Peter’s Confession of Christ- Matthew 16:13-20

In what ways are God’s perceptions of blessings different from that of men?

Bible Study

Matt 16:13-20

13  When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”

14  So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

15  He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

16  Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

17  Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

18  “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

19  “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

20  Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.

(NKJ)

 

Food for Thought

1.   In what ways do you consider yourself blessed?

2.   Can you recall something that the Father in heaven revealed to you?  

3.   Who is Jesus to you?

 

Bible Study

4.   What broad impersonal question did Jesus ask his Disciples? (16:13)

5.   What different answers did Jesus get to his question? (16:14)

6.   What pointed personal question did Jesus ask his Disciples? (16:15)

7.   Who spoke up in answer to Jesus’ question? (16:16)

8.   What answer did Peter give? (16:16)

9.   Why was Peter blessed? (16:17)

10. In what way is coming to faith and understanding the gospel a supernatural event? (16:17)

11. What did Jesus promise about the church? (16:18)

12. What authority did Jesus promise to Peter? (16:19)

13. Against what did Jesus warn his Disciples? (16:20)

 

Kingdom Dynamics

14. Since Jesus does not receive honour from men, why was he interested in who the people think he his?

15. Why did people think Jesus was John the Baptist, Elijah or Jeremiah?

16. Why did the people believe that Jesus must have risen from the dead?

17. Were those who believed Jesus to be an old prophet risen from the dead likely to be believers or unbelievers?

18. If you asked a typical person today, “Who is Jesus Christ?” what kind of answer do you think you will get?

19. What would your answer to this question have been in the past?

20. What is your answer today?

21. In what way does flesh and blood reveal a man’s identity to us?

22. Jesus says he is the “son of man” but God the Father says he is the “son of God.”  How do you resolve this seeming contradiction?

23. What does it mean to you that Jesus is “the Son of the living God?”

24. In what ways are God’s perceptions of blessings different from that of men?

25. Why did Jesus remind Peter that he is the son of Jona?

26. How do you interpret the insight and authority given to Peter?

27. On which “rock” will Jesus build his church?

28. What exactly is the church of Jesus Christ?

29. What difference does it make what we believe about Jesus?

30. What exactly are the keys of the kingdom and what do they bind and lose?

31. Do the keys of the kingdom confer upon Pastors the power of ex-communication from the church?

32. What forces try to hinder God’s work today?

33. Why should we not be discouraged in our efforts to carry out God’s work?

34. Why does Jesus not want people to know that he is the Christ?

35. Should we be quick to tell people who we are?

 

Practical Christianity

36. What part in the building of Christ’s church do you have now?

37. What can you do or say to help a friend overcome an erroneous idea about Jesus this week?

38. What are some ways you could make a public statement of your faith in Christ?