You Can Not Determine A Spiritual Meaning With A World View

YOU CAN NOT DETERMINE A SPIRITUAL MEANING WITH A WORLD VIEW

MATTHEW 16

INTRODUCTION:

In Matthew 16 we are privileged to see Jesus teaching His disciples to see with spiritual eyes instead of a world view.

You may be able to look at an evening sky and predict rain but can you discern a supernatural opportunity if it is staring you in the face?

How many times does the Lord give us an opportunity to minister and we look at the opportunity with a world view?

Jesus patiently but persistently teaches His disciples in a way to discern things spiritually and just like us today we take one step forward then two back.

Let’s look together at what Jesus was trying to teach His disciples and to us.

I. DISCERNING SIGNS AND WONDERS (Vs. 1-4)

A. They were filled with a desire for signs

Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you.” 39He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” Matthew 12:38-39

Then the Jews demanded of him, “What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?” 19Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” John 2:18-19

From Jesus’ example of looking into the night sky to predict the weather the disciples, the Pharisees, and the Sadducees wanted to see was the rain but Jesus wanted them to be aware of what happens prior to the manifestation!

B. They were filled with dullness

“But they do not know the thoughts of the LORD; they do not understand his plan……” Micah 4:12

Matthew 13:13

C. Jesus discerns “the sign of Jonah”

That is why He told them the only sign they will see will be the “sign of Jonah.” Luke 11:29.

Jonah came to the Ninevites prior to their repentance which manifested in the physical realm in God’s forgiveness.

II. DISCERNING THE MEANING OF YEAST (Vs. 5-12)

Jesus said, “Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 7They discussed this among themselves and said, “It is because we didn’t bring any bread.” Matthew 16:6-7

A. Dullness

Not discerning spiritually what Jesus was saying or what was going on.

“The Mosaic Law strictly forbids the use of leaven in the priestly ritual. (Leviticus 2:11)

Typically this signified that the offering was to be a type of purity, and leaven, which causes disintegration and corruption, symbolized evil and the energy of sin. To the Hebrew mind, whatever was in a decayed state suggested the idea of uncleanness and corruption.” New Unger’s Bible Dictionary

B. Remembrance

Jesus shows His desire not to leave anyone behind by showing a willingness to help His disciples discern what happened in the physical prior to the supernatural manifestation.

C. Understanding

The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment: 16 “For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:14-16

III. DISCERNING THE MEANING OF PETER’S CONFESSION (Vs. 13-20)

When Jesus arrived in the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked, “Who do you say the Son of Man is?”

At this point Jesus was asking His disciples to discern the sign in the physical. “Who do you say the Son of Man is?”

Immediately they gave a world view, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

Then Jesus looks at Simon Peter and says, “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

What Jesus is saying to Peter is, “I don’t want the world view I want you to discern my question spiritually and allow My Father in heaven to give you divine discernment.”

Simon Peter responds, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

With this response Jesus is overwhelmed with excitement. (Vs. 17-20)

A. Peter

G4074

ÐÝôñïò ~ 

Apparently a primary word; a (piece of) rock (larger than G3037); as a name,

Petrus, an apostle:—Peter, rock. Compare G2786.

B. This Rock

G4073

ðÝôñá ~  ~ 

Feminine of the same as G4074; a (mass of) rock (literally or figuratively):— rock.

“The word translated “rock,” is not the same word as Peter, but is of a similar meaning. Nothing can be more wrong than to suppose that Christ meant the person of Peter was the rock. Without doubt Christ himself is the Rock, the tried foundation of the church; and woe to him that attempts to lay any other!” Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary On The Whole Bible