Lesson 1563

(Lesson 1563)(01-15-16) Matthew 16:21-28

"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. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. 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.

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. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 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? 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.

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."

　

In today's quote Jesus informed His apostles that He would go into Jerusalem to complete His divine calling and be sacrificed for the sins of the world.

It's interesting to note that in yesterday's quote, Jesus announced the establishment of His church with Peter as it's first member, giving him "the keys to the kingdom". And then, in today's text, Jesus, speaking directly to Peter after he had rejected the thought of Jesus offering Himself up as a sacrifice, said; "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."

This text makes it very clear in my mind that Jesus never intended that Peter was to be an authority over the other apostles, and was most certainly not to be the head of His church, as is asserted by Roman Catholicism and other heretical doctrines.

The fact that Peter held no authority over the Apostles is further confirmed in Matthew 18:4 wherein Jesus said, "Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

In essence, there is not "greatest" in Christ's church. We are all equals in the sight of God.~

Lesson 1562

(Lesson 1562)(01-14-16) Matthew 16:13-20

"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. Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ."

　

In today's quote, Jesus, for the first time, was identified as the Son of God to His apostles.

The very first time Jesus was revealed to anyone as the Son of God was immediately after He, as per Jewish law and tradition, had be baptized by John the Baptist; "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

Herein, Jesus also chose Peter as the first member of His church and promised that His church would prevail against all evil.~

Lesson 1561

(Lesson 1561)(01-13-16) Matthew 16:5-12

"And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread. Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread? Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? 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? 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."

　

Today's quote relates how, after His apostles had misunderstood, Jesus had to explain a warning wherein He cautioned against the "leaven" of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

The children of God today are faced with the same vile "leaven" that confronted the apostles during Jesus' day.

There are literally thousands of false teachers who are peddling all manner of heretical doctrines. And sadly, many are spreading heresy in the name of Christianity. Two of the most far fetched examples of heresy are Roman Catholicism and Mormonism, there are many, many more.

We, as representatives of true Christianity, must be faithful to adhere to the perfect gospel of eternal salvation by the grace of God through faith in the divine works of His only begotten Son as it was presented straight out of the mouths of Jesus Christ and His chosen teachers. We should NEVER chase after, or allow in our discussion, ANY doctrine other than the pure gospel as it was taught by Jesus Christ Himself.~

Lesson 1560

(Lesson 1560)(01-12-16) Matthew 16:1-4

"The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. 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? 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."

　

As today's lessons makes clear, beyond God's divine word there will be no absolute sign given to the lost that will assure the identity of Jesus Christ. The fact that Jesus is the virgin borne Son of the living God and was sent to redeem a lost world is to be taken on faith alone. There will be no significant assurances that God even exists beyond what is spelled out in the bible.

To those of us who believe in Him, God's existence and presence is un-doubtable. Non-believers, however, are given the free will to decide for themselves whether to believe in him, or to reject Him and His soul saving grace. ~

Lesson 1559

(Lesson 1559)(01-11-16) Matthew 15:29-39

"And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there. And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them: Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel. Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way. And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude? And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes. And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full. And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children. And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala,"

　

Today's quote relates another example of the many people who were healed by the hand of Jesus and tells again of His compassion toward the multitude as He miraculously fed the thousands with seven loaves and a few small fishes.~

Lesson 1558

(Lesson 1558)(01-10-16) Matthew 15:21-28

"Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour."

　

In today's lesson, Jesus demonstrated that He brought redemption, not only to the Jews, but also to the Gentiles, as He healed the daughter of the Canaanite woman.~

Lesson 1557

(Lesson 1557)(01-09-16) Matthew 15:1-20

"Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable. And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man."

　

In today's quote, by referring to the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, Jesus noted that it's not what we put into our bodies that corrupts us, it is the evil and treacherous thoughts that proceed out of our minds, and mouths that make us sinful.

This lesson demonstrates that evil is inherent in all of us and that it is up to each individual, through faith in Jesus Christ, to rise above that inherent evil and overcome those urges that corrupt our spirit.~