Matthew 16:28   This verse has been a cause of confusion. There are three possible meanings. However, one is preferable. The first possible meaning is that Jesus is referring to the fact that many, if not all, of those then standing before him, would see his ascension and the consequent coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.…

Matthew 16:27    Now, here some would say that we are saved by our works, since Jesus will judge us in that way. However, look closely at what is being said. Jesus will judge the works. Thus, if a person has not accepted Christ, has not freely taken the gift that was provided by his work…

Matthew 16:26   In this one verse Jesus gives us the motivation of the Christian life. All that we need for a reason is found here. The entire logic behind being like him is discovered by an understanding of this one thought. To find the true way, the way Christ shows us, is to find life. Everything…

Matthew 16:25   These words do not come from a person devoid of the knowledge of the joys of this life. Jesus is no mad-man. He was, and is, well aware of the human condition. He understands the temptation to live it up in the here and now. But, he shows us a far better way. The Great…

Matthew 16:24    Ah! The way of selflessness! That is the great pursuit of the Christian life. Indeed, it is the great pursuit of all of life. This one Person, Jesus Christ, showed us this perfect way. And the world has been trying to make sense of it ever since. Our greatest minds have been dumbfounded by…

Matthew 16:23    It is doubtful that Satan had himself entered into Peter and caused him to say this. Peter had just confessed his faith in Christ, and such a one could not be possessed in that way. However, Jesus rebukes the devil in Peter none the less because Peter was under the influence of the…

Matthew 16:22   This is an extremely interesting passage. It reveals much about how everyone thinks. It shows how we think, how Jesus thinks, and how the devil thinks. Peter’s words to Christ must be understood in order to get the point here. Now, the translation ‘far from thee’ that we find here is a good…

Matthew 16:21    The faith of the disciples was still too weak for these new revelations from Christ to really sink in. However, they did remember his words later, and were able to share it with others. The fact that Jesus knew in every particular exactly what would happen is yet another proof of his deity.…

Matthew 16:20   The fact of Jesus’ identity was already well established. Jesus was not trying to prevent people from knowing who he was. Everything he did was to fulfill prophecy, which made it abundantly clear who he was. What Jesus is here disallowing is exactly what Judas did. He is telling them not to take…

Matthew 16:19   This verse, again, is taken to mean that Peter was himself selected for something that he alone might exercise. That he alone might bind an loose. Instead, Jesus was saying of Peter what is true of all of the church. The gates of hell cannot prevail against the church because it belongs to…