Bible ReadingMatthew 16:13-28 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ. 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 on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person for what he has done. Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
[38:26] [40:32] [41:51] [47:01] [51:03]Matthew 15:1-20 Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.” He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,” he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God. You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” But Peter said to him, “Explain the parable to us.” And he said, “Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a person.”
[33:12]Matthew 16:5-12 When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring bread. Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.” But Jesus, aware of this, said, “O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
[35:37]Observation questions- In Matthew 16, what different answers do people give about who Jesus is, and what exact confession does Peter make about him? [40:32]
- What happens right after Peter calls Jesus the Christ? What does Jesus say about Peter, the rock, the church, and the gates of hell? [41:51]
- In Matthew 16:5-12, what mistake do the disciples make when Jesus warns them about the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees? [35:37]
- In Matthew 16:21-28, what does Peter do when Jesus speaks about suffering and death, and what commands does Jesus give to anyone who wants to come after him? [47:01]
Interpretation questions- Jesus brings confused disciples to Caesarea Philippi, near the Gates of Hades, before Peter’s confession is spoken. Why might that setting matter for understanding what Jesus is revealing about himself and his church? [38:26]
- Jesus says, “Get behind me, Satan,” and then calls people to follow after him. How does Peter move from speaking truth about Jesus to becoming a stumbling block, and what does that reveal about the danger of trying to manage Jesus instead of following him? [47:01]
- Jesus calls his people an ecclesia. If that word carries the sense of an assembly gathered to resist tyranny, how does that deepen the meaning of church beyond comfort, inspiration, or weekly habit? [42:42]
- Jesus says that taking up the cross is part of following him. What does it mean to say that if it costs nothing, it is not a cross, and how does that challenge easier versions of discipleship? [51:03]
Application questions- Peter could say the right thing about Jesus and still be out of step with Jesus a few moments later. Where is there a temptation right now to correct Jesus, soften his path, or choose what seems safer instead of getting back behind him? [47:01]
- Jesus did not wait for the disciples to become strong before bringing them to a hard place. What is one place in life right now that feels like a gate of hell for you—fear, grief, conflict, addiction, injustice, shame—and what would it look like to confess who Jesus is in that place? [38:26]
- The church is not only a place to be comforted but a people gathered against tyranny. Where does tyranny show up around you right now—in a workplace, a family system, a neighborhood, or in public life—and how might faithful Christian presence push back against it? [42:42]
- Jesus builds with little stones. Do you ever assume that your smallness, weakness, or inconsistency makes you unusable? What might it look like to offer your “pebble” life to God instead of waiting to become impressive first? [53:17]
- Taking up a cross means real cost. What kind of obedience has felt expensive lately—telling the truth, setting a boundary, staying tender, serving someone hard to love, refusing to hide who you are, or standing against something wrong? [51:03]
- Some stones in life are not just out in the world but inside the heart: old losses, rejection, regret, numbness, or a past that still feels heavy. Which stone most needs to be picked up and given back to God for new life? [57:25]
- Resurrection happens now whenever deadened places are brought back into life. What is one concrete act this week that could help “pick up a stone” and encourage life in someone else or in yourself? [57:49]
