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1 The Pharisees along with the Sadducees came, and testing desired of him that he would show them a sign from heaven.
2 He answered and said to 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] foul weather to day: for the sky is red and overcast. O [you] hypocrites, you can discern the face of the sky; but can you not [discern] the signs of the [kairos] times?
- KAIROS - TIME
- KAIROS - TIME
4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and there will no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah. And he left them, and departed.
5 And when his disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.
6 Then Jesus said to 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 noticed, he said to them, O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves, because you have brought no bread?
9 Do you not yet understand, nor remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets you took up?
10 Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets you took up?
11 How is it that you do not understand that I did not say [it] to you concerning bread, that you should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?
12 Then they understood that he was telling [them] not to beware of the leaven in bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
Jesus often used allegories or illustrations in His ministry. It is the hallmark of a good teacher. And often the best way to benefit from much of the Old Testament is to interpret it as an allegory.
- ALLEGORY
- ALLEGORY
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 you are] John the Baptist: some, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.
15 He said to them, But who do you say that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.
This statement is known as The Great Confession. When a person believes this and acknowledges it, the way is paved for Salvation. If we cannot acknowledge Jesus as Lord and God, there is no salvation.
17 And Jesus answered and said to him, Blessed are you, Simon Barjonah: for flesh and blood has not revealed [it] to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
This knowledge comes through the work of the Holy Spirit, who reveals things to us and causes us to understand God's word, since He is the author of the Word.
18 And I say also to you, That you are Peter the little stone, but upon this huge rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell will not be able to stand against it.
Jesus was not telling Peter that He would build the church on Peter, as Catholics believe. He compared Peter with Himself. Peter was just a little stone, but Jesus was a mighty rock more like the Rock of Gibralter.
19 And I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatever you will bind on earth will be bound in heaven: and whatever you will release on earth will be released in heaven.
Keys speak of authority and have two main functions - to bind or forbid and to release or unlock.
20 Then he charged his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
This was meant to be preached after Calvary and after he had risen and ascended to heaven.
21 From that time onwards Jesus began to show to his disciples, how that he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from 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 you, Lord: this will not happen to you.
23 But he turned, and said to Peter, Get behind me, Satan: you are an offence to me: for you do not savour the things that are of God, but those that are of men.
Satan was using Peter to discourage Jesus from going to the cross. Jesus saw this influence and rebuked the demon, rather than Peter, whose motives were pure.
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, If any [man] wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Jesus had not yet gone to the cross, so He was not yet telling them to follow a crucified life or put the flesh on the cross. The expression 'take up the cross' meant full submission to His will.
25 For whoever will save his [psuche] life will lose it: and whoever will lose his [psuche] life for my sake will find it.
- PSUCHE - SOUL LIFE
- PSUCHE - SOUL LIFE
26 For what is a man profited, if he will gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
The soul is the control tower and the seat of the personality, mind, emotions, and will. This part of us is always active in serving the Lord - we never become like robots that automatically do as they are told.
27 For the Son of man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he will reward every man according to his works.
28 Truly I say to you, There are some standing here, who will not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
He was referring here to what they were about to experience where He began to glow with the glory of the Father at the transfiguration.