Series: Journey to the Cross
Text: Matthew 16:13-23
Title: “Getting It Right”
Introduction
• As we begin our journey to the cross, it’s important that we start off on the right foot.
o How we start sets the tone for how the rest of the trip is going to play out.
o Kind of like going on vacation; if things start going wrong before you even hit the road you know it’s going to be a long trip.
I. Asking The Right Question (13-17)
• This event is a turning point in the ministry of Jesus.
o Up until this point Jesus’ focus has clearly been on others.
o Now He begins to focus on His disciples as the cross at Calvary grows ever closer.
• “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”
o This is a very broad and general question to which everyone has an answer of some type.
Vs. 14
o John the Baptist Jesus was a great preacher and a messenger from God (those who focused on His message).
o Elijah Jesus preformed signs and wonders that no one had ever seen before (those who focused on His miracles).
o Jeremiah or one of the prophets people could not question what Jesus said or did, but these were indifferent about finding out for themselves.
• Notice Jesus doesn’t even comment on any of these answers, because that was not the important question.
Vs. 15
• “But who do you say that I am?”
o This is the single most important question we will ever have to answer.
o This is where the journey must be begin; it’s not the end of some kind of spiritual journey or quest, but the starting point.
Vs. 16
• Peter answers, ‘You are the Messiah and the Son of God.’
o Christ Jesus was God’s chosen prophet, priest, and king; He was the fulfillment of all the OT prophecies of God’s promise.
o Son of the Living God More importantly Peter says that He is God.
• Jesus’ disciples had witnessed what everyone else saw; however they came to the only conclusion that is acceptable.
Vs. 17
• The reason they came to a different conclusion faith.
John 6:44 -- 44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.
o As God’s Spirit reveals to us who Jesus is we have a decision to make; receive Him as my personal Savior or reject Him.
o The only sin that cannot be forgiven is when the Holy Spirit reveals the truth about Christ and we call Him a liar.
II. Building On The Right Rock (18-19)
Vs. 18
• We know that Jesus changed the name of Cephas to Peter, which means rock.
o Based on that many think that Jesus is telling Peter that he will be the foundation on which the NT Church is built.
• But here is where a closer look at the words is helpful in understanding the text.
o Jesus called Peter (petros) which means a small stone or pebble.
o However the rock on which Jesus will build His Church is the word (petra) which means bedrock.
o So who is the bedrock, consider these verses.
Deuteronomy 32:3-4 -- 3 For I proclaim the name of the LORD: Ascribe greatness to our God. 4 He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.
2 Samuel 22:2 -- 2 And he said: “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
1 Corinthians 10:4 -- 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock(petra) that followed them, and that Rock(petra) was Christ.
• The foundation on which the Church is built is not built upon a man, Peter; but is built upon Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:11 -- 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
o If we desire to build anything in our lives or in our church, then it must be built upon the foundation of Jesus Christ and His word.
Matthew 7:24-27 -- 24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
o If we do this then Jesus promises we will be victorious.
Vs. 19
• “Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven.”
o That is the gospel.
o More specifically Peter’s confession of Christ (our response to the gospel).
• “whatever you bind…whatever you loose…”
o This is a call to evangelism, we are not to just hold on to the keys, but use them to open the door of the Kingdom for others, but they must still choose to enter.
o This is also the consequences for not witnessing, they will be lost.
Romans 10:13-14 -- 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” 14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
III. Doing The Right Will (20-23)
Vs. 20
• Jesus tells His disciples to tell no one He was the Messiah.
o He does this because they did not understand God’s will for His coming.
John 6:14-15 -- 14 Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.
o This is not the reason Jesus had come this time.
Vs. 21
• This is why He came, to suffer, and die, and to raise again on the third day.
o This was God’s redemptive plan that was set into motion from the time Adam and Eve first sinned, now unfolding before them.
Vv. 22-23
• Peter again speaks up but to rebuke Jesus telling Him basically, “not on my watch.”
o Jesus responds and tells him, “Get behind Me Satan.” what changed?
o Peter’s heart was in the right place but he was chasing after the wrong will.
• “For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”
o Jesus’ sole purpose was to carry out God’s will, not Peter’s or John’s or the thousands’ who followed Him.
o In that will of God Jesus had an appointment with a cross and anything that tried to keep Him from it was doing the will of Satan.
• Just like after Peter denied Christ 3 times God gives him another chance to get it right.
Acts 2:22-24 -- 22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know— 23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; 24 whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.
