The King's People Produce Fruit

Matthew 21:12-46 (all Scripture NASB)

Purpose: King Jesus calls His people to produce fruit for His Kingdom!

• To Bear Fruit, Cleanse the House of Dead Religion

Matthew 21:12 And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. 13 And He said to them, "It is written, "MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER'; but you are making it a ROBBERS' DEN." 14 And the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done, and the children who were shouting in the temple, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they became indignant 16 and said to Him, "Do You hear what these children are saying?" And Jesus said to them, "Yes; have you never read, "OUT OF THE MOUTH OF INFANTS AND NURSING BABIES YOU HAVE PREPARED PRAISE FOR YOURSELF'?" 17 And He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there. 18 Now in the morning, when He was returning to the city, He became hungry. 19 Seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it except leaves only; and He said to it, "No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you." And at once the fig tree withered. 20 Seeing this, the disciples were amazed and asked, "How did the fig tree wither all at once?" 21 And Jesus answered and said to them, "Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, "Be taken up and cast into the sea,' it will happen. 22 "And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."

            Jesus cleanses the Temple (vv. 12-13)

                        FULFILLMENT of Isaiah 56:7; Jer. 7:11

            Jesus heals the blind and lame in the Temple (v. 14)

            Children call Jesus the Son of David = Messianic (vv. 15-16)

                        FULFILLMENT of Psalm 8:2

            Jesus heals the blind and lame, and receives praise from children

            Jesus speaks to the fruitless fig tree and teaches the disciples to HAVE FAITH

and PRAY - casting mountains into the sea (vv. 17-22 - defeating idolatry!)

• To Bear Fruit, Recognize the King's Authority & Obey

Matthew 21:23 When He entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to Him while He was teaching, and said, "By what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?" 24 Jesus said to them, "I will also ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 "The baptism of John was from what source, from heaven or from men?" And they began reasoning among themselves, saying, "If we say, "From heaven,' He will say to us, "Then why did you not believe him?' 26 "But if we say, "From men,' we fear the people; for they all regard John as a prophet." 27 And answering Jesus, they said, "We do not know." He also said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things. 28 "But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, "Son, go work today in the vineyard.' 29 "And he answered, "I will not'; but afterward he regretted it and went. 30 "The man came to the second and said the same thing; and he answered, "I will, sir'; but he did not go. 31 "Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you. 32 "For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him; but the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him; and you, seeing this, did not even feel remorse afterward so as to believe him.

One Word: Authority

Jesus teaches in the Temple and confronts to the Religious Leaders

            The chief priests and elders question the King's authority, Jesus answers with the

question about John's authority (vv. 23-27)

            One Word: Obedience

Jesus then tells them a parable about two sons and their work (vv. 28-32)

Emphasis on the kingdom of heaven and receiving God's call to believe & bear fruit

• The Kingdom Has Been Handed to You, Bear Fruit!

Matthew 21:33 "Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who PLANTED A VINEYARD AND PUT A WALL AROUND IT AND DUG A WINE PRESS IN IT, AND BUILT A TOWER, and rented it out to vine-growers and went on a journey. 34 "When the harvest time approached, he sent his slaves to the vine-growers to receive his produce. 35 "The vine-growers took his slaves and beat one, and killed another, and stoned a third. 36 "Again he sent another group of slaves larger than the first; and they did the same thing to them. 37 "But afterward he sent his son to them, saying, "They will respect my son.' 38 "But when the vine-growers saw the son, they said among themselves, "This is the heir; come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.' 39 "They took him, and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. 40 "Therefore when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-growers?" 41 They said to Him, "He will bring those wretches to a wretched end, and will rent out the vineyard to other vine-growers who will pay him the proceeds at the proper seasons."

Matthew 21:42 Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures,

         "THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED,

         THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone;

         THIS CAME ABOUT FROM THE LORD,

         AND IT IS MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES'?

43 "Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people, producing the fruit of it. 44 "And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust."

Matthew 21:45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard His parables, they understood that He was speaking about them. 46 When they sought to seize Him, they feared the people, because they considered Him to be a prophet.

            One Word: Fruit

Jesus confronts the chief priests & Pharisees for their rejection of the Him

The parable of the landowner & the vineyard

The Kingdom is taken from them and given to those who will bear fruit

FULFILLMENT of: Isaiah 5:1; Psalm 118:22ff

King Jesus is Alive!

Matthew 27:33-28:20

(all Scriptures NASB)

Purpose: To live life in the power of our risen King Jesus Christ! 

