• immediately preceded by Jesus receiving the little children (19:13-15)
• question about salvation
• corrective question and clarifying answer
• question about lack and a challenging response
• a grieving departure

• difficulty for the rich and illustration of impossibility
• astonished response of the disciples
• a gaze and a “truth bomb”
• Peter pipes up and the promise of uncountable blessings
• 19:30 and 20:16: surprise, surprise, surprise!

• Because King Jesus is the key to kingdom entrance, depend on him like a little child.
• Reject self-reliance and merit-rationale.
• “Be Thou My Vision,” (M. Byrne)

• Matthew 16:21, 17:22-23, 20:17-19
• the four Gospels confirm: empty tomb, announcement of resurrection, disciples meet risen Lord

• after Sabbath at “dawn’s early light”
• women at the tomb, quaking ground (Ex. 19:18), angelic descent (Rev. 1:14), stunned guards
• use of “behold” (six times in Matthew 28)

• encouragement: do not be afraid…
• invitation: come, see…
• instruction: go and tell…going before you…
• from frightened bewilderment to joyful fulfilment
• worship at the feet of the risen Jesus

• Because the risen Jesus is Lord of all, treasure Him now and trust His absolute authority.
• “You cannot have an Easter faith without an Easter fact…The resurrection is God’s ‘amen’ to Christ’s statement ‘It is finished.’” (S. Lewis Johnson)
• “The only resurrection that counts for anything is the resurrection of the body.” (J. Boice) (1 Cor. 15:20)
• “Well may the Accuser roar of ills that I have done. I know them all and thousands more. Jehovah knoweth none.” (S. Gandy, “His Be the Victor’s Name”)
• “Lead us, we pray Thee, to the grave that is empty, into the garden of resurrection where we may meet our risen Lord. May we never again live as if Thou were dead.” (P. Marshall)

• restoration of believers (18:10-14; 15-20)
• Peter’s question and the response of Jesus (18:21-22)

• King/Master wishes to settle accounts
• servant owes 10,000 talents: 1 talent = 20 years’ wages for a laborer
• servant sentenced and servant pleads
• King/Master forgives

• servant seeks to settle account
• fellow-servant owes 100 denarii: 1 denarius = 1 day’s wages for a laborer
• servant demands payment and fellow-servant pleads
• servant refuses to forgive

• report made to the King/Master
• the servant confronted and condemned

• so also…
• forgiveness from the heart

• Those who enjoy God’s forgiveness are obligated to extend it to others.
• One key mark of the truly forgiven is their extension of forgiveness to others.
• Throw out the calculator!
• “In Lovingkindness Jesus Came” (C. Gabriel)

• after the great confession (16:13-20)
• Jesus with the inner circle on a mountain and the priority of prayer (Lk. 9:28-29)

• metamorphosed (Rom. 12:2, 2 Cor. 3:18)
• shining face and whitened clothes

• Moses: law, Elijah: prophets (Matt. 5:17)
• conversation about departure/exodus (Lk. 9:31)

• Peter’s attempt, an overshadowing cloud and an audible voice (Psa. 2:7, Isa. 42:1, Dt. 18:15)
• awe, assurance and Jesus only

• command, recognition and certainty

• Since the Father certifies Jesus as His unique Son and Savior, listen to Him alone for salvation and sustenance.
• Consider Peter’s inspired remembrance (2 Pet. 1:16-21)
• “It is better to hear the Son of God than to see the saints or to build tabernacles” (Spurgeon)

• preceded by feeding of 4000 (15:32-39), sign of Jonah (12:38-42, 16:1-4), leaven of Pharisees/Sadducees (16:5-12) and followed by the transfiguration (17:1-13)
• location: Caesarea Philippi with His disciples (16:13a)

• Jesus asks the disciples a question
• identification of the “Son of Man”
• what “some” and “others” say: John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, prophet

• Jesus asks a question
• Peter’s reply: The Christ…

• blessing, designation, determination and delegation
• connection and correction (16:21-28)

• Because Jesus is the source of the church’s existence and empowerment, exalt Him and expend your life for Him.
• The church: intimate knowledge, confident proclamation, sacrificial obedience
• Who you say Jesus is will determine everything about how you follow Him.
• “Though with a scornful wonder we see her sore oppressed, by schisms rent asunder, by heresies distressed, yet saints their watch are keeping; their cry goes up ‘How Long?’ And soon the night of weeping shall be the morn of song.” (“The Church’s One Foundation,” S. Stone)

