(Conflicts, Confession, and the Cost of Discipleship)

Matthew 16:1-28, Mark 8:27-30, Luke 9:18-21, Luke 14:25-33

Summary: In this chapter, the Lord Jesus will yet again confront the Pharisees and Sadducees for their religious hypocrisy, and Peter will confess that Jesus is the Son of God, which is the rock upon which the church will be built.

After feeding the 4,000 residents of the Decapolis, Jesus and His disciples traveled to the region of Magdala near the city of Caesarea Philippi. It is here where the Pharisees and Sadducees came together for the specific purpose of bringing down Jesus. Their mutual contempt for Him had woven them together into an evil common bond. What did these two groups of religious leaders believe?

The Pharisees believed in the coming of God’s Promised Messiah, the existence of angels and demons, supernatural powers, and the might and power of God. They were strict adherents to the Law of Moses found in the first five books of the Bible. Their interpretation of the Law bordered on fanaticism in their attempts to avoid anything that might violate it. They believed that all Scripture was from God. The problem was that God was there in the person of Jesus Christ, and they were too blind to notice.

The Sadducees were the religious liberals of the day. They believed that the five Books of Moses (Genesis-Deuteronomy) were the only legitimate Scripture. They rejected all forms of supernaturalism, including the existence of angels and demons, and did not believe in an afterlife. They taught that this world was where you received any blessing from God. Any idea of a Messiah was purely political with no religious significance for Israel. They were supportive of the occupying forces of Rome and did not want to upset the situation. They were like the Pharisees in that they were also blind to the obvious when it came to the person and work of Jesus.

While both groups clamored for “signs” from Jesus to show that He was from God, the truth is that they closed their hearts and minds to Him by this point. They chose to be willfully and deliberately blind and ignorant of the visible and undeniable work of God done by Jesus. They could discern the signs of changing weather, but not the signs of God’s presence and power. Their character was a visible symbol of casting the pearls of the Gospel to pigs, content to wallow in the dung and mud of their own stubborn unbelief. He would not waste His time or effort on them. He rightfully called them out for their wickedness and spiritual adultery. He chose to leave them with the “sign of Jonah,” a reference to His inevitable death, burial, and resurrection. Afterwards, He left them, a painful and eternal sign of their coming destruction.

Verses 5-12 describe Jesus’ departure from Galilee. Matthew writes here that they had forgotten to take bread for the trip. Jesus told them to beware of what He referred to as the “leaven” of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Unfortunately, the listening skills of the disciples had waned. They thought that Jesus was upset over the fact that they had forgotten to bring bread for the trip. One can imagine the Lord sighing and shaking in frustration and disbelief. If the Pharisees’ request for a sign despite the obvious work of Jesus among them constituted as dumb, then the disciples were acting dumber, thinking that physical bread was somehow the centerpiece of discussion.

Jesus expressed His frustration in a blunt manner, accusing them of having little faith. They had seen Him feeding 5,000 men, not including women and children. He had done the same for 4,000 people just a while before. Creating food was no problem for Him. That was not the point. Jesus had taken little and turned it into plenty. He had healed the sick, taught the Word to the crowds, and performed authentic miracles for God’s glory and shown that He was the Messiah promised by God to His people Israel. What had the Pharisees produced? Miracles? Teaching from the Scriptures? Healing the sick? Did they proclaim the coming of the Kingdom of God?

The only things they had done were to continually attack Jesus and accuse Him of doing the work of the devil, giving Him nothing but trouble. Their leaven produced a rise of nothing but evil and sorrow. What Jesus had told the disciples was a warning to stay away from these hypocrites and false teachers. They understood at that point. They would meet these reprobates after Jesus ascended to heaven (Acts 1:8-11). They would receive the wrath of their rotten harvest and pay a price for their devotion and faithfulness to Jesus.

What type of leaven are you producing in your life? Are you playing some sort of religious game to somehow merit favor with God? It doesn’t work that way, friend. The Bible says that our righteousness is nothing but a filthy leper’s rag in His sight (Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:23). The only way that we can be made righteous before God and be permanently cleansed of our wickedness is to repent of our sins and trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 5:6-11, 6:23, 1:9-10). Our leaven produces nothing but a rancid harvest of pride and evil that leads to eternal hell from which there is no exit (Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 20:11-15). Turn to Jesus today.

donaldwhitchard@outlook.com

 

The writers of Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21, and 2 Timothy 3 gave us many signs of what will be happening near the end of this age. There are also some signs given as to what will take place after all believers are taken up to meet Jesus to be kept from the coming wrath. Even some Old Testament writers gave signs; however, most of them are post-rapture events. All the signs listed below have at one time or another been here; however, they have never all been present at the same time. (ESV – All Emphasis is Mine)

Wars and rumors of war, famines, pestilences, earthquakes in various places, signs in the heavens, false prophets and deceptive religions, wickedness and abounding lawlessness, hatred and betrayal, persecution of Christians, moral decay, and the love of pleasure rather than the love of God. Looking at the headlines of our daily newscasts, we see all these signs being present right now, and escalating daily.

