Daily Nugget:
“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. 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. 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.” Matthew 16:17-19
This chapter contains some of the most controversial and confounding verses in this book. The misunderstanding of these three verses (Matthew 16:17-19) is the crux of one terrible doctrine taught throughout the world.
Here, the disciples were just asked who they thought Jesus was. Simon quickly retorted to Jesus, “… Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” This is what the disciples should have known more clearly than anyone else. They had seen Jesus’ miracles and had seen Him fulfill prophecy.
Jesus then turned to Simon and said, “… thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church ….” Years later, people tried to make Peter, also called Simon, the head of a church and the first pope. That is not what is taught in the Bible, especially here. Peter did not start the church. He is not the first leader of a church.
Understand that “Peter” means “piece of a rock.” Put it together in verse 18, and it reads, “… thou art a ‘small piece of the rock, and upon this rock, I will build my church ….” Here, the little piece of the rock is part of a bigger rock. That “bigger” rock is Christ. Jesus Christ is the foundation and starter of the church!
“According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” I Corinthians 3:10
All other works to do God’s will and way build off that foundation — Jesus. The next layer, built on the finished work of Jesus, was the apostles’ works. Other “courses” were built on their work. These courses were constructed by “little rocks” and laid on a never movable, stable foundation. We are continuing to build on what Christ started.
Christ is “… the head of the church …” (Eph. 5:23 Also: Colossians 1:18). Making a man, like Peter, a head and founder of the “church,” is taking away who Jesus is. No man is in charge of His church except Jesus Himself.
Today’s Thought:
“We don’t go to church; we are the church.” — Southcott
Words to Understand:
Jonas: Greek for the Hebrew name “Jonah”
Leaven: yeast used to raise bread. It is often used to picture the spreading of sin.
Pharisees: a Jewish sect who paid more attention to Jewish tradition than God’s Word
Sadducees: a Jewish sect that opposed the Pharisees. Their teachings denied the resurrection, insisted that the soul died with the body, that evil comes from our own actions….
Today’s Reading:
Matthew 16
1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.
2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?
4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.
5 ¶ And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.
6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.
8 Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?
9 Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
10 Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?
12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
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?
14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living 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.
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.
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.
20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
21 ¶ From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
24 ¶ Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