• Events Leading up To The King's Victory Over Death

            The Crucifixion of King Jesus (Matthew 27:33-56)

                        FULFILLMENT of Psalm 22

Jesus is buried (Matthew 27:57-61)

The Pharisees and Pilate post a guard (Matthew 27:62-66)

• King Jesus Is Risen From The Dead (Matthew 28:1-10)

Matthew 28:1 Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave. 2 And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. 3 And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men. 5 The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. 6 "He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. 7 "Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you." 8 And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me."

"Go Quickly" (Matthew 28:7) What are you waiting for?

"And Tell" (Matthew 28:7) Tell What? Jesus is risen from the dead!

"Worship!" (Matthew 28:9, 17) Mourning turned into worship! 

Salvation by King Jesus is for All Nations! (Matthew 28:16-20)

• Live life Risen!

Matthew 28:16 But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful. 18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

            Don't Doubt! (Matthew 28:17)

            Our King Jesus Has All Authority Everywhere (Matthew 28:18)

            So GO! Go where? To all nations! (Matthew 28:19)

            Make disciples by baptizing and teaching! (Matthew 28:19-20)

            Our Living King is with us to the end of the age! (Matthew 28:20)

1 Corinthians 15:1 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; 7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

Hold Fast!

The gospel is salvation found only in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ!

Believe! Stand! Live life, in the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ!

The King Enters Jerusalem

Matthew 21:1-11

Purpose: the triumphal entry of King Jesus, on His way to the Cross

• The Triumphal Entry of King Jesus

Matthew 21:1 When they had approached Jerusalem and had come to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied there and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to Me. 3 "If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, "The Lord has need of them,' and immediately he will send them." 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:

5       "SAY TO THE DAUGHTER OF ZION,

         "BEHOLD YOUR KING IS COMING TO YOU,

         GENTLE, AND MOUNTED ON A DONKEY,

         EVEN ON A COLT, THE FOAL OF A BEAST OF BURDEN.'"

6 The disciples went and did just as Jesus had instructed them, 7 and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their coats on them; and He sat on the coats.

            FULFILLMENT of Isaiah 62:11; Zechariah 9:9 

            Messianic = The Fulfillment of Prophecy about the King

• The Crowds Proclaim Jesus the Son of David

Matthew 21:8 Most of the crowd spread their coats in the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in the road. 9 The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting,

         "Hosanna to the Son of David;

         BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD;

         Hosanna in the highest!"

10 When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, "Who is this?" 11 And the crowds were saying, "This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee."

            FULFILLMENT of Psalm 118:26

            Messianic = The Fulfillment of Prophecy about the King

            Hosanna = Save, I Pray!

The King's Only Way of Salvation!

Matthew 19:1 "“ 20:16

Purpose: everything in life, marriage and salvation, is about faithfulness to the King

• King Jesus on Faithfulness in Marriage - Against Divorce

Matthew 19:1 When Jesus had finished these words, He departed from Galilee and came into the region of Judea beyond the Jordan; 2 and large crowds followed Him, and He healed them there. 3 Some Pharisees came to Jesus, testing Him and asking, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?" 4 And He answered and said, "Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE, 5 and said, "FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH'? 6 "So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate." 7 They said to Him, "Why then did Moses command to GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE AND SEND her AWAY?" 8 He said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way. 9 "And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery." 10 The disciples said to Him, "If the relationship of the man with his wife is like this, it is better not to marry." 11 But He said to them, "Not all men can accept this statement, but only those to whom it has been given. 12 "For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother's womb; and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are also eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to accept this, let him accept it."

            FULLFILLED MEANING of Genesis 2:24; See also Matthew 5:31-32

To argue for divorce when the teaching is against divorce shows hardness of heart!

• King Jesus Blesses Little Children

Matthew 19:13 Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus said, "Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." 15 After laying His hands on them, He departed from there.

            See Matthew 18:1-14 "such as these" = disciples

• The Gospel of King Jesus: Who Can Have Eternal Life?

Matthew 19:16 And someone came to Him and said, "Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?" 17 And He said to him, "Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments." 18 Then he said to Him, "Which ones?" And Jesus said, "YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER; YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY; YOU SHALL NOT STEAL; YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS; 19 HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER; and YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." 20 The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?" 21 Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." 22 But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.

Matthew 19:23 And Jesus said to His disciples, "Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 "Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." 25 When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, "Then who can be saved?" 26 And looking at them Jesus said to them, "With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

The rich young ruler was very poor!

• Eternal Life is About Faithfulness to the King!

Matthew 19:27 Then Peter said to Him, "Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?" 28 And Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name's sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. 30 "But many who are first will be last; and the last, first.

