Principle Of Binding And Loosing Series

Title: Binding and loosing.

Theme:

Text: Matthew 16:13-19

¶ 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? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 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. 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. 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. (Matthew 16:13-19 AV)

Matthew 16:13c ¶ When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi,

Caesarea Philippi is located in the north eastern side of Galilee. It seems that Jesus is about to begin his long and saddened road to the cross. For three years he trained the disciples. He taught. Now he was beginning his purpose.

So he has to ask these two questions. Two things Jesus wanted to teach his disciples. 1) His purpose of coming and dying. 2) Who he was.

16:13b he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

What does this world think of Jesus?

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

John the Baptist-recognized as a great man and teacher, even found favor in the eyes of Herod (strangely enough Herod said this about Jesus in Matthew 14:2), found favor in the eyes of many, had a great following was a great teacher. Some say Jesus is a great teacher

Elias or Elijah-did many miracles, helped many, a great person. Some say Jesus is a great person

Jermias or Jeremiah “the weeping prophet”, A prophet among prophets. Stood for the Lord and would not back down, had determination, a great prophet. Some say Jesus is a great prophet.

And our destiny is not depend on what others say about Jesus but what we think.

15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

This is the most important question that you will ask in your life. Not what others think. Many people rely on the opinions of others. But it is not what others think it is what we think. It is what we do with what the Lord has given us.

16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

“Thou are the Christ”. The Messiah, The anointed one, The one prophesied in the Old Testament.

“The son of the living God”-The Son of God.

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 confession could not be from the flesh and blood but only by the Father. The revealer. In other words it is not what is spoken by the mouth but what is revealed and believed in the heart.

Jesus had made head way and accomplished on of the greatest steps not because he taught the disciples the right words to say but because they searched within themselves to know who Christ is. It is in the heart.

Jesus said in Mt 15:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart;

18a And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church;

What rock? Is the church founded upon Peter. Has it been laid at his feet and his descendants feet to carry out or could it be that here we see a play on words. Peter in the Greek means Petros, which is what Jesus called him, and this means rock. And in the next word rock he says petra, which is a large bedrock.

So it is not as much on Peter himself but on the fact that of who Jesus Christ is.

1 Peter 2:4-6 reads ¶ To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.