The Pharisees and Sadducees Demand Signs
1 And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven.
The Pharisees and Sadducees were Jewish religious leaders of two different parties, and their views were diametrically opposed on many issues. The Pharisees carefully followed their religious rules and traditions, believing that this was the way to God. They also believed in the authority of all Scripture and in the resurrection of the dead. The Sadducees accepted only the books of Moses as Scripture and did not believe in life after death. In Jesus, however, these two groups had a common enemy, and they joined forces to try to kill him.
The Pharisees and Sadducees demanded a sign from heaven. They tried to explain away Jesus' other miracles as sleight of hand, coincidence, or use of evil power, but they believed that only God could do a sign in the sky. This, they were sure, would be a feat beyond Jesus' power. Although Jesus could have easily impressed them, he refused. He knew that even a miracle in the sky would not convince them he was the Messiah because they had already decided not to believe in him.
2 He answered them, "When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.' 3 And in the morning, 'It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4 An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah." So he left them and departed.
By using the sign of Jonah, who was inside a great fish for three days, Jesus was predicting his death and resurrection (see also 12:38-42).
Many people, like these Jewish leaders, say they want to see a miracle so that they can believe. But Jesus knew that miracles never convince the skeptical. Jesus had been healing, raising people from the dead, and feeding thousands, and still these leaders wanted him to prove himself. Do you doubt Jesus because you haven't seen a miracle? Do you expect God to prove himself to you personally before you believe in him? Jesus says, "Blessed are those who believe without seeing me" (John 20:29). We have miracles recorded in the Old and New Testaments, 2,000 years of church history, and the witness all around us of thousands who have been saved, reconciled, rehabilitated, and healed by God. With all this evidence, those who won't believe are either too proud or too stubborn. If you simply step forward in faith and believe, then you will begin to see the miracles that God can do in your life and is doing in the lives of others!
The Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees
5 When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. 6 Jesus said to them, "Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." 7 And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, "We brought no bread." 8 But Jesus, aware of this, said, "O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? 9 Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 11 How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? 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 teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Yeast is put into bread to make it rise, and only a little is needed to affect a whole batch of dough. Jesus used yeast as an example of how a small amount of deceptive teaching can affect a large group of people. The misleading teachings and wrong priorities of the Pharisees and Sadducees were leading many people astray. We need to choose teachers for our churches carefully because teachings can have a great impact. Even a small distortion of Scripture can hurt people. There is another principle here as well. Beware of the tendency to say, "How can this little wrong I am doing possibly affect anyone?" Allowing even a small sinful habit or false teaching to persist in your life will not only affect you more than you realize but also do the same to others.
Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ
13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"
Caesarea Philippi was located several miles north of the Sea of Galilee, in the territory ruled by Herod's son Philip. This is not the huge Roman seaport of Caesarea on the Mediterranean Sea. The influence of Greek and Roman culture was everywhere, and pagan temples and idols abounded. When Philip became ruler, he rebuilt and renamed the city after the emperor, Caesar.
14 And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say 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 replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
The disciples answered Jesus' question with the view some people held that Jesus was one of the great prophets come back to life. This belief may have stemmed from Deuteronomy 18:18, where God said he would raise up a prophet from among the people. Peter, however, confessed Jesus as divine and as the promised and long-awaited Messiah. If Jesus were to ask you this question, how would you answer? Is he your Lord and Messiah?
18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
The rock on which Jesus would build his church has been identified as either (1) Jesus himself (and his work of salvation by dying for us on the cross); (2) Peter (the first great leader in the church at Jerusalem); or (3) the confession of faith that Peter gave and that all subsequent true believers would give. It seems most likely that the rock refers to Peter as the leader of the church. Just as Peter had revealed the true identity of Christ, Jesus revealed Peter's identity and role.
Later, Peter would remind Christians that they are the church built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ as the cornerstone (1 Peter 2:4-6). All believers are joined into this church by faith in Jesus Christ as Savior, the same faith that Peter expressed here (see also Ephesians 2:20-21). Jesus praised Peter for his confession of faith. It is faith like Peter's that is the foundation of Christ's Kingdom.
