Matthew 16 - Peter Confesses Jesus as the Messiah

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The Demand for a Sign

I don't think Jesus wasn't against giving a sign, after all he performed miracles all the time. But he also knew the heart of the Pharisees and Sadducees. They had no intention of believing even if Jesus did do one. 

This statement of Jesus reminds us that signs alone convert no one. It is easy to place far too much confidence in signs and wonders as tools to bring people to faith in Jesus.- Guzik

The Yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees

Recently Jesus talked about yeast in a positive way. Similar to the mustard seed, a little bit of yeast could like go a long way as was the case with our own faith. But today he uses yeast in a negative way. 

As noted previously in the parable of the leaven (Matthew 13:33), leaven is consistently used as a picture of sin and corruption (especially in the Passover narrative of Exodus 12:8, 12:15-20).

So what was the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees? Legalism. Like the teaching of these leaders, legalism can easily slip its way into the church. The reason is legalism appeals to the flesh because it breeds pride. I.e. I am a better Christian than you because I read more, pray more, give more, evangelize more, and I am even more humble than you. 

The humorous part of this passage is that the disciples didn't understand Jesus was referring to here. They thought he was still talking about them not having enough bread to feed the people. 

Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah 

The disciples have traveled with Jesus for a while, seen his miracles and teaching, and so he decides to give them a "pop quiz" about his identity. 

Though generally Peter is the one most likely to "put his foot in his mouth", he gets it right this time. He proclaims, "You are the Messiah the Son of the Living God!" Before Peter gets too cocky, Jesus reminds him that such a revelation can only be given by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that illumines our hearts and minds to confess Jesus as Lord. We can't take credit for it. It is a gift. 

Then, Jesus uses a wordplay on Peter's name because in Greek Peter's name means "the rock". Peter's confession of Jesus as the Messiah will be the rock upon which the church is built. 2,000 years later this is still the case. The church is built upon the proclamation of Jesus as Lord and Savior. When the church preaches another gospel, it ceases to be the church of Jesus Christ.  

As we build our church on Jesus our Rock, the gates of hell will not overcome us. What a promise! When we put all of our trust and hope in Jesus the Christ, we never need be afraid of any earthly power. Many churches make others things their rock like the building, a personality, a new theology, or a social statement. When the storms hit those churches they collapse because they are built on the sand. Like the old hymn goes, 

"On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand!" 

Jesus Predicts His Death

After the momentous occasion with Peter's confession, Jesus turns to a much different subject his own death. This must have been quite a shock to his disciples. This was not the way they saw it playing out. After having his moment in the sun, Peter comes back to earth by trying to tell Jesus that this is not such a good idea. After commending him for his confession of faith, Jesus now rebukes Peter for unwittingly playing right into the hands of their mutual enemy, Satan. 

Though Satan can never possess a Christian, he can influence them do and say dumb things. In this case the devil tries to get Peter to try and dissuade Jesus from going to the cross.  The evil one knew his death was certain if Jesus made it to the cross. 

Finally, Jesus reveals to his disciples the true nature of what it will mean for them to follow him in the days ahead. Jesus uses paradoxical language like "whoever wants to save their life will lose it", and "deny yourself and pick up your cross".   

Though Jesus will literally carry a cross to his own death, he teaches the disciples that in order to follow him they will need to pick up THEIR OWN cross. 

Everybody knew what Jesus meant when He said this. Everyone knew that the cross was an unrelenting instrument of death. The cross had no other purpose. The cross wasn’t about religious ceremonies; it wasn’t about traditions and spiritual feelings. The cross was a way to execute people. - Guzik

But we also know on the other side of the cross is resurrection. And for the believer the resurrection will also bring a reward from the Father. The reward for those who put their trust in and follow Jesus is eternal life. And in a sense eternal life begins now for those who make Jesus their Lord and Savior.  

Amazingly, the people who live this way before Jesus are the ones who are really, genuinely happy. Giving our lives to Jesus all the way, and living as an others-centered person does not take away from our lives, it adds to it. - Guzik