The Gates of Hell
Matthew 16:5-20
"For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock."
(PSALM 27:5)
North of the Sea of Galilee, on the slopes of Mount Hermon, rests the ruins of Caesarea Philippi. This ancient temple to Pan, Echo, and Hermes is known as the "Gates of Hades," a cruel reminder of the dark adjacent cave where people sacrificed children and animals to pagan gods. It is possible that this is where Jesus was walking with His disciples when He posed the question that we read in Matthew 16: "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" It was here that Peter proclaimed for them all, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God." It was here that Jesus announced, "[O]n this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."
Two words are used in Greek: Petros, meaning a detached stone, which translates into "Peter;" and petra, meaning a bedrock. Jesus said, "On this rock (petra) I will build my church." On what and whom is the church built? Is it Peter's confession? Is it his teachings? Is it Christ Himself? Yes, to all three. Are you built on Jesus Christ, too?
INSIGHT
ON CHRIST, THE SOLID ROCK, I STAND/ ALL OTHER GROUND IS SINKING SAND.
(EDWARD MOTE, 1834)
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Numbers 27-28
Psalm 75
John 17
Matthew 16:5-20
New International Version (NIV)
The Yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees
5 When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. 6 “Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
7 They discussed this among themselves and said, “It is because we didn’t bring any bread.”
8 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? 9 Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 11 How is it you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter,[a] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades[b] will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be[c] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[d] loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
Footnotes:
a. Matthew 16:18 The Greek word for Peter means rock.
b. Matthew 16:18 That is, the realm of the dead
c. Matthew 16:19 Or will have been
IT'S NEVER TOO LATE - LUKE 23:32-43
He sinned, repented, believed in Jesus, and received salvation. This is the story of the thief who met Jesus on the cross. But it's the same story we can all have when we have faith in Jesus Christ.
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