Matthew 16      Thursday,  Jan 29

The Pharisees weren't looking for a sign to bolster their faith, they just wanted their senses stimulated.   They wanted to be "wowed".    Jesus provided plenty of signs that proved beyond doubt that He had power beyond what is possible here on earth.   Once you accept that, it isn't hard to accept that He is everything He said He was.   Clearly the miracles are being done using power from elsewhere, and Jesus says that He is from there....not difficult to accept.
But the Pharisees weren't hoping to be convinced.  They had already made up their mind.  Jesus wasn't God in their eyes, rather, He was a threat.   So they simply wanted to amuse themselves by seeing Jesus perform miracles.   They learned nothing from it.
In fact, there are people today who see miracles occur right in front of them, and they learn nothing from it.   They seem to be blinded somehow.   Even the disciples were guilty of this.  When Jesus talks about the "yeast of the Pharisees" they think He is talking about their failure to bring bread with them.   Think about that for a minute.  What in the world does Jesus need with bread?   He just turned a sandwich into a meal for thousands.   He isn't worried about bread!   But somehow our day to day, practical needs seem to prevent us from understanding and appreciating miracles as they occur.

The yeast of the Pharisees is their teaching.  They are extremely legalistic.  That means they have laws upon laws, and only they know how they should be interpreted.   The laws make them feel needed and important.  They exercised power over the people by creating more and more laws.   Jesus came and said "the only thing you need to do to enter heaven is to believe in me" which cuts right through all the laws.   Jesus wasn't abolishing the laws He was fulfilling them.   However, the Pharisees had created many extra laws, some that were so ridiculous that they actually violated God's Law, which they were supposed to support!     Jesus did advocate breaking those laws....they weren't from God anyway.

The reason people associate Saint Peter with the "Pearly Gates of Heaven" is because of the conversation he has with Jesus here beginning in verse 13.   Jesus says that He will give Peter the "keys to the kingdom" and the gate is usually how you get in....that's what the keys would be for.    Funny in a way....but so far off the mark that it makes you shudder to think that anyone could believe it.   In fact, the catholic church believes the Pope is the "reincarnation" of the Apostle Peter, since Jesus said "upon this rock I will build my church".   They believe Peter is the rock, and since Peter is said to have died in Rome, that's where the church is based.    It's an ancient belief, probably motivated more by desire for control than by truth.

The rock and the key to heaven is the knowledge that Jesus Christ is God.   Like a rock, that cannot be moved Jesus is God eternally.  The kingdom is built upon Him.   Knowing Him is the way into heaven.  He is the key, and the key is being given to Peter...but not only to Peter, to everyone who believes.

Beginning in verse 21 Jesus is preparing His disciples for what is going to happen to Him in Jerusalem.  This is important to understand:  Jesus never tried to "surprise" the disciples, or spring some event on them without warning.  He mentions his death several times before it happens, and he tells them that he will come back to life.   It's just that they are so distracted they can't see it.   But after it happens they remember being told about it earlier.    If we are paying attention, we will see that God has also warned us about the end of the earth.   It isn't science fiction, it's really going to happen.   We have been warned many times, and should be prepared when it happens.

Looking forward,


PR