• increasing awareness of and opposition to Jesus
• identity of Pharisees and Scribes
• internal/external issue

• more accusation than request
• repeated activity of disciples
• tradition of elders regarding ceremonial purity (Lev. 11-15)

• emphatic counter-question
• repeated violation of the religious leaders
• example: tradition that nullifies the teaching of God (Ex. 20:12; 20:28, 21:17)

• a stinging rebuke
• cold hearts and empty words (Isa. 29:13)
• echoing the emptiness of human precepts

• Because Jesus desires your authentic worship, ponder the proximity of your heart to Him.
• Worship: “…quickening the conscience by the holiness of God, feeding the mind with the truth of God, purging the imagination by the beauty of God, opening the heart to the love of God, and devoting the will to the purpose of God.” (W. Temple)

• after the feeding of the 5000
• Jesus dispatches, dismisses and departs (22-23)
• stage set for another miracle (Heb. 1:1-4)

• evening return to Capernaum (Jn. 6:16-21)
• beating waves and opposing wind

• in the fourth watch: 3:00-6:00 a.m.
• waking on the sea
• terror of the disciples
• assurance of Jesus: It is I (Job 9:8, Psa. 77:16-20; 107:23-32)

• success and failure
• coincidence of shifted attention
• request, rescue, wind cessation and awed worship

• Because Jesus is the Sovereign of the sea, trust Him to pilot you safely home.
• two important reminders
• “Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me” (E. Hopper)

• escalating opposition to Jesus
• immediately following the blasphemous attribution of the Pharisees (22-32)
• rejection and reflection

• exposure of Pharisaical logic
• a tree known by its fruit
• fundamental matter of stewardship

• brood of vipers with a serious heart condition
• heart as root and words as fruit
• transmission of treasure

• accountability for careless words (Psa. 119:11; 141:3, Prov. 4:23)
• words as an indicator at the end
• complete contrast with culture
• commendable consistency of Jesus (1 Pet. 2:24)

• Because your words convey your heart’s treasure, resolve to value Jesus supremely.
• “There is nothing to show us that we have need of grace like the use of our mouths.” (Duncan)
• “You have never spoken a word that belongs to you because words belong to the Lord.” (Tripp)

• escalating opposition to Jesus and His ministry (12:1-50)
• followed by fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy (15-21), charge of blasphemy against the Spirit (22-32), certainty of judgment (32-37) and sign of Jonah (38-42)
• The Sabbath and the Pharisees

• action of the disciples (Deut. 23:25) and objection of Pharisees (Ex. 34:21)
• Jesus cites the examples of David (1 Sam. 21:1-9) and temple priests (Lev. 24:8-9)
• argument from lesser to greater and prophetic reference (Hos. 6:6)
• significance of “Son of Man” designation

• a shriveled hand in the synagogue on the same day
• Pharisaical inquiry for the purpose of accusation and the counter-question of Jesus
• another argument from lesser to greater
• response to kindness: conspiring rather than rejoicing

• Knowing the superiority of Jesus over every individual and institution, recognize His authority and relay His mercy.
• “Legalism is always nailing a sign to the cross that says ‘necessary, but not enough.’”
• “Without Thy sweet mercy I could not live here; sin would reduce me to utter despair; But, through Thy free goodness, my spirits revive, And He that first made me still keeps me alive.” (Stocker, “Thy Mercy My God”)

• Jesus as promised Messiah (11:1-19)
• John the Baptist and his question from prison (11:2-3)
• Jesus affirms His identity and the role of John the Baptist (11:4-15)
• John the Baptist and Jesus: both encounter opposition from the religious establishment (11:12)

• this generation: general and specific identification
• like children and their playmates
• proposal/refusal pattern: joy and mourning

• John the Baptist: separation from sin
• Jesus: association with sinners
• personification and vindication of wisdom

• Respond to the authority of Jesus by avoiding sin decisively and associating with sinners joyfully.
• Repent and rejoice. Mourn over your sin and magnify God’s grace to the sinner.
• Why you should delight in the designation “friend of sinners:”
• “Hallelujah! What a Savior! Hallelujah! What a Friend! Saving, helping, keeping, loving, He is with me to the end.” (Chapman, “Jesus, What a Friend for Sinners”)