Sunday School Lesson

1. Matthew 16:13-20
Who is Jesus?
He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
March 5, 2017
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA
What’s the number one thing?
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The Glory of God!
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1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
March Memory Verse
Romans 12:2 ESV
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your
mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and
acceptable and perfect.

2. References
• MacArthur, John, MacArthur Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Nelson Publishing,
1997).
• ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Publishers, 2008).
• Dr. Chuck Missler, The Gospel of Matthew, Session 11, Chapters 16-17.
YouTube Video
Introduction to Matthew 16
• It’s difficult starting a study series in middle of a book.
• Let’s take a very quick look at the Gospel of Matthew Chapters 1-15.
• We’ll, also, look at the framework for Matthew 16.
Introduction to Matthew 16
• This gospel was written by Matthew, a tax collector who left his work to
follow Jesus.
• Matthew is, also, called “Levi” in Mark and Luke.
• Matthew wrote his gospel to convince Jews that Jesus is the Messiah
foretold in the OT.
• He shows how Jesus in his life and ministry fulfilled the OT scriptures.
Review of Matthew
• Chapter 1 – The Genealogy of Christ.
• Chapter 2 – The Birth of Christ.
• Chapter 3 – The Baptism of Christ.
• Chapter 4 – The Temptation of Christ
• Chapters 5, 6 & 7 – The Sermon on the Mount.
• Chapter 8 – The Calming of the Storm; The Demoniacs at Gardara.
• Chapter 9 – The Call of Matthew.
• Chapter 10 – The 12 Disciples Sent Out.
• Chapter 11 – Jesus’ Response to John the Baptist.
• Chapter 12 – Sabbath Issues; The Unpardonable Sin; The leadership of
Israel begins rejecting Christ and attributes His miracles to Satan.
• After Matthew 12, Jesus only teaches to the public and only in “parables”.
• Chapter 13 – The 7 Kingdom Parables.
• Chapter 14 – John the Baptist is Beheaded by Herod Antipas (tetrarch);
Jesus Feeds the 5,000; Jesus Walks On Water.
• Chapter 15 – Jesus’ Doctrine of Sin; The Faith of the Canaanite Woman,
Jesus Feeds the 4,000.
• Chapter 16:1-12 – The Demand for a Sign.

3. Matthew 16:13-14
13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his
disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" 14 And they said, "Some
say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the
prophets."
Caesarea Philippi
Caesarea Philippi at Base of Mt. Hermon
Caesarea Philippi
• Jesus uses this “pagan spiritual” location to further reveal His spiritual
identity.
• The setting probably helped the disciples grasp Jesus’ plan for all of His
followers – The Church.
• The Transfiguration appears in this mountainous area.

4. “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
• Son of Man – Jesus’ most used self-designation.
• Designation used 88 times in NT.
• Refers to the “humanity of Jesus”.
• Refers to messianic title in Daniel 7:13-14.
Daniel 7:13-14 (The Son of Man as Messiah)
13 "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.
14 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.
“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
• Some thought Jesus was a resurrected or new prophet.
• Deuteronomy 18:17-18
17 And the Lord said to me, 'They are right in what they have spoken. 18 I
will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I
will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I
command him.
• Malachi 4:5
5 "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome
day of the Lord comes.
How did people view Jesus?
• People focused on Jesus’ physical presence here, because He was
present in human form at that time.
• The people were expecting an earthly kingdom that they could see, not a
spiritual kingdom.
• They (Israel) had missed the spiritual side that Jesus was the Son of God
incarnate (God in the flesh).

