The experiences within Church fellowship and worship can be a distraction from the origin of this experience with “the assembly of the called” … the Church … ekklesia εκκλεσία. The right order of understanding how THE CHURCH is to gather and is to focus corporate worship must glean from passages of Scripture such as Matthew 16:17. The purpose of gathering as the Church can be thought of as not a time to transmit a Christian experience … notice the warning against ‘experience’

Instead the purpose of gathering for worship as THE CHURCH is to serve as the proclaiming … the heralding .. of the Word of God. The WORD of GOD is that which has been revealed to us in the WORD (Christ Jesus). This WORD is embraced by the faithful/the called and does involve worshipful experiences … but these experiences do not precede the DIVINE Revelation that God the Father delivered through HIS Son and imparted by HIS Holy Spirit “once for all delivered to the saints.” [Jude 3]

Here Peter confesses that Jesus is the Messiah … the longed for one that the prophets mentioned in the ‘they say’ response in verse fourteen. Christ (Christos) is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew Messiah. God’s predicted and long-awaited deliverer of Israel.

Peter confesses not that Jesus is merely another in the long line of prophets and teachers proclaiming and longing for the coming Messiah … but that Jesus IS the Christ the supreme ‘Anointed One” … THE Messiah … the long-awaited promised Savior.

Jesus’ response points to the key biblical doctrine of divine revelation. Not just of who Jesus is but of who God reveals himself to be. A key doctrine is revealed here … the doctrine that we cannot know God apart from God giving us the ability to know Him.

Particular/Special Revelation of God is Jesus Christ himself. This is why we are now at the interaction between Jesus and Peter in Matthew 16:16. Peter acknowledges who Jesus is … THE CHRIST … the Messiah who saves … the SON of the living God.

It is impossible for fallen men to see God through reason alone. It is impossible for fallen men to know God through ‘natural revelation’ alone.

Here Peter confesses that Jesus is the Messiah … the longed for one that the prophets mentioned in the ‘they say’ response in verse fourteen. Christ (Christos) is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew Messiah. God’s predicted and long-awaited deliverer of Israel.

Peter confesses not that Jesus is merely another in the long line of prophets and teachers proclaiming and longing for the coming Messiah … but that Jesus IS the Christ the supreme ‘Anointed One” … THE Messiah … the long-awaited promised Savior.

Jesus’ response points to the key biblical doctrine of divine revelation. Not just of who Jesus is but of who God reveals himself to be. A key doctrine is revealed here … the doctrine that we cannot know God apart from God giving us the ability to know Him.

Particular/Special Revelation of God is Jesus Christ himself. This is why we are now at the interaction between Jesus and Peter in Matthew 16:16. Peter acknowledges who Jesus is … THE CHRIST … the Messiah who saves … the SON of the living God.

It is impossible for fallen men to see God through reason alone. It is impossible for fallen men to know God through ‘natural revelation’ alone.

Matthew now takes us into a Segway as the end of Jesus’ Galilean ministry and turns attention to Jesus’ final days leading to Jerusalem. The theme of ‘HIS Church’ will now dominate the remainder of the gospel. Today’s passage will emphasize the origin of Revelation as all people, saved or unsaved, believer or non-believer, heathen or Jewish, Hindu or Orthodox, Muslim or Christian, must answer an important question.

The setting in this passage is in a Gentile region, on the northeast border of Israel. Caesarea Philippi rests literally between Israel and ‘the world’. Jesus’ interaction with his twelve clearly points to the world-missionary significance of the Church. Verses 13-28 have traditionally been studied with a focus on Peter’s confession and rebuttal of Jesus. However, today I think it important to see that this text has less to do with Peter [as his confession should be our confession] and more to do with the Divinity of Jesus himself. Furthermore, the text will show us that one’s confession of the Divine Jesus can only come through Divine revelation, both General and Special. In the next two weeks we will see how this Divine revelation carries into the practical obedience of the Church after the Crucified Christ.

Matthew now takes us into a Segway as the end of Jesus’ Galilean ministry and turns attention to Jesus’ final days leading to Jerusalem. The theme of ‘HIS Church’ will now dominate the remainder of the gospel. Today’s passage will emphasize the origin of Revelation as all people, saved or unsaved, believer or non-believer, heathen or Jewish, Hindu or Orthodox, Muslim or Christian, must answer an important question.

The setting in this passage is in a Gentile region, on the northeast border of Israel. Caesarea Philippi rests literally between Israel and ‘the world’. Jesus’ interaction with his twelve clearly points to the world-missionary significance of the Church. Verses 13-28 have traditionally been studied with a focus on Peter’s confession and rebuttal of Jesus. However, today I think it important to see that this text has less to do with Peter [as his confession should be our confession] and more to do with the Divinity of Jesus himself. Furthermore, the text will show us that one’s confession of the Divine Jesus can only come through Divine revelation, both General and Special. In the next two weeks we will see how this Divine revelation carries into the practical obedience of the Church after the Crucified Christ.

Matthew now segways from the temptation from the Pharisees & Sadducees for Jesus to do a very great thing … a good thing. “Bring us a sign from heaven, Jesus.” We often consider temptations to be for bad things such as drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, viewing images no one should view, stealing, etc. But Jesus met the temptation from these religious elites with the authoritative assertion that the only sign necessary for the ‘evil and adulterous generation’ would be Jesus’ own death, burial, and resurrection. The cross and the resurrection are the only signs that the Church requires. No other ‘signs from heaven’ can compare.

Now let us read Matthew’s Segway to the interaction with his 12 disciples. This is a repeated pattern in Matthew’s presentation of Jesus’ ministry. Confrontation with evil arrogance followed by a teaching moment with the 12 Apostles.

