THE K I N G ’ S BUS I NE S S
67
February, 1934
(These objects may also be used to illus trate three kinds of Christians: Those who have to be smitten, those who must be pressed, and those who let their light shine for Christ.)
Peter the keys (v. 19). The kingdom of heaven means the professing world, or Christendom, whether the profession be true or false. Peter used the keys to admit the Jews on the day o f Pentecost, when he preached to Jews (A ct 2), and to admit the Gentiles, when he preached to Cornelius and his household (Acts 10). The binding and loosing here mentioned do not refer to eternal conditions, but to discipline within the professing body. The Lord gave the same power to others (cf. Matt. 18:18; John 20:23). A use of this power may be seen in connection with the discipline o f Ananias (Acts 5:1-10). He charged His disciples not to tell who He was (v. 20). The testimony to the na tion, as such, was finished; He was reject ed by Israel as a whole—hence, there was nothing more to be said. Having rejected all His claims, disbelieved all His signs, despised His kingdom, the people were now left to await the crowning act of all their rebellion at the cross, to be followed by their scattering among the nations of the earth. III. T h e R evelation of H is P rogram (21-23). He must go to Jerusalem to be rejected and suffer many things (v. 21). The reason for this was threefold—because o f the hostility of Satan, because o f the need for man’s redemption, and because o f the pur pose of God to put away sin. Hence He must be killed and raised from the dead. This was Christ’s first announcement of His approaching death and resurrection, and no sooner had it been uttered than human nature objected to the program (vs. 22, 23). Nature has no conception of what the first duty of man is; it thinks that it is self-preservation. It has no idea of
do so, or even asked to give. Not only does God like this kind of a giver, but teachers and parents also are pleased with boys and girls who cheerfully give of whatever they may have to the service of Christ.
MARCH 25, 1934 CONFESSING AND FOLLOWING CHRIST M atthew 16:13-26
as God. Hence, He was One to be wor shiped and adored. This recognition was the result o f a revelation from the Father (v. 17). Flesh and blood could never discover the fa ct; it was above reason, known only to such as were willing to follow the truth (John 17:17). This confession o f the person of Christ is the heart of the creed of the church (cf. Acts 8:37; 1 Cor. 12:3; 1 John 4:15). II. T h e P rophecy of th e L ord ' s P urpose (18-20). Concerning the church (v. 18), the Lord would build it upon a great confession. And that church would be secure, “the gates o f hell shall not prevail against it.” At that time, the' church was still in the future, for the Lord says, “I will build” it. He was not then building it; it was not in existence, except in the mind of God. It was not the man Peter, but Peter’s confession which forms the foundation of the church. Peter means petros, “a piece of rock” ; petra, the word used here, means the bedrock itself (cf. 1 Pet. 2:4, 5; 1 Cor. 3:11; Eph. 2:20). To the kingdom, that is, the great body o f professing believers, in which are both the tares and the wheat, our Lord gave
Golden T ext: Thou art the Christ, the Son o f the living God” (Matt. 16:16). Outline and Exposition I. T he C onfession of th e L ord ' s P erson (13-17). To the people, the Lord Jesus Christ was merely a great Man (vs. 13, 14). Some thought He might be John the Baptist, who had reminded the nation of its sin and had given its people opportunity to know and accept their Messiah. Some thought He might be Elij ah, who had recalled them from their worship of Baal. Some thought He might be Jeremiah, who had once re vived them and turned them back to their God. All were agreed that He was a great personage, perhaps one o f the prophets. But to them, He was not more than a Man; He was greater in degree than others, but not in kind. To His own, He was more than Man (vs. 15, 16). To them, He was the Christ, that is, the anointed One, as a Man. He was the anointed Prophet, to be heard above all other prophets; He was the anointed Priest, to be appealed to, above all other priests; and He was the anointed King, to be obeyed above all other kings. He was also the Son of the living God,
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