"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"

Chapter Sixteen

Pharisees and Sadducees asked Jesus for a sign. Exposing their hypocrisy, Jesus once again offered the sign of Jonah (cf. Mt 12:38-40). He then warned His disciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees (1-12). At Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked His disciples who people were saying that He was. When asked who they thought He was, Peter confessed Him to be the Christ. Jesus commended Peter and spoke of his role in His church, but then told the disciples to tell no one He was the Christ (13-20). Jesus then spoke of His death and resurrection, the cost of discipleship, and coming in His kingdom (21-28).

POINTS TO PONDER
REVIEW QUESTIONS
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  1. What are the main points of this chapter?
    - The hypocrisy and leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees - Mt 16:1-12
    - Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ - Mt 16:13-20
    - Jesus predicts His death and resurrection, and the cost of discipleship - Mt 16:21-28
  2. When asked for a sign, what sign did Jesus say would be given? (1-4)
    - The sign of the prophet Jonah (i.e., His death and resurrection)
  3. When Jesus warned of leaven, what did He mean? (5-12)
    - The doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees
  4. Who did Peter confess Jesus to be? (16)
    - "The Christ, the Son of the living God"
  5. What did Jesus say He would build? Upon what would it be built? (18)
    - "I will build My church"
    - "this rock" (possibly Peter as an apostle, cf. Ep 2:20, or the truth of Peter's confession)
  6. What did Jesus promise Peter? Was it limited to him? (19; cf. Mt 18:18)
    - The keys of the kingdom, to bind and loose; it was also granted to the other apostles
  7. What did Jesus begin to predict at that time? (21)
    - His suffering in Jerusalem, death, and resurrection on the third day
  8. What did Jesus demand of His disciples? How valuable is one's soul? (24,26)
    - To deny self, take up one's cross and follow Him; more than the whole world
  9. What promise did Jesus make regarding His kingdom? (28)
    - Some would not die before seeing the Son of Man coming in His kingdom