19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
The meaning of this verse has been a subject of debate for centuries. Some say the "keys" represent the authority to carry out church discipline, legislation, and administration (18:15-18), while others say the keys give the authority to announce the forgiveness of sins (John 20:23). Still others say the keys may be the opportunity to bring people to the Kingdom of Heaven by presenting them with the message of salvation found in God's Word (Acts 15:7-9). The religious leaders thought they held the keys of the Kingdom, and they tried to shut some people out. We cannot decide to open or close the Kingdom of Heaven for others, but God uses us to help others find the way inside. To all who believe in Jesus and obey his words, the Kingdom doors are swung wide open.
20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.
Jesus warned the disciples not to publicize Peter's confession because they did not yet fully understand the kind of Messiah he had come to be—not a military commander, but a suffering servant. They needed to come to a full understanding of Jesus and their mission as disciples before they could proclaim it to others in a way that would not cause a rebellion. They would have a difficult time understanding what Jesus came to do until his earthly mission was complete.
Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection
21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.
The phrase from then on marks a turning point. In 4:17 it signaled Jesus' announcement of the Kingdom of Heaven. Here it points to his new emphasis on his death and resurrection. The disciples still didn't grasp Jesus' true purpose because of their preconceived notions about what the Messiah should be. This is the first of three times that Jesus predicted his own death (see 17:22-23 and 20:18 for others).
22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you."
Peter, Jesus' friend and devoted follower who had just eloquently proclaimed Jesus' true identity, sought to protect him from the suffering he prophesied. But if Jesus hadn't suffered and died, Peter would have died in his sins. Great temptations can come from those who love us and seek to protect us. Be cautious of advice from a friend who says, "Surely God doesn't want you to face this." Often our most difficult temptations come from those who are only trying to protect us from discomfort.
23 But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man."
In his wilderness temptations, Jesus heard the message that he could achieve greatness without dying (4:9). Here Peter presented the same message. Peter had just recognized Jesus as the Messiah; however, he missed God's perspective and evaluated the situation from a human one. Satan is always trying to get us to leave God out of the picture. Jesus rebuked Peter for this attitude. Peter had to choose between God's intentions and Satan's. All people since Peter have faced the same choice.
Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
When Jesus used this picture of his followers taking up their crosses to follow him, the disciples knew what he meant. Crucifixion was a common Roman method of execution, and condemned criminals had to carry their crosses through the streets to the execution site. Following Jesus, therefore, meant a true commitment, the risk of death, and no turning back (see 10:39).
25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
The possibility of losing their lives was very real for the disciples as well as for Jesus. Real discipleship implies real commitment—pledging our whole existence to God's service. If we try to save our physical lives from death, pain, or discomfort, we may risk losing eternal life. If we protect ourselves from the pain God calls us to suffer, we begin to die spiritually and emotionally. Our lives turn inward, and we lose our intended purpose. When we give our lives in service to Jesus, however, we discover the real purpose of living.
26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
When we don't know Jesus, we make choices as though there were no afterlife. In reality, the life we live now is just the introduction to eternity. How we live during this brief span determines our eternal state. What we accumulate on earth has no value in gaining eternal life. Even the highest social or civic honors cannot earn us entrance into heaven. Evaluate your lifestyle from an eternal perspective, and you will find your values and decisions changing.
27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.
Jesus Christ has been given the authority to judge all the earth (Romans 14:9-11; Philippians 2:9-11). Although his judgment is already working in our lives, a future, final judgment awaits when he returns in which everyone's lives will be reviewed and evaluated (Matthew 25:31-46). This will not be confined to unbelievers; Christians, too, will face a judgment. Their eternal destiny is secure, but Jesus will review how they handled gifts, opportunities, and responsibilities in order to determine their heavenly rewards. At the time of judgment, God will deliver the righteous and condemn the wicked. We should not judge others' salvation; that is God's work.
28 Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."
This passage corresponds to Daniel's prophecies: The Messiah would be cut off (Daniel 9:26); a period of trouble would follow (Daniel 9:27); and the king would come in glory (Daniel 7:13-14). The disciples would endure the same suffering as their king and, like him, would be rewarded in the end.
Because all the disciples died before Christ's return, many believe that Jesus' words were fulfilled at the Transfiguration, when Peter, James, and John saw his glory (17:1-3). Others say this statement refers to the resurrection (Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20) and ascension of Jesus (Acts 1). Still others believe that Jesus' words were fulfilled by Pentecost (Acts 2) and the beginning of the church. In any case, certain disciples were eyewitnesses to the power and glory of Christ's kingdom.