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Caesarea Philippi is about 25 miles North of the Sea of Galilee.  It is about halfway between Tyre on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea and Damascus.  It is at the foot of Mount Hermon and right now this area is known as Trump Heights, formerly Golan Heights.  It is located at the largest spring that feeds the Sea of Galilee.  In the Old Testament, it was known as Baal Hermon or Baal Gad.  When the Greeks moved in there, they named it Panias after the Greek God Pan.  The spring emits from a cave, and the Greeks would throw sacrifices in the cave to their god Pan.  Pan was half man and half fright, and was known as the god of fright.  Thus we have the word, “panic.”  (https://www.bibleplaces.com/banias/)  Next to this cave, niches were made where statutes of the pagan gods were placed and people that made large donations for this had their names carved into the niches.  At the time of Jesus, Herod Phillip had control of this city and named it Caesarea in honor of the Roman Emperor.  Thus in the gospel of Matthew, it is called Caesarea Philippi. 

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesarea_Philippi)

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Now, Let’s see what happened back in Magadan.

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Verses 1-4,

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And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven.  He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’  And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.  An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So he left them and departed.

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Now the Pharisees and Sadducees ask Jesus for a sign.  They didn’t ask for just any kind of a sign.  They want a sign from heaven.  It is not enough that they see Jesus healing everyone that is ill or has an infirmity.  It is not enough that he feeds five thousand from just five fish.  They want a sign from heaven.  If I was Jesus, I would have wanted to give them something like lightning coming down from heaven and striking them on the head.  “There’s your sign!” I would say.  But Jesus wasn’t like that, and he wasn’t boastful.  So he wasn’t going to strike them down with lightning, and he wasn’t going to do something just for a sign so he could be boastful.  What sign did Jesus give them?

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The sign of Jonah.  Jesus gave them this sign before.

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What does the sign of Jonah mean?

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Matthew 12:40, “For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”

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It means that Jesus will be dead for 3 days and 3 nights.  Then what?

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Obviously, just as the whale gave up Jonah and spit him up on the surface of the earth after 3 days, so also will Jesus rise up and walk on the surface of the earth after the three days.

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Now Jesus gives the Pharisees a scathing analogy.  He tells them that they say, “Red sky at night – sailor’s delight.  Red sky in the morning – sailor’s warning.”  Gee, that saying has been around for at least 2,000 years?  The Pharisees knew to tell this from their observations, but could not observe Jesus healing people and feeding thousands from a meal for 4, and realize who he was. 

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The what does Jesus do in regards to the Pharisees?

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He just left them and departed.  No use arguing with them constantly when all they want to do is try to disrupt him and make false accusations.

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Then Jesus has some instructions for his disciples concerning the Pharisees and Sadducees.  This is in verses 5-12,

When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any 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.

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What did Jesus teach his disciples about the Pharisees and Sadducees here?

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1. That their teaching is like leaven – it can spread.

2. That their teaching is warned against.It is not correct.

 

Did Jesus say anything more specific about the teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees?

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Yes, when he said, “you have heard it was said.”  It is in the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5-7.

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What else did Jesus teach his disciples while he was teaching them about the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees?

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He taught them that they didn’t have to worry about bringing bread with them because Jesus was with them and he provided for them before in an abundant manner. 

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So, Jesus and his disciples cross the Sea of Galilee and they walk up to the district of Caesarea Philippi.  Perhaps the reason that he went there was because since it was so heavily populated with Greeks and Romans with all their idols, that there weren’t many Pharisees and Sadducees there.  This could be a good opportunity for Jesus to teach his disciple without the Pharisees and Sadducees interrupting them.

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Verses 13 – 20,

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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.

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So, now Jesus finally gets some quality time with his disciples.  How does Jesus go about teaching his disciples?

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He asks them the questions and sees if they can come up with the answer.

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First question: “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

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1. John the Baptist.

2. Elijah.

3. Jeremiah.

4. One of the prophets.

 

Second question: “But who do you say that I am?”

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1. One answer answered by Simon Peter: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

 

What is the significance of Peter’s answer in the book of Matthew?

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This is the whole thesis of the book, that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah. 

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What is the significance that Peter said that Jesus is the Son of the living God?

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This is from Psalm 2:7, “I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.””  This is totally Messianic.  Now, in case we think that Psalm 2 refers to David, how could the Lord say to David, “today I have begotten you?” 

 

Obviously, the passage is using David as a type of what was to come, and talks about a future Son.  This also refers back to the baptism of Jesus, when God said, “This is my Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

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How did Jesus respond to Peter’s answer?