Jesus told us we would not know the exact day or hour of the end of this age (Matthew 24:36); however, in Luke 21:28, He states, “Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

Of course, the naysayers are denying God’s Holy Word and claim it to be foolishness (1 Corinthians 1:18). In 2 Peter 3:3-4, we read, “Knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own desires. They will say, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.’”

What unbelievers fail to realize is actually explained in 2 Peter 3:9; “The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you. Not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

We need to remember that God is not bound by earth time as we humans are. He made time for us in Genesis 1:3-4.

When Jesus was on this earth about 2,000 years ago, He had no illusions about what would be happening right up to the end of this age. He knew there would be many receiving and accepting His free gift that was given for all mankind, but not nearly as many as those who would reject Him for the so-called pleasures of this earth. Those so-called “pleasures” are Satan-inspired, and his deception will continue right up to when he is thrown into the lake of fire forever (Revelation 20:10).

Matthew 7:13-14; “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide, and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life; and those who find it are few.” The hard part is having faith and believing it to be true.

First, all who truly receive and accept Jesus as Savior will be indwelt by the Holy Spirit, which is verified by numerous books and verses of God’s Holy Word. In Joel 2:32, Acts 2:21, and Romans 10:13, we have the promise that all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved. God cannot lie (Titus 1:2), and when He makes a promise, it will be kept.

Taking everything into consideration, we can safely say our Savior will be coming soon to take all believers off this earth to keep us from the coming wrath. His promise of “Your Redemption Is Drawing Nigh” is closer than ever, and we can almost hear the Trumpet of God and Shout from an archangel signaling we’re going Home (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-53).

Even with all the negative happenings around this world, we should not be “fainting with fear,” as is happening among the unsaved. Yes, we are concerned by negative attitudes and the turning away from anything that pertains to our Lord and Savior, and everything but the true word of our Heavenly Father being given in pulpits by false prophets.

Paul’s warning to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:3-4 has become evident in some previously Bible-based churches. “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth, and wander off into myths.”

Just recently, there have been reports of “drag queens” conducting “services” and “gay pride” being celebrated with full acceptance by the attending members.

Therefore, saying “Jesus Is Coming Soon” is an accurate statement. In 1942, Robert Emmett Winsett (1/1876 – 6/1952) wrote a song with that title. Several Southern Gospel groups have recorded it, and it fits today’s atmosphere very well.

1.) Troublesome times are here, filling men’s hearts with fear; freedom we all hold dear, now is at stake. Humbling your heart to God, safe from the chastening rod, seek the way pilgrims trod; Christians Awake!

Ref.) Jesus is coming soon, morning or night or noon; many will meet their doom; trumpets will sound. All of the dead shall rise; righteous meet in the skies, going where no one dies, Heavenward Bound!

2.) Love of so many cold, losing their home of gold; this in God’s word is told, evil abounds. When these signs come to pass, nearing the end at last, it will come very fast; Trumpets Will Sound! (ref)

3.) Troubles will soon be o’er, happy forevermore, when we meet on that shore, free from all care. Rising up in the sky, telling this world goodbye, Homeward we then will fly, Glory To Share! (ref)

One point to emphasize is the fact made in 2 Peter 3:9 about God not wanting anyone to fail. We have the promise of forgiveness when we sin in 1 John 1:8-10. We must confess our sins, as God already knows what we have done, and ask His forgiveness.

There are several promises listed, such as Psalm 103:11-12; “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His steadfast love for those who fear Him; as far as east is from west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us.”

Isaiah 38:17; “Behold, it was for my welfare that I had great bitterness, but in love You have delivered my life from the pit of destruction; for you have cast all my sins behind Your back.”

Isaiah 44:22; “I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins like mist; return to Me for I have redeemed you.”

Jeremiah 31:34; “And no longer shall each one teach his neighbors and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know Me from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

With these promises in mind, please be assured that no one has sinned so greatly that they cannot be forgiven. The steps to Salvation are found in Romans 10:9-13, and they apply to all who will truly call out to be forgiven and saved. What’s unforgivable is to pass from this earth without having Jesus as your Savior. That’s an automatic appointment at the Great White Throne Judgment of Revelation 20:11-15.

Putting off calling out to Jesus until “tomorrow” could just be too late. He is available and waiting right now for all who could call out asking Him to be their eternal Shepherd.

Once we have received our forever immortal bodies and mindset such as our Savior has, we will never be prone to temptations and sin again. But for now, our pathway to forgiveness is absolutely there for us to choose. Don’t gamble with your forever; guarantee it by calling out now.

Shalom ‘bYeshua – Hamashiach! (Peace in Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah.)

huebshman46@gmail.com