Matthew 20:1 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 "When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 "And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the market place; 4 and to those he said, "You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.' And so they went. 5 "Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did the same thing. 6 "And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, "Why have you been standing here idle all day long?' 7 "They said to him, "Because no one hired us.' He said to them, "You go into the vineyard too.' 8 "When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, "Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last group to the first.' 9 "When those hired about the eleventh hour came, each one received a denarius. 10 "When those hired first came, they thought that they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. 11 "When they received it, they grumbled at the landowner, 12 saying, "These last men have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.' 13 "But he answered and said to one of them, "Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 "Take what is yours and go, but I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. 15 "Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous?' 16 "So the last shall be first, and the first last.

            The poor disciples are very rich! Compare this to the poor rich man!

Having left everything, the disciples are promised many times more (19:29)

Eternal life is the issue throughout (19:16, 21, 23-24, 26, esp. 29)

            The first will be last and the last, first (19:30 & 20:16)               

            Jesus and the Kingdom Parable of the Master, the Laborers, and the Vineyard

            This parable is about discipleship and eternal life, being "last" is "first"!

The King's Forgiving Community

Matthew 18:15-35

Purpose: Christians must be faithful and forgiving members of the King's Church

• Realizing Reconciliation in the King's Church

Matthew 18:15 "If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. 16 "But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED. 17 "If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 "Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. 19 "Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. 20 "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.

            Jesus teaches on Discipline and Prayer as Binding in the Church & Heaven   

The Path of Discipline: 1) in private, 2) with witnesses, 3) in the church (vv. 15-17) 

                        FULFILLMENT of Deuteronomy 19:15

            Binding by agreement and prayer (vv. 18-20)

• King Jesus Shows What Real Reconciliation Looks Like

Matthew 18:21 Then Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" 22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. 23 "For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. 24 "When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25 "But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. 26 "So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, "Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.' 27 "And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt. 28 "But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, "Pay back what you owe.' 29 "So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, "Have patience with me and I will repay you.' 30 "But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. 31 "So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. 32 "Then summoning him, his lord said to him, "You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 "Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?' 34 "And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. 35 "My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart."

            King Jesus tells Peter to forgive 70 X 7 (vv. 21-22)

King Jesus Teaches the Parable of the Forgiving King

            The Parable of the Forgiving King and the Wicked Debtor (vv. 23-34)

            Jesus concludes that the Father will do the same if you do not forgive (v. 35)

            See 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Kingdom Little Ones

Matthew 18:1-14

Purpose: true disciples accept Jesus the King fully, like whole-hearted children

• Who is Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?

Matthew 18:1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 2 And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, 3 and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 "Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 "And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me;

            The "living parable" of children

One must humble himself to be "like" a child

Unless you are "converted" in this way, you will not enter the kingdom.

Receiving a true disciple is tantamount to receiving King Jesus Himself 

The "greatest" is the disciple who truly believes, who receives Jesus

• Don't Deny Disciples!

Matthew 18:6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 "Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!

8 "If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be cast into the eternal fire. 9 "If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it from you. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, than to have two eyes and be cast into the fiery hell. 10 "See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven. 11 "For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.

Woe to the one who causes the "little ones" to stumble (v. 6-7)

            Cut off stumbling blocks, and do not despise the "little ones" (vv. 6-11)

• The Father Loses Not One!

Matthew 18:12 "What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying? 13 "If it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray. 14 "So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish."

Jesus teaches the parable of the 99 & 1 sheep

            The Father's will is to save the "little ones"

            The "little ones" describes the true disciples of Jesus Christ!

            Jesus is the Good Shepherd (Jn 10) and not one disciple will perish!

The Glory of King Jesus

Matthew 17

Purpose: to see the glory of King Jesus in His Transfiguration and His Resurrection!

• The Glory of King Jesus Revealed!

Matthew 17:1 Six days later Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. 2 And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. 4 Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah." 5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!" 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground and were terrified. 7 And Jesus came to them and touched them and said, "Get up, and do not be afraid." 8 And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone.

Matthew 17:9 As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, "Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man has risen from the dead." 10 And His disciples asked Him, "Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" 11 And He answered and said, "Elijah is coming and will restore all things; 12 but I say to you that Elijah already came, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wished. So also the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands." 13 Then the disciples understood that He had spoken to them about John the Baptist.

            The Transfiguration of Jesus and the Coming of Elijah

Peter, James, John witness Jesus, Moses, Elijah and God's voice (vv. 1-8) 

            The coming of Elijah (vv. 9-13)

            Jesus prophesies His resurrection! (v. 9)

            Elijah identified as John the Baptist (vv. 10-13)

                        FULFILLMENT of Malachi 4:5

• The Power of King Jesus Displayed!

Matthew 17:14 When they came to the crowd, a man came up to Jesus, falling on his knees before Him and saying, 15 "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is a lunatic and is very ill; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16 "I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not cure him." 17 And Jesus answered and said, "You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him here to Me." 18 And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was cured 1at once.

