WHOM SAY YE THAT I AM?

Matthew 16:13-19 King James Version

13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

(Mark 8:27-29, Luke 9:18-20, Mark 8:27, Matthew 8:20, Matthew 16:27,28)

Caesarea Philippi was located near the foot of Mount Hermon approximately

25 miles to the north east of the sea of Galilee.

14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

(Matthew 14:2, Matthew 17:10, Matthew 5:15, Luke 9:8, John 1:21)

They gave him some of the names they had heard being discussed among the crowds of followers. John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or some other prophet, were suggested, but, Jesus wanted their own opinions to be expressed so:

15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Naturally Peter answered for all of them. There was nothing shy about Peter.

16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus often answered questions with a question. This was the answer he wanted them to remember. Only a few days later in Jerusalem, they were going to need to remember this. Peter, ho had the right answer from the Lord, was going to be the first to forget and, under pressure, would go so far as to deny even knowing him.

(Matthew 1:16, Matthew 16:20, John 11:27, Matthew 4:3, Psalm 42:2, Matthew 26:63, Acts 14:15, Romans 9:26, 2 Corinthians 3:3, 2 Corinthians 6:16, 1 Thessalonians 1:9, 1 Timothy 3:15, 1 Timothy 4:10, Hebrews 3:12, Hebrews 9:14, Hebrews 10:31, Hebrews 12:22, Revelation 7:2)

17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. This is the answer God wants from us all.

(John 1:42, John 21:15-17, 1 Corinthians 15:50, Galatians 1:16, Ephesians 6:12, Hebrews 2:14)

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

(*Greek Petros – a stone”, “Greek Petra - a Large rock or bed rock,” Matthew 4:18, Matthew 11:23),

19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

(Isaiah 22:22, Revelation 1:18, Revelation 3:7, Matthew 18:18, John 20:23)

Jesus was well aware that people had many different opinions as to who he was. Ask that question of the man on the street today, and you would also get a variety of answers. In fact you could ask that question of the men in the pulpits of America and you would still get a number of different answers. They would range from those who would say, “He never existed. It is all a fairy tale.” To, “ He was a great teacher,” “He was the founder of a religion.” And a few, would perhaps answer, “He is the Son of God.” Yes, Jesus was aware of what they were saying then, as he is today. What he wanted was that his disciples would put into words, what they believed about him. Peter spoke for them all when he said, “Thou art the Christ the Son of the living God.” Peter did not hesitate to speak on behalf of them all. He was a natural leader, even then. Unfortunately at that stage he was still very unstable in his own faith. Still, he knew what he believed and did not hesitate to put it into words. This was the same Peter who not many days afterwards would waver in faith to such an extent that on the night of Jesus’ betrayal he would deny, not once but three times in quick sequence, that he did not even knew Him. Realizing what he had done, he repented with bitter tears. If only men would follow that example, rather than covering up, or denying their weakness. This confession, one that Christians are all called upon to make not once but frequently, came of God the father and not of Peter himself. Faith comes of hearing the Word, and not of ourselves. God still speaks to us and brings a change of heart though his Word, the Bible. Many clergy, have many degrees after their names, but their knowledge has come from books of men, and not of the one Book of God. They know what men had concluded about the Bible, but not the Author back of the “scribe” He used to record the inspired, “God breathed” Word. Jesus said this came of God, the Father.

(John 1:42, John 21:15-17, 1 Corinthians 15:50, Galatians 1:16, Ephesians 6:12, Hebrews 2:14)

This is a case when knowledge of the original words used makes all the difference. The line should read, “Thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” clearly means to point out that Peter was a small pebble but that this indestructible church will stand against all attempts to destroy it because it is built on the solid fact that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. When one becomes a Christian he believes and confesses that fact before others, then is born again through being immersed for the forgiveness of his sins. On the Lord’s part, he is given the gift of the Holy Spirit, and Christ adds his name to the Book of Life. This reference to the keys, remind me of the African custom of giving the keys to a new place of worship to the one who will preach that day for the first sermon. He them leads the entire congregation around the building as they sing, This circuit is made seven times, after which he opens the door and everyone enters to participate in the first sermon there and present the gospel plan of salvation for the first time. On Pentecost, Peter used the keys when he presented Christ’s plan of salvation resulting in about 3000 became Christians that day and the Lord added them to His church. (Acts 2:38-47)

 ------------

 READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2013

 JANUARY

 27th Sunday - Job 7, 8, 9, Matthew 19, Psalm 16:7-11
 28th. Monday - Job 10, 11,12, Matthew 20, Proverbs 3:11-20
 29th. Tuesday - Job 13, 14, 15, Matthew 21:1-22, Psalm 17:1-5
 30th. Wednesday - Job 16, 17, 18, Matthew 21:23-46, Psalm 17:6-12
 31st. Thursday - Job 19, 20, Matthew 22:1-22, Psalm 17:13-15

 FEBRUARY

1st. Friday - Job 21, 22, Matthew 22:23-46, Proverbs 3:21-35
2nd. Saturday - Job 23, 24, 25, Matthew 23:1-22, Psalm 18:1-6

 ____________

 OUR CHRISTIAN BLOG LINKS

http://ebooksbybob.blogspot.com
These can be read on your own computer monitor. http://searchingthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com
Our weekly Bible Letter http://47yearsinafrica.blogspot.com Biographical, with photos http://whatdoesgodsayaboutthis.blogspot.com 
Questions and discussions
http://scripturegems.blogspot.com 
Favorite Scripture Quotations
http://salvationtracts.blogspot.com 
Representing 70 world languages
http://searchthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com 
Short Bible studies
http://bookletbiblestudies.blogspot.com 
Several pages in length
http://phyllistheauthor.blogspot.com
Portions of Phyllis’ published books

____________

THIS WEEK'S MEMORY TEXT

 “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned..” - Matthew 12:36-37

 __________

 SEND FREE CHRISTIAN EMAIL GREETINGS FROM:

 ecards@dayspring.com 3-movies@dayspring.com

 __________

 In the early days of our country, an old Quaker was shopping in town when a runaway team of horses destroyed a vegetable vendor’s cart, Many people began to tell the worker how sorry they were that this had happened. The old Quaker took off his hat and put five dollars in it. “I’m sorry, five dollars,” he said, and began passing the hat around. As followers of Jesus Christ, our expression of love and sympathy must come in concrete action and not just words.

 __________

 One Sunday in church a little boy took off his tie and put it into the offering plate. “What are you doing?” his mother asked. “What the minister said,” answered the little boy. “He told us to give our ties and offerings.”