Confessing & Following Confessing & Following JesusJesus

Matthew 16:13-28Matthew 16:13-28

BethsaidaBethsaida

16 m

iles

16 m

iles

Why the 4-5 hour journey?Why the 4-5 hour journey?

Caesarea PhilippiCaesarea Philippi(v. 13)(v. 13)

“Who do PEOPLE say…?”

The PEOPLE’S answers:• John the Baptist (Herod, Matt. 14:2)• Elijah (forerunner to Messiah, 3:1-3;11:9-10)• Jeremiah or one of the prophets

(resurrected)

The secular view sees a prophet where the sacred view sees God.

(v. 13)(v. 13)

“Who do YOU say that I am?”Matthew 16:15

Peter’s answer is:

• Personal

• Inspired

• Foundational to the church

• Key to the kingdom

““This Rock” = ?This Rock” = ?1.1. Peter himselfPeter himself

would open the kingdomwould open the kingdomto the Jews in Acts 2 & 3; to the Jews in Acts 2 & 3;

to the Gentiles in Acts 10to the Gentiles in Acts 10

2.2. Peter’s confessionPeter’s confession 1 John 4:15: 1 John 4:15: "If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of "If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of

God, God lives in him and he in God.”God, God lives in him and he in God.”

3.3. This locationThis location the “Gates of Hades”, would be overtaken by the kingdomthe “Gates of Hades”, would be overtaken by the kingdom

(v. 18)(v. 18)

My Church = ?

• Church (Gk. ekklesia) = called out, crowd, synagogue

• His followers and people

• Church = Kingdom

(v. 18)(v. 18)

Gates of Hades = ?Gates of Hades = ?

• Hades refers to death and dying• Psalms 9:13 Have mercy on me, O LORD!

Consider my trouble from those who hate me, You who lift me up from the gates of death

• Psalms 107:18 Their soul abhorred all manner of food, And they drew near to the gates of death.

• Job 38:17 Have the gates of death been revealed to you?

(v. 18)(v. 18)

““The keys of the kingdom” = ?The keys of the kingdom” = ?

• KNOWLEDGE of God’s Revelation• Luke 11:52 "Woe to you lawyers! For you have

taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered.“

• Peter’s confession came by revelation knowledge

• You get in or are kept out by what you know of God’s truth

(v. 19)(v. 19)

Bind/Loose

• Only God’s KEYS fit God’s LOCKS• Confession brings blessing• Resistance brings rebuke

(v. 19)(v. 19)

Bind/Loose (v. 19)

Heaven Heaven

doesn’t endorse doesn’t endorse

the Church’sthe Church’s decisions. decisions.

The Church The Church

enacts enacts

Heaven’sHeaven’s decisions. decisions.

The “KEY” to God’s Purpose (v. 21)

• Entrance into Kingship would be through Jesus’ Cross

• No King/Messiah without suffering

Peter’s Rebuke• TO Jesus:

• Man’s Ideas of God’s Purposes (Man’s KEYS in God’s Lock!)

• Like Satan (Matt. 4:8-9), he offered kingship without suffering

• FROM Jesus: • God’s Ideas (KEYS) of God’s Purposes (Lock)• From “ROCK” to “Stumbling Block”• From “Blessed” to “Satan”

The “KEY” to God’s Purpose (24-27)

For Jesus:

• Entrance into Kingship through Jesus’ Cross

• No King/Messiah without suffering

For Disciples:

• Entrance into Discipleship through our cross

• No DISCIPLESHIP without suffering

The answer is PERSONAL

• Have YOU confessed Jesus as the Anointed Son of the Living God?

• Have YOU become a stumbling block to Jesus’ mission?

• Have YOU decided to lay down your life to Jesus?

The answer is INSPIRED

• Have YOU responded to what the Father has revealed to you?

• Are YOU setting your mind on the things of God?

• Are YOU looking for the reward of your obedience?

The answer is FOUNDATIONAL

• Is JESUS the foundation of your life?

The answer is KEY to the kingdom

• Do YOU loose/bind people with the key of knowledge of who Jesus is?

• Are YOU on the offensive for the kingdom?