word "church".

The Old Testament taught that the word "Rock" was a symbol for God. These disciples knew this.

Deu 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

Psa 18:2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

Psa 18:31 For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?

Matthew wrote:

"That thou art Peter, and upon this rock"

The Greek word for Peter is "petros" which means "a stone".

Jesus said upon this "petra", a large rock, He would build His church. Jesus had given Simon a new name. In Aramaic form the name was Cephas.

Joh 1:42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

Everyone that confesses Jesus as the Christ, The Messiah, The Son of God is then a living stone:

1Pe 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

We must not get confused as some have, Jesus Christ is the foundational "Rock" on which the true church is built.

Psa 118:22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.

Isa 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

Jesus Christ Himself said the same thing:

Mat 21:42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

Mat 21:43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

The Apostles, including Peter, also said that the foundation for the church, is Jesus Christ:

Act 4:10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

Act 4:11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

Act 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

The Apostle Paul wrote the same thing:

1Co 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

This was the sermon preached by all the Apostles:

1Co 2:1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.

1Co 2:2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

Eph 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

Eph 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

Eph 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

Eph 2:21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

Eph 2:22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

We can see that the Bible states clearly that the Church, God's temple is built on Jesus Christ and not on Peter.

God could never build His Church on the failures of any Man.

That "rock" is clarified in Peter's statement:

"Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God"

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

*****The Church

The word "Church" comes from the Greek word "ekklesia". We get our English word "ecclesiastical" from this word, which refers to the things of the Church. Christ was not going to build a local assembly. He would be building a Church for "whosoever" would call on His name no matter where they lived or whatever nation they came from.

The word "Church" means a called out people:

2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

2Co 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

2Co 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

When Jesus Christ talked about "My Church", He was talking about something entirely new and different. Jesus Christ would unite believers, Jews and Gentiles to form a new temple, a new body:

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Eph 2:11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

There would be no distinctions of peoples:

Gal 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

Gal 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

There is one and only One builder of the Church, who is also the Head of the Church:

Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

Eph 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

All believers have one walk in the Church:

Eph 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

Eph 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

Eph 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Eph 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

Eph 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

Eph 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Eph 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

This why we have some "One" in Heaven praying for the success of His Church:

Joh 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

Joh 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

Joh 17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

Joh 17:23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

Joh 17:24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

Joh 17:25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.

Joh 17:26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

*****The Gates of Hell:

Hell is the place where all non-believers will spend their time after death of the flesh.

Luk 16:19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

Luk 16:20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

Luk 16:21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

Luk 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

Luk 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

There are so many that reject God's Word that God has enlarged Hell which He originally designed for Satan and the angels that followed him.

Isa 5:13 Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.

Isa 5:14 [Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.

Isa 5:15 And the mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled:

It is the Lord Jesus Christ that has the keys to this place and Him only.

Rev 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

The believer will never spend one minute in Hell:

2Co 5:6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:

2Co 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

2Co 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Paul wrote:

Php 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Php 1:22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.

Php 1:23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

That word "Gates" represents power and authority. To the Jew the city gate was like our city hall. Most all business took place at the city gates.

Deu 16:18 Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment.

The gates of hell would be the place where Satan had held authority and power.

Christ Jesus conquered Satan's power of death at the cross.

1Co 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

1Co 15:56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

1Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Heb 2:13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.

Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

Heb 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

*****The Keys To The Kingdom:

Again we must say that the the kingdom of heaven is not Heaven. No living human being could ever tote the keys to Heaven.

A "key" is designed to open doors and locks. The Apostle Peter was given the privilege of opening the "door of faith".

1.) To the Jew at Pentecost.

Act 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

Act 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

Act 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Act 2:5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

Act 2:6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

Act 2:7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?

Act 2:8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

2.) To the Samaritans:

Act 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

Act 8:15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

Act 8:16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

3.) To the Gentiles:

Act 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

Act 10:35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

Act 10:36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

All the Apostles shared in this authority:

Mat 18:18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Mat 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them

No where in the Bible are we told that Peter or any of the Apostles nor their successors had any special privilege or position in the living church of God.

