The Gospel and the Kingdom - Matthew - The Rewards of Being a True Disciple

 

TEXT: Matthew 16:27-28 – ²⁷ For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. ²⁸ Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

We are finishing up our study in Chapter 16 today. In this chapter, we saw that Jesus refuses to give the Pharisees a sign to prove His divine identity. Also, we saw Him warn His disciples to beware of the Pharisee's false teachings. And ending our study with Peter correctly identifying who Jesus is. As we continue, today we pondered over Jesus Reminder, Revelation, Rebukes, and the Requirements. Let’s end on a high note of the REWARDS for being a true disciple.

He starts with the general rewards of all of Jesus’ disciples (vs.27).

This will occur at His Second Coming. We read from the Apostle Paul in 2 Cor. 5:10 – “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” This judgment is not about Salvation, but rewards for our service. Every disciple or follower of Christ will go through this.

It is often called The Bema Seat. Paul describes this for us in 1 Cor. 3:12-15 –

“If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, each one’s work will become obvious. For the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one’s work. If anyone’s work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will experience loss, but he himself will be saved—but only as through fire.”

Jesus does make a reference to a specific reward that will go to three of Jesus' disciples (vs.28) – Peter, James, and John will soon be allowed to witness the transfiguration of Christ (next chapter).

So, how do we apply this account to ourselves today? 

We need to stop and look truthfully at ourselves. How do we measure up to the requirements of a true disciple? Do we daily:

• Deny ourselves?
• Take up our cross?
• Follow Him?

 

Yes, I asked these same questions yesterday, but that is because they are vital questions that we must truthfully answer. Not just a casual glance. Not just a nod in their direction. But do we daily seek to be a true follower of Jesus Christ? And if we do, there are rewards in the life to come.

The Gospel and the Kingdom - Matthew - The Rebukes and the Requirements

 

TEXT: Matthew 16:22-26 – “²² Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” ²³ But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” ²⁴ Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. ²⁵ For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. ²⁶ For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”

We are in Chapter 16 again today. In this chapter, we have seen that Jesus again refuses to give the Pharisees a sign to prove His divine identity. Also, we will see Him warn His disciples to beware of the Pharisee's false teachings. And end our study with Peter correctly identifying who Jesus is. This study will be over the next two days as we divide it up into palatable pieces.

As we continue, today we pondered over Jesus Reminder and Revelation, and now we will muse over the Rebukes and the Requirements.

We start by seeing  Peter’s rebuke of Jesus in verse 22. Peter is upset that Jesus is speaking about His sufferings and death. He doesn’t want to hear about it, he doesn’t want Jesus to talk about it. Jesus then rebukes Satan (vs.23). Jesus’ rebuke against Satan is for influencing Peter to speak as he has.

So, we will close today with the REQUIREMENTS for discipleship (vs. 24-26).

Jesus lists the true conditions of discipleship -counting the cost of being a disciple of His. Too often today we minimize what it means to be a true follower of Christ. Just say a prayer and you’re in. But Jesus makes it clear, if we truly want to be a follower of His, there are three things we must do. 

First, Jesus says that we must Deny ourselves. The verb used by Matthew here is the same word Matthew used to describe Peter denying Christ three times. To deny yourself means to refuse to recognize or to acknowledge yourself. Say no to yourself. Saying no to yourself is hard, isn’t it? It means saying no to yourself to follow Jesus. 

Second, Jesus says we are to Take up our cross. For Jesus to say this to His disciples was dramatic and even unthinkable. The cross represented the most painful death. When He gives us as His followers this command, He gave the ultimate challenge to give up everything to follow Him. No reserves, no retreats, and no regrets. For Jesus to place this in the middle of this context He places it in the middle of our everyday life. It must be our daily priority, our schedules, our focus, our devotion. Following Jesus without any reservations. 

That brings us to Follow Him. The verb here is in the present tense. It means a daily following. A lifestyle. A way of life. Not saying no to just one or two things – a lifestyle of saying no to ourselves.  Taking up the cross daily.  A daily decision to devote ourselves to Christ.

How do we measure up to the requirements of a true disciple? Do we daily:

• Deny ourselves?
• Take up our cross?
• Follow Him?

 

The Gospel and The Kingdom - Matthew - The Reminder and the Revelation

 

TEXT: Matthew 16:5-21 –  ⁵ Now when His disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. ⁶ Then Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.” ⁷ And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have taken no bread.” ⁸ But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread? ⁹ Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? ¹⁰ Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up? ¹¹ How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?—but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” ¹² Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees. ¹³ When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” ¹⁴ So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” ¹⁵ He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” ¹⁶ Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” ¹⁷ Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. ¹⁸ And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. ¹⁹ And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” ²⁰ Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ. ²¹ From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.”

We are in Chapter 16 again today. In this chapter, we have seen that Jesus again refuses to give the Pharisees a sign to prove His divine identity. Also, we will see Him warn His disciples to beware of the Pharisee's false teachings. And end our study with Peter correctly identifying who Jesus is. This study will be over the next three days as we divide it up into palatable pieces.

As we continue, today we will ponder over Jesus Reminder and Revelation.

Begin with Jesus’ REMINDER in verses 5-12.  Jesus tells them to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees. The disciples first did not understand, they thought He was speaking about the fact they forgot to bring bread. But Jesus went on to instruct them by reminding them of the two mass feedings. He was speaking of the false teaching of the Pharisees. Their false teaching permeates the full measure. What starts out as a minor shift from God’s Word will end up in large measure.

So that brings us to see the REVELATION in verses 13-21. We can divide this into three sections – the PROBING of Jesus in verses 13-17, the PROMISE of Jesus in verses 28-20, and the PASSION of Jesus in verse 21.

The PROBING of Jesus. 

Notice first, His REQUEST (vs. 13), He asks the disciples what people were saying about Him. There were many  RUMORS about who He was (vs.14).

• John the Baptist
• Elijah
• Jeremiah
• One of the Prophets come back

He then asks them what do they think? He is seeking to have them RECOGNITION. Peter acknowledges the Deity of Jesus. (vs. 15-16).  In verse 17, Jesus tells Peter that it is because God had revealed it to him.

Then comes the PROMISE by Jesus.  He starts with the Announcement (vs.18). He will soon build His Church. He then speaks to the Authority (vs. 19) He will entrust to them. They will have the keys to the Kingdom.

In both the Old and New Testaments, keys symbolize power and authority. The nature of that power and authority varies depending on the context. Through Peter’s faithful proclamation of the gospel, Peter will open the door of the kingdom to those who respond in faith, while at the same time keeping it shut from those who do not.  Because the gospel determines what is bound and what is loosed, Peter’s actions of binding and loosing here on earth express heaven’s verdict itself. 

While the focus in this passage is Peter, this same authority is extended to the entire church in Matthew 18:18. Thus, when it comes to the authority and power of the keys of the kingdom, it is not something that rests in Peter as an individual or even in the church as an institution. That is because the final authority rests in the gospel itself. So, the keys of the kingdom are God’s gift to his people to state heaven’s verdict on who will and will not enter the kingdom based on their response to the gospel.  As such, all who faithfully preach and teach the gospel are able to exercise them under the authority of Jesus Christ himself.

Jesus then gives them a PROHIBITION (vs. 20). They are not to tell anyone that He is the Messiah. They will be commissioned after the Resurrection with the task of proclaiming the good news, but now they were to wait.

We end this revelation with the PASSION of Christ (vs.21) Jesus predicts His future sufferings, death, and resurrection.

Tomorrow, we will continue this lesson with the REBUKES and the REQUIREMENTS that Jesus shares.