The Book of Matthew
Matthew was taught by Dr. James Modlish

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

16:1-3 An Israelite would expect signs - Moses (Ex. 4-12), fire from Heaven (1 Ki. 18:38), initial kindling of alter (Lev. 9:24). But these can be counterfeited (Rev. 16:13). Rabbinical Schools in Christ's day made a point of teacher weather-love.

16:4-5 (12:40)

16:6 Leaven has been defined in (13:33).

16:7-10 In (vs. 7), they take him literally when they should have spiritually. In (15:15,16) - the reverse order. Bible is two edged.

16:11-12 Jesus considers false doctrine a greater danger than running out of bread (Matt. 4:4).

(2 Tim. 2:15; 1 Tim. 4:5,16; Eph. 4:14; Rom. 16:17,18)

16:13-19 Examples of "loosing and binding," in the sense of (Matt. 16:18), occur in (Gal. 2:1-8; Acts 1:15-26; Acts 15). Acts of "loosing and binding" in the sense of (Matt. 18:18, occur in 2 Cor. 2:10 and Eph. 4:30-32). The 'remitting and retaining of sins" is a power given to all priests, and since all Christians are "priests" (1 Pet. 3) the humblest Believer has been given the authority to tell a man his sins are forgiven on the basis of (Acts 13:38,39); or tell him that they are unforgiven on the basis of (Jn. 8:24); The Christian does not "judge" the sinner when he exercises this power for the unsaved man is already judged and condemned (Jn. 3:36; 3:18), and the saved man has already been tried and acquitted (Jn. 5:24).

16:20 "Then charged he his disciples..." If the news got out from his twelve disciples, it would be considered an authoritative firsthand source of information, unlike the rumors of Mk. 1:45. Such an admission would classify Jesus with the two "revolutionaries against the establishment " - Judas and Theudas (Acts 5:35,37). [In Jn 6:15, Jesus perceives that this type of thing is developing and He abandons it and those connected with it. Trotsky and S. Charmichael would have stepped in as "King." King Cassius, King Cole, M.L. King Kong, etc.]

16:21-22 No crown before the cross - no reigning without. Later Peter figured it out (1 Pet. 1:10-12).

16:23 "Get thee behind me, Satan" is addressed to the devil in Peter. (Acts 5:3; 1 Sam. 18:10). "The things that be of God." The statement shows that Satan's true interest is with men (Gen. 6), and as a "god" (2 Cor. 4:4) he desires their worship ahead of God (Lk. 4:7). This clarifies a number of things:

[1]. Satan's sphere of activity is primarily religious. He therefore, will seek the place of worship in high religious spheres, to unite the world into one church, worshipping HIM.

[2]. The "things of God" include suffering and a crucifixion of the flesh (Gal. 2:20; 6:14), and men do not "savour" (like) these things (see Lk. 16:15).

[3]. Pete has not yet seen the personal suffering HE must go through before "the kingdom comes" (Jn. 21:18,19), and Jesus is rebuking him for it.

16:24-26 "his cross"

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