Peter wrote:

1Pe 1:1 Peter, [an apostle] of Jesus Christ,

1Pe 5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, [who am also an elder],

2Pe 1:1 Simon Peter, [a servant] and an apostle of Jesus Christ,

*****Binding and Loosing

This could also be said "forbidding and allowing". In other words these Apostles would preach the pure Word of God with the Word of God being the measuring rod. If God's Word said it was permitted then it was permitted. If God's Word said it was "sin" and forbidden, then it is forbidden.

The Apostle Paul said many times "God Forbid" because this phrase is in the Bible 24 times.

God's Word is bound in Heaven, so should it be on Earth. The Church is to obey God's will on this earth and not the will of man.

The Apostles were not to share the truth about Jesus being the Messiah, the Son of God until after His passion, not until Pentecost.

The world would not be ready until the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Our Lord.

*****Our Text:

Mat 16:21 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.

Mat 16:22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

Mat 16:23 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.

Jesus now began to reveal His appointment with death to fulfill all prophesy.

1.) He must go to Jerusalem.

The place of sacrifice.

2.) He must suffer many things.

Of the elders, the chief priests, the teachers of the law, all who represented the religious leadership of Israel.

3.) He Must Be killed!

This was the substitutionary sacrifice for sinners.

4.) He Would Be Resurrected On The Third Day.

To prove He was God.

1Co 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

1Co 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

The word "rebuke" is a strong word. Peter intended to try to keep the Lord Jesus from going to Jerusalem in some fashion and of course this could not be allowed. Jesus used the name Satan because it had been Satan's purpose since he had deceived Eve to stop this from happening. Satan had already tried to kill Jesus before this appointed time.

Satan had not been able to accomplish his purpose:

Mat 4:8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

Mat 4:9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

Mat 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Remember Satan had offered Christ Jesus this kingdom without the cross.

THERE HAD TO BE A PAYMENT MADE FOR ALL OUR SIN!

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

ETERNAL LIFE CAN ONLY COME THROUGH THE CROSS OF JESUS!

Peter was thinking like a man:

"for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men"

That's the reason God tells us:

Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

We will never think right until we can think like God intended us to think!

*****Our Text:

Mat 16:24 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.

Mat 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Mat 16:26 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?

Mat 16:27 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.

Mat 16:28 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.

Instructions for discipleship.

The calling of a disciple comes at a high cost.

Luk 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

This is a daily walk with God. God does not have any part time jobs!

The disciple comes through stages of development:

1.) There are the "curious":

Multitudes were attracted to Jesus and to hear His Word.

2.) There are the "convinced":

From those multitudes who are curious there will be some who will come to faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior.

3.) There are the "committed".

If you are convinced then you must be committed to the work of the Lord.

A disciple will submit himself, or herself to the absolute will of God! A disciple must set aside his own will, the cross that Jesus bore was a test of His obedience to the will of God. To Christ Jesus the cross was His tree of the knowledge of good and evil where Adam had failed.

Christ spoke not only to the disciples but also to the multitudes:

Mar 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

We must decide if we are going to follow the Pharisees, the super religious, or are we going to follow the known will of God. It is the known will because He wrote it all down for us to see and to learn:

2Ti 2:14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.

2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Jesus Christ gives three reasons why we should follow Him:

1.) Jesus says there is a safety reason.

If a person decided not to follow Christ Jesus because people were threatening their lives then that person would actually die but to jeopardize your own life in the name of Jesus will gain ones eternal life.

Luke wrote of the Apostle Paul:

Act 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

John wrote of the believer:

Rev 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

2.) Then there is the economical reasons:

If you refuse to follow Jesus Christ because of your possessions on this Earth, then you will actually loose everything. To sacrifice for Christ is to find true riches.

Mat 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

3.) There is a judgment coming:

When Christ comes in all His power and glory to take His throne, he will judge all people.

The Church will be with Him and miss this judgment.

Those that remain and have rejected Christ will not be accepted into His Kingdom.

Luk 9:26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.

Jesus gave this multitude and His disciples a serious warning. That same warning is preached in every true Church today. Jesus had said that the "gates of hell" will not prevent the fulfillment of His plan. In fact Jesus indicated that nothing on this earth could stop the fulfillment of this plan, not even death itself.

Psa 2:4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.

Psa 2:5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.

Psa 2:6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

Psa 2:7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

The whole world will behold His glory when He comes back again:

Php 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

Php 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Php 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Php 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Let's Pray!