Our study continues in Mat.16:24. Jesus speaks to His disciples about the cost of following Him in the midst of opposition.

Dr. Mitchell speaks of this as the great privilege of following Christ. This means putting Him first and ourselves last.

Jesus asks, "What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man gives in return for his soul?"

Dr. Mitchell states that one cannot put a price on the value of a human soul. God put an eternal value on man's soul. He sent His eternal Son to die for your eternal soul.

You are not a piece of trash to be bartered on the open market. Christ died for you dear friend because He esteems you to be of eternal value.

Here is Dr. Mitchell with Matthew 16:24.

In our passage in this study, we hear Dr. Mitchell

saying that for the first time, Jesus announces

His program. For the first time in the book of

Matthew, he presents Jesus declaring that He must

go to Jerusalem and be killed and be raised again on the third day.

As we read, we find that with this announcement, Jesus met opposition for one of his close disciples. But Jesus saw behind this disciple and rebukes its true origin.

Do you face opposition in presenting the gospel or sharing your the testimony of your faith in Christ with friends and relatives?

If they won't listen to you at this time, why not ask them to listen to the Unchanging Word here on this station? They can also visit our website, UnchangingWord.life any time.

Here is Dr. Mitchell with our lesson in Matthew 16:21.

We are glad you are here with us on the Unchanging Word Bible Broadcast with Dr. John G. Mitchell.

We are in Matt.16 verses 18-20. Our study continues with the focus on our Savior and His interaction with the disciples concerning the revelation of His Person by the Father.

In verse 17, Jesus reveals to Peter this revelation as being from His Father in heaven.

In verse 18, Jesus said, upon this rock I will build My Church. This divine revelation of the Messiah by the Father is the rock upon which Jesus would build His church. When the Holy Spirit came from heaven in Acts 2 the church began through the preaching of Peter concerning this Jesus who was revealed to Peter by the Father.

Paul and the N.T. apostles and prophets also built on this revealed foundation of Christ Himself.

Let's join Dr. Mitchell here on the Unchanging Word Bible Broadcast, Mt.16:18.

Dr. Mitchell will be giving us a three point outline for verses in Mat.16:13-20.

Jesus asked two questions.

1st was: who do people say the Son of Man is?

The 2nd is: who do you say that I am?

Peter gives the answer: You are the Christ the Son

of the living God.

Can you say this about Jesus as He is revealed in the Scriptures?

Dr. Mitchell exhorts us to consider it a point of wisdom to settle this question in one's own heart.

In verse 17, Jesus reveals to Peter this revelation as being from His Father in heaven. This divine revelation of the Messiah is the rock upon which Jesus would build His church. The N.T. apostles and prophets then built on this revealed foundation of Christ Himself.

Let's join Dr. Mitchell, Mat.16:13, on the Unchanging Word Bible Broadcast.

As we turn the page to chapter 16 of Matthew, we begin a new section of study concerning our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as presented by Matthew.

Dr. Mitchell gives us a short overview of what we have covered in previous chapters before turning to Matthew 16.

This chapter opens with the Pharisees and Sadducees putting Jesus to the test again. They ask for a sign from heaven. Dr. Mitchell says they asked for a sign, instead Jesus gave them a warning.

Dr.Mitchell states that Christians need to know the Word of God so as to understand the current time in God's program for His people.

Jesus then warns the disciples about the leaven of these religious leaders. Dr. Mitchell gives what the teaching of these rulers was. He brings out how much leaven is evident to this day.

Let's join Dr. Mitchell, Matthew 16:1

Our Lord now travels to the region of Tyre and Sidon way up on the northwest coast where a Canaanite/Syro-Phoenician woman came to Jesus pleading for Him to heal her daughter who was possessed by an unclean spirit, a demon.

But Jesus did not respond to her.

Dr. Mitchell gives us the reason for this.

But, Later, in responding to the woman's faith, Jesus commends her for her faith in Him in spite of the fact that she was not a member of the chosen race, the Jews, being a gentile.

Likewise, the Roman centurion in chapter 8 asked Jesus to heal his servant with just a word and Jesus did. Jesus commended this gentile too for his faith in Him.

Matthew records Jesus' feeding of the 4000 men, as well as women and children. Jesus also had compassion on them.

Here is Dr. Mitchell on the Unchanging Word Bible Broadcast, Matthew 15:21-39.

Our study in Matthew now moves into chapter 15.

Dr. Mitchell will be explaining the first 20 verses.

Dr. Mitchell brings out the Lord's rebuke to the Pharisees and scribes for their formalism, their traditions because it nullified the very Word of God. He applies this truth to today's ecclesiastical leaders who change the meanings of the precious words of Scripture. So, let's stick with the Words of Christ rather than the man made traditions of religion.

Jesus next compares the difference between outward profession of the lips and inward motivation of the heart. He deals with integrity of one's life and faith.

He then differentiates between what goes into the stomach and what comes out of the heart.

This speaks of the defiling motivations of the human heart as found in verses 18-20.

Here is Dr. Mitchell on the Unchanging Word Bible Broadcast, Matthew 15:1.

In Matthew 14:22-36, Matthew records Jesus walking on the water. This miracle is only recorded in 3 Gospels. Matthew, Mark and John.

Seeing Jesus walking on the sea, they were terrified thinking He was a phantom.

Our Lord was so kind as to quickly quiet their fears when He said, "Take courage, It is I, Stop being afraid".

Notice, He first encourages, then identifies Himself, saying literally, I AM, and lastly He comforts saying stop fearing.

Now Matthew, who was there, is the only one to write about Peter asking Jesus to let Him come to Him walking on the waters to come to Jesus.

Peter alone had faith enough to crawl down out of the boat to walk on the waters right up to Jesus until He got His eyes off of Jesus.

Here is Dr. Mitchell on the Unchanging Word Bible Broadcast, Matthew 14:22.

Matthew, who was there at that time, records this miracle of the feeding of the 5000, as a demonstration that Jesus was indeed the Messiah as is also shown in the Gospel of John. There Jesus told these same people," I Am the bread of life. He who comes to Me will not hunger." Jn.6:35.

Are you hungry for reality, for real life, eternal life? Jesus is here for you. Just talk with Him, read His word and listen. He can make Himself known to you and He will.

As Dr. Mitchell continues our study, He points out that our Lord did not draft volunteers but enlisted His own disciples. Just 12 men, during late afternoon, distributed the miraculous abundance of fishes and and loaves to the groups of 100's and 50s till all ate and were satisfied.

Let's join Dr. Mitchell, Matthew 14:15 on the Unchanging Word Bible Broadcast.

Jesus, having finished these parables, now returns to His hometown.

Matthew writes that Jesus was not welcomed by those of His hometown nor by His own family.

As Dr. Mitchell points out, they still thought of Jesus as just a carpenter, or the carpenter's son and not as the Messiah sent from God.

Who do you believe Jesus is?

Then Matthew writes of Herod who thought Jesus was John the Baptist raised from the dead and doing these miracles.

Matthew says Jesus, upon hearing of the death of John, retired alone to a desolate area.

But the crowds heard of Him and followed Him and He had compassion of them.

Here is the one and only miracle that all four Gospels record. It is the feeding of the 5000.

Here is Dr. Mitchell on the Unchanging Word Bible Broadcast, Matthew 13:53.