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1. First, we note that Jesus appears to be thrilled at the answer by saying, “Blessed are you Simon Bar-Jonah.By the way, the name Simon means, “he has heard.”It is from the Old Testament name, Simeon.In Genesis 29:33, it says, “She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the Lord has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon.”Apparently, Simon Peter has been listening to what Jesus was teaching and showing to them.He has heard what Jesus has been teaching.

2. Jesus says, “For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.”

   • Did the Father just now reveal this to Peter?

   • No.  Remember, God revealed this at Jesus’ baptism.  Andrew came to Peter and told him that they have found the Messiah.  Peter saw the miracles that Jesus did and believed.  Not just because there were miracles, but Jesus didn’t even have to pray for the miracles to happen.  He would just say, “Stretch out your hand,” or “let it be,” or “okay go ahead and touch the fringe of my robe.”  He commanded demons to just go and they went.  He commanded the wind and waves to stop and they stopped.  All things were at the command of Jesus.

3. Jesus says, “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.”

   • Now the Greek word for Peter is Petros, and the Greek word for rock is petra.Jesus is making a play on words here.This may be an indication that Jesus also spoke Greek, which would be very likely for someone that lived on the Sea of Galilee.More important than the play on words is what Jesus meant here.

     • Does Jesus mean he will build his church on Peter’s confession, or on Peter himself?

       1. First of all, Jesus did not say on you “Petros,” I will build my church.Jesus said on this “petra” or rock, I will build my church.Therefore, Jesus is talking about Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

       2. Secondly, Jesus spoke of a rock before in his teachings.Matthew 7:24, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”So Jesus’ teachings are the rock.Jesus taught his disciples that he is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and this is the central point of the “rock” of Jesus’ teachings.

4. Jesus said, “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.”

   • What did Jesus mean by this, and did this apply only to Peter?

   • Fortunately, Jesus says this a couple more times in the book of Matthew and this sheds some light on what is meant here.

     • Matthew 18:15-20, Jesus says to all the disciples, “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”So this applies to all of church discipline.

     • Matthew 23:13-15, “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive the greater condemnation.Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.”So, this also pertains to the responsibility of going out and sharing the gospel as Jesus taught it.

     • Notice that Jesus said he will give Peter the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven.This is something that Jesus gave.

   • How would you summarize the meaning of the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven?What are the keys?

     • They are the doctrines that Jesus taught and the responsibilities that go along with it, spreading the gospel and teaching disciples to obey everything that Jesus commanded.

5. “Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.”

   • After emphasizing that he is the Christ, Jesus charges them not to tell this to anyone.Why would he do that?

     • Because Jesus was on a precise timeline.He didn’t want to be executed before the day and way that God planned.

 

Jesus continued to teach his disciples some of his secrets. 

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Verses 21-23,

 

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.”

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Wow!  What a revelation here.  The disciples are probably hoping that Jesus would be here as he was then from that day on to eternity.  Maybe he would command his angels to throw out the Romans, and establish a physical kingdom at that time.  This must be what Peter had on his mind.  Jesus is revealing to them what God’s plan is and God has planned all along that Jesus would die for the sins of the world, and be raised on the third day.  The central purpose is that Jesus would suffer, die, and rise from the dead.  Jesus scolds Peter for thinking that God’s plan would be anything else.

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Does Jesus give his disciples any comfort with this message?

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Let’s see what else Jesus teaches his disciples.

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Verse 24-28,

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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 according to 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.”

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The first thing we see here is that Jesus gives his disciples a challenge.  “Take up his cross and follow me” is a definite reference to crucifixion.  Jesus is saying that they must be willing to be crucified.  Did Jesus mean that they were going to lead a rebellion against the Romans and lose?  What Jesus means here is that this will be his own fate.  If you want to follow him, you must be willing to have the same fate. 

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What comfort does Jesus give?

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1. “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 according to what he has done.”

   • Yes, Jesus will deliver final justice as promised in the Old Testament.

2. “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.”

   • But it has been 2,000 years.Did we miss this, or did Jesus mean something other than judgment day?

     • First, Jesus gives this as an assurance for what else he is going to do.

     • Second, the use of “The Son of Man coming in his kingdom,” brings Daniel 7:13-14 to mind.

       1. Daniel 7”13-14, “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.”

       2. Notice that the emphasis here is not about the taking possession of the kingdom, but the giving of the dominion of the kingdom.At this moment, when Jesus speaks to his disciples, all nations are NOT yet citizens of this nation.At this moment, Jesus has the dominion for the kingdom, but he does not yet have the citizens from all nations.

       3. The promise is that they will “see” the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.Jesus was already establishing his kingdom.He was recruiting people for his kingdom with repentance.In the next chapter, some of the disciples will “see” Jesus in his kingdom.