This passage shows us a warning against adding to the work of Jesus Christ upon the cross. The doctrine of the Church showcased here is Solus Christus … in Christ Alone … or In Christo solo … it is one of the five Solae that summarize the Protestant Reformers’ basic belief that salvation is by faith in Christ alone.

The temptation from the Pharisees and Sadducees is an all-too-common temptation that has plagued the Church from the very beginning. Yes, Christ Jesus has all authority to save … but … he needs our help … we must assist him with proving that Jesus Saves … that Jesus is who he says he is.

Jesus points out an amazing thing in this passage in regard to the blindness of Pharisees and Sadducees. These learned men of the Torah, who battled one another for political control of Israel, could see the beauty of the physical sky … the heavens … but were blind to the beauty of God’s Sovereignty … blind to the presence of holiness in their midst. They demanded “a sign from heaven” but could not see the truth of Jesus and the Kingdom of Heaven right before them.

The Sign of Jonah is Jesus' final death, burial, and resurrection. The only sign that these Pharisees and Sadducees would see is Jesus coming out of the grave after three days. But their interpretation of Heaven missed the truth. They were blind to the reality in front of them.

It is unfortunate that many people struggle with the same spiritual blindness today. We often focus on the everyday reality in front of us, but totally miss the voice or hand of God when it is plain that HE is doing a great thing right in our line of vision. We miss the truth of salvation and of Jesus's Authority because of his death, burial, and resurrection.

God reigns from his holy temple in heaven and the sign from heaven that HE gives is the death, burial, and resurrection of HIS Son. The sign he gives from heaven is the establishment of the Kingdom of Heaven in the humble and repentant hearts of sinful humanity.

Matthew now recalls a second great feeding miracle in this region of the Decapolis, the region of Tyre & Sidon & Magadan (v. 39) ... the home of Mary Magdalene.

Lest we forget, Matthew tells us about a feeding miracle to 5,000 men [plus women and children] only one chapter prior [Matthew 14:13-21]

The record of this second great feeding miracle indicates that the first miracle with the 5,000 was not an exception. Jesus repeated any miracle that he wished at any time.

Jesus shows mercy upon these 4,000 + people by feeding their physical needs while feeding their souls. You see ... the only way for any soul to be truly satisfied is in Christ Jesus alone.

These 4,000 men + women and children were hungry. Jesus knew this. He had compassion, mercy, upon them. He did not care that they were Gentiles apart from the chosen people of Israel. They were not God's people in that sense, but all humanity is God's. All of us are made by him for HIS glory. So, God the Father, HIS Son Jesus Christ, and God's Spirit provide for us. Jesus provides here in the way that only God can.

"And they glorified the God of Israel."

We see Jesus's gentleness and kindness to the distressed in this passage and the result of this is that God's glory is restored to ALL nations ... not just the chosen of Israel. Now the chosen are the humble in spirit, who wonder at Jesus's great nature, at his gentleness and kindness that opposes the vile nature of the fallen world.

Because they were ignorant of the goodness of God who visited his people, the Gentiles wondered at why God was present among them. The Gentiles would have also been misled by the Pharisees [remember the beginning of this chapter?] feeling left out ... unwanted ... But Jesus showed them things that they desired to see. Not just the physical healings, but more so the divine presence of God. The misleading of Pharisaical legalism, and pagan sacrifice, were the Satanic devices to distance all people from God's presence. The wisdom of God was destroyed by foolish people/leaders.

Therefore, to the glory of God Jesus made the ability to see, to hear, to speak, to walk, and also to be healthy. For these were signs of life that God alone could give. Remember the Prophet Isaiah that gave theme to Jesus's admonishment in Matthew 13 parables? The idea of the blind and the deaf?

"You will indeed hear but never understand, you will indeed see but never perceive?"

[Matthew 13:14 .. Is 6:9-10]

Now these Gentiles saw and believed, they heard and obeyed because their wonder saw the glory of the God of Israel revealed.

"But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear."

[Matt 13:16]

The Gentiles suffered the curse of Satan in a way unique from the chosen children of Israel. Satan darkened the glory of God in his image by divine allowance, rendering humans blind to the spirit, mute to the confession, lame to the spiritual walk with the Lord, deaf to the truth of God's commands, and weakened of spiritual strength.

Christ therefore is the restorer of God's glory!!

He makes the mute able to speak praises of God the Creator.

He makes the deaf able to hear the beautiful sound of God's voice.

He makes the blind to see the beauty of God's glory.

He restores the health of the spiritually sick to divine wonder and healthy relationship with the Father.

This glory is seen by the blind Gentiles and praised by those abandoned by the Pharisaical ritual.

Matthew helps us to see that the message of the Kingdom of Heaven is not the establishment of a new place. The Kingdom of Heaven is not what we do … our vain persistence and action establishes nothing.

Instead the Kingdom of heaven is a power ... a divine truth that restores all sinful hearts through faith from the heart.

All nations, all peoples experience the wonder and glory of the LORD. The elect are no longer just a specific nation (Israel) . The elect are now ALL humble hearts regardless of nation or creed. Regardless of background or ideology. Jesus's compassion is laid out for all destitute humble hearts to receive.

This podcast feed hosts the public teaching ministry of Dr. Bryant K. Owens. I am an independent scholar exploring Christian Studies in today’s secular world. I believe that thoughtful Christianity can bring meaningful change in our churches, classrooms, homes, and communities. With years of experience as both a pastor and educator, I am passionate about the historical Christian worldview and the classical, Socratic approach to learning. My work draws from theology, philosophy, ethics, and the humanities, always with a heart for making faith thoughtful and life-giving.

https://bryantowens.substack.com/

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