From Matthew 16:13-20 / Two Questions

There is little doubt that this is one of the most pivotal passages in the whole of the Gospels. And it is built around two eternally vital questions, and their right answers.

Note first: Jesus asks the disciples regarding the common opinion about who He is.

At first, this might not seem very important, but as we go out into the world hoping to evangelize, we need to find out people’s presuppositions before we venture to tell them the truth. When we fail to do this, we may use identical language, but with disparate if not diametrically opposed concepts.

When we speak of Jesus to a Muslim for instance, if he or she knows anything about how the Koran paints Him, then we are talking about two very different individuals. The same is true for Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and even those with little religious affiliation whatsoever. We must find a starting point where we are meaning the same thing by the words we speak before we can truly communicate with profit.

Going back a few years, it was a common saying that when someone was upset about something, they had a bee in their bonnet. An apt description. Who would be flustered if they had a bee in their hat? But if at the same time you used that saying with someone from England, it wouldn’t carry any of the same connotations. For there, the bonnet is the hood of one’s car. And who would care if there was a bee under the hood of their car? It would be nonsensical.

So who do PEOPLE say or think Jesus is, is vital before we can talk about who the Bible says Jesus is – and clarify that concept before we can share the Gospel competently.

As the Disciples were to make their way into the world for the Gospel’s sake, this issue would be front and center. So it is you see why Paul began where he did on Mars Hill. Until they were even talking about the same thing when they said “God” – misunderstanding would make Gospel unintelligible.

Note second: Illustrative of the first point, were the various notions among the Jewish population surrounding the coming of the Messiah. Hence, they would try to put Jesus into one of their preconceived categories.

Some thought Jesus might be John the Baptizer raised from the dead. Such an opinion can only come about when people look at important questions a-historically. And it is why Christians especially need to understand the historical factuality of Jesus’ birth, life, ministry, death and resurrection. This was troubling concept Herod had of Jesus in Ch. 14.

Other thought Jesus might be Elijah. This was more in tune with drawing an opinion from Scripture, but failing to consider the teaching of Jesus on the subject. They would have drawn from the common understanding of Mal. 4:5 where Elijah was prophesied to be the Messiah’s forerunner. But this is the designation Jesus gave to John the Baptist.

There were other Jewish legends which included other Old Testament prophets coming back to life in connection with the appearance of the Messiah.

In evangelizing, all of these false ideas of the Messiah would have to be dealt with in preaching Christ and Him crucified without misunderstanding. We can appeal to Scripture but leave out other critical Scriptural information thus failing to arrive at the truth. A whole understanding of the Bible is critical.

Note third: Peter’s famous declaration in response to Jesus’ second question: “But who do YOU say that I am?”

This, and this alone is the foundation of the Church: Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Apart from this we have nothing but man made religion. Everything hangs upon and is founded upon this revelation. And any who have not had it revealed to them, are not of or in The Church.

Indeed, this is THE question everyone must answer for themselves. And make no mistake, the mere truth of the data is not salvific alone. The Devil and all the demons know who Jesus really is. The question is, having received the light of who He is, have you been reconciled to God through Him?

Thus we note fourth: Imagine how deaf, dumb, blind and hard we are, that God can appear in human flesh, do miraculous works, and speak to us directly- and yet apart from the Spirit’s working – we will not perceive Him.

We have little concept of how truly lost – lost is. Nothing short of the supernatural work of revealing Christ the soul delivers us from that death.

But note fifth: How gracious God is that He overcomes our pitiable state. If He did not, none would be saved.

Note sixth: A wonderful parallel between Jesus’ building His Church, and its shadow back in 1 Chronicles 28:11-19. There, it was David’s design, the father’s design which the son, Solomon carried out. And so it is with the Church. It is the Father’s great design, but the Son is the builder. Its erection is committed to the Son. But the Son is carrying out the Father’s will, plan and purpose.

Note lastly: In regard to the keys of the Kingdom. ‎If as Lightfoot suggests, the keys of the Kingdom are the sharing or the denying of any the Gospel – then both what glory and responsibility rests upon us. Are men kept out of the kingdom because we do not open the door of the Gospel to them? Father forgive us our neglect! Let me use those keys every single day! To deny men the Gospel, is to leave them bound in their sins.To fail to tell them the jail door is open and they may come out if they will follow Jesus to the entrance of Heaven.

‎Lightfoot goes on to insist this common Jewish way of speaking had to do with THINGS, not people. And thus in transitioning from the Mosaic to the New Covenant, the Apostles would be looked to to determine for the Church what was to be carried over as binding, and what was not. This was carried out at the first Church council in Jerusalem and was an issue of contention between Paul and Peter at Antioch.

And so it is this is not an issue of cause and effect, but of correspondence. As we walk with Him, submit to Him, give ourselves over to His cause ans purposes, we harmonize with Heaven itself.