5. The Dual Nature of Jesus – Fully God & Fully Man
• Luke 2:11
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ
the Lord.
• Human – is born
• A natural birth.
• A baby boy.
• God – a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
• He is God.
• He is the Lord.
Fully God and Fully Human
• This is confusing!
• The math does not work for human minds.
• Not 50/50 or alternating personalities.
• There have been discussions in the Church about this for over 2,000 years!
• The Council of Chalcedon 451 AD statement:
• Recognized as two natures in perfect unity, without measure,
separation, confusion or division.
Incarnation = Theological Term
• The Incarnation is God becoming man.
• Latin term “incarnito” = taking on flesh.
• Term surfaced around 300 AD.
• Definition: The Incarnation refers to God in one of the Triune modes of His
existence. In no way ceasing to be God, has revealed Himself to
humanity by becoming human.
The Incarnation
• John 1:14
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his
glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
• As the ‘God-man’, He mediates God to humans.
• As the ‘man-God’, He represents man to God.
Relationship of the Father and Jesus on Earth
• Jesus was subordinate (not an inferior relationship).
• Under the authority and leadership.
• Jesus was equal in essence, but different in role and function.
• John 14:28c
28c for the Father is greater than I.
• Matthew 24:36
36 "But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of
heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.

6. Jesus as God’s Son on Earth
• He never lost His deity – Never stopped being God.
• He emptied himself of His prerogatives (privileges & glory).
• Philippians 2:6-8
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God
a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a
servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human
form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross.
“All Authority” Came After the Resurrection
• Matthew 28:18
18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth
has been given to me.
Jesus as Fully Human
• Physical birth, growth & development
• Fatigue – John 4:6
• Sleep – Matthew 8:24
• Food & body functions – Matthew 4:2
• Emotions – Joy (John 15:11) Sorrow (Matthew 26:37) Loneliness &
Abandonment (Matthew 26:38; Mark 15:34)
• Experienced death – Mark 15:37
Jesus as Fully Human with Emotions
• Joy (John 15:11)
• love (John 20:2)
• Sorrow (Matthew 26:37)
• Weeping (John 11:35; Hebrews 5:7)
• Loneliness & abandonment (Matthew 26:38; Mark 15:34)
• Controlled anger (Matthew 9:36)
• Agony & anguish (Luke 22:44)
• We learn from Jesus that it is okay to be emotional, but the challenge is to
keep our emotions in healthy boundaries.
As a Human, Jesus was Tempted
• Matthew 4:1-2
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by
the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
• Hebrews 4:15
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our
weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are,
yet without sin.

7. Jesus and Temptation
• We (humans) are born with a “sin nature” that was inherited from Adam.
• (2 earthly parents)
• Sin nature = inward desire or inclination to sin.
• Romans 5:12
12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death
through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—
• Jesus was NOT born with a “sin nature”.
• (1 earthly parent and 1 heavenly parent)
• Jesus had the nature of Adam before Adam sinned.
• Jesus is called the “Second Adam or Last Adam”.
• Jesus had the ability to sin, but made the choice to not sin.
The Temptation of Jesus
• In order for us to be saved from sin, Jesus had to succeed where Adam
failed.
• Where Adam as a man broke God’s covenant, to be our redeemer, Jesus
as a man had to keep God’s covenant.
• Like Adam, Jesus was tempted to disbelieve God’s Word.
• Jesus never gave in to Satan’s lies.
Matthew 16:15
15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
• What was Jesus asking and why?
• Jesus was getting ready to explain His death and resurrection.
• Jesus already knew where each disciple was spiritually in their
understanding.
• Peter answered for the group.
Matthew 16:16
16 Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
• They were in Caesarea Philippi surrounded by temples to dead pagan
gods.
• As the “the Son of the living God” Jesus was alive with them and also the
fulfillment of the OT promise of the divine Son and anointed King eternal.
Matthew 16:17
17 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.
• Peter could not have come to this revelation on his own power.
• This applies to us, also, in that the Holy Spirit reveals this to us in accepting
Christ as our Savior.