Matthew 17:19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not drive it out?" 20 And He said to them, "Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, "Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. 21 "But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting."

Jesus heals a demoniac son

            Jesus teaches about faith (v. 20)

            It's not about how great your faith is, but how Great God is in whom you believe!

• The Plan of King Jesus Prophesied!

Matthew 17:22 And while they were gathering together in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men; 23 and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day." And they were deeply grieved.

King Jesus Prophesies His Death and Resurrection again!

            See also Matthew 12:39-40; 16:4, 21; 17:9; 20:17-19

• The Provision of King Jesus Miraculously Arranged!

Matthew 17:24 When they came to Capernaum, those who collected the two-drachma tax came to Peter and said, "Does your teacher not pay the two-drachma tax?" 25 He said, "Yes." And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs or poll-tax, from their sons or from strangers?" 26 When Peter said, "From strangers," Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are exempt. 27 "However, so that we do not offend them, go to the sea and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for you and Me."

            Jesus the King's Miracles concerning the two-drachma tax

            Sons of the Kingdom are exempt, but God provides the payment to forgo offense

            Miracle#1-Jesus speaks first to Peter before Peter mentions it to Jesus (v.25)

            Miracle #2 - Peter is to catch a fish with a shekel in it for both of them

King Jesus Builds His Church

Matthew 16

Purpose: to be the church built upon the confession that Jesus is the Christ, the King!

• Beware What You're Looking For

Matthew 16:1 The Pharisees and Sadducees came up, and testing Jesus, they asked Him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 But He replied to them, "When it is evening, you say, "It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.' 3 "And in the morning, "There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.' Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times? 4 "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and a sign will not be given it, except the sign of Jonah." And He left them and went away.

Seeking signs is evil and adulterous = idolatrous (v. 4)

                        FULFILLMENT of Jonah

            Are you looking for "signs" or are you looking for the King Himself?

• Beware of Spiritual Food Poisoning!

Matthew 16:5 And the disciples came to the other side of the sea, but they had forgotten to bring any bread. 6 And Jesus said to them, "Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." 7 They began to discuss this among themselves, saying, "He said that because we did not bring any bread." 8 But Jesus, aware of this, said, "You men of little faith, why do you discuss among yourselves that you have no bread? 9 "Do you not yet understand or remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets full you picked up? 10 "Or the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many large baskets full you picked up? 11 "How is it that you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." 12 Then they understood that He did not say to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

         Are you influenced by teachings coming from human tradition & man-made religion?

         Or are you influenced by teachings that come from the King Himself?

• King Jesus Builds His Church!

Matthew 16:13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" 14 And they said, "Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets." 15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 And Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 "I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 19 "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven." 20 Then He warned the disciples that they should tell no one that He was the Christ.

This is called "The Great Confession"       

God the Father reveals Christ to His people! (v. 17)

King Jesus builds His church upon Himself = the birth of the church!! (v. 18)

            The difference between "Peter" and "rock"

            Upon the confession that Jesus is the Christ!

This is the rock-bed, God-given foundation of the church of Jesus Christ!

            Jesus promised to build no other organization on earth other than His church!

A local Christian church is a body of baptized believers confessing Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God. They regularly gather for worship and discipleship, under the command to make disciples of all nations. They are united in the New Covenant fulfilled in Jesus Christ's death and resurrection, one in the Father, by the Holy Spirit, under biblical authority. Jesus is the Head of His church, which is also called His bride. Jesus gives the church officers who are elders and deacons. Born-again believers identify with Christ and one another through immersion baptism and regular observance of the Lord's Supper, loving the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength, and their neighbor as themselves.

• The King's Church is Built Upon the Gospel!

Matthew 16:21 From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. 22 Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You." 23 But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's." 24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. 25 "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 "For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and WILL THEN REPAY EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS. 28 "Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom."

King Jesus foretells His death and resurrection for the first time in Matthew

King Jesus Calls His disciples to take up their crosses (See Mt 17:23; 20:17ff)

            Jesus prophesies His death and resurrection, this is the gospel (v. 21)

            Peter argues with Him (v. 22)

            Jesus rebukes Peter for not having God's interests in mind (v. 23)

            True profit is in taking up one's cross and following Jesus (vv. 24-26)

            The Son of Man comes in the glory of His father (v. 27)

                        FULFILLMENT of Psalm 62:12; Proverbs 24:12

            Some of them present would not die without seeing Jesus enthroned (v. 28)

The facts that Jesus is Christ, "The Great Confession," and the way in which He became eternal King of God's eternal Kingdom through His death and

resurrection, are inseparable!

Points 1 and 2 are how NOT to follow Jesus or be in His church

Points 3 and 4 are HOW TO follow Jesus and be His church