8. Matthew 16:18
18 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.
• This is one of the most controversial and debated passages in scripture.
• Why?
• Let’s look at Peter’s name first.
Peter’s Name Change by Jesus
• John 1:40-42
40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew,
Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to
him, "We have found the Messiah" (which means Christ). 42 He brought him
to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon the son of John.
You shall be called Cephas" (which means Peter).
• Cephas means “rock” in Aramaic and translated to “Peter or petros” in
Greek also meaning “rock”.
Matthew 16:18 (Again)
18 And I tell you, you are Peter (petros – small rock), and on this rock (petra –
large rock) I will build my church,
• The rock that Jesus is referring to is not Peter.
• Many believe that Jesus was pointing to himself as He said “on this rock I
will build my church”.
• Jesus was referring to himself
• “I will build MY church”!
• The church will be His Bride!
Why is Peter claimed to be the 1st Catholic Pope?
• Matthew 16:15-18
15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16 Simon Peter replied,
"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 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. 18 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.
Christ was Rock that followed Israel out of Egypt.
• 1 Corinthians 10:1-4
1 For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all
under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized
into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and all ate the same spiritual
food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the
spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.

9. Jesus is the Foundation of the Church.
• 1 Corinthians 3:10-11
10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder
I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one
take care how he builds upon it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other
than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Christ is the Cornerstone of the Church.
• Ephesians 2:19-22
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow
citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on
the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the
cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows
into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together
into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
“and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.”
• Gates of hell; gates of hades; gates of death.
• Gates were the stronghold & protector of a city.
• Hell/Hades are considered the place of death.
• Jesus may have been referring to His upcoming resurrection and
conquering death for us.
• Is the church attacking the gates of hell, or are the gates of hell
attacking the church?
• Jesus and the church are victorious.
The “gates of hell” in Caesarea Philippi now.

10. Matthew 16:19-20
19 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." 20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he
was the Christ.
What are the “keys of the kingdom”?
• Keys are used to lock & unlock doors.
• In this case, it is the doors to the Kingdom of Heaven.
• Jesus is laying the foundation for His church and the disciples will be the
leaders.
• He is giving authority for the disciples to invite all people into the church.
• The “binding and loosing” is church authority & discipline of members
(Matthew 18).
“keys of the kingdom” given to the church
• The “binding and loosing” is church authority & discipline of members.
• Jesus gives guidelines for church discipline (Matthew 18:15-20).
• Without faith in Christ, the door to heaven is locked (John 3:18).
Lesson Application
• Matthew 16:15
15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?”
• The most important question in life!
• Every person must answer this question.
• Everyone!
• Your answer to this question makes a difference in two worlds:
1) Here on earth now.
2) Where you will spend eternity.

11. Peter gave the correct answer!
• Matthew 16:16
16 Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
• Jesus is the Christ (Messiah).
• Jesus is God’s Son.
• Jesus paid for our sins.
• Jesus is the only way to God.
Jesus said it another way.
• John 3:16-18
16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever
believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not
send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the
world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not
condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already,
because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
Next Sunday
Matthew 17:1-13
Is Jesus Fully God?
“The Transfiguration of Jesus”
Dr. Bill Boteler
March 5, 2017
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA

12. The Plan of Hope & Salvation
John 3:16 ESV
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes
in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
John 14:6 ESV
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to
the Father except through me.”
Romans 3:23 ESV
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23a ESV
23a For the wages of sin is death,
 Death in this life (the first death) is 100%.
 Even Jesus, the one who doesn’t deserve death, died in this life to pay the
penalty for our sins.
 The death referred to in Romans 6:23a is the second death explained in
Revelation 21:8.
Revelation 21:8 ESV
8 “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the
sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the
lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Romans 5:8 ESV
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for
us.
Romans 6:23b ESV
23b but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Revelation 21:7 ESV
7 "The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will
be my son.”
 Romans 10:9-10 explains to us how to be conquerors.
Romans 10:9-10 ESV
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your
heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart
one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

13. Romans 10:13 ESV
13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
If you have questions or would like to know more, please, contact First Baptist
Church Jackson at 601-949-1900 or http://firstbaptistjackson.org/contact/