Matthew 16:11-21

INTRO
“Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees”

• Why does Jesus say this?
• The warning against false teaching is followed by the revealing of Christ by God to Peter under the shadow of pagan worship at the mouth of Hades.
  

JESUS & DISCIPLES AT CAESARIA-PHILIPPI

Location of the Temple of Pan and the “Gates of Hades” which is a large rock.

• Being surprised by Pan in the dark created panic
• Peter = rock
  

1. Who do people say that I am (”the Son of man”)?

• John the Baptist – a great preacher
• Elijah – a great miracle worker
• Jeremiah – a great prophet
  

2. But who do you say that I am?

This is the most important question that we must answer:

• To God
• For ourselves
• To others
  

Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you . . . [1 Peter 3:14b-15]

3. The right answer/person:

• Is revealed by God
• Brings blessing
• Provides . . .
  
• Jesus as the architect – “I will build”
• Safety and power – “the gates of hades shall not prevail”
• Access to God’s kingdom – “the keys of the kingdom”
• Our commissioning to act on His behalf – “whatever you bind/loose”
  

CONCLUSION
“From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things . . .”

Sandwiched between “false” teaching and the Cross is a question:
1. Beware of false teaching
“But who do you say that I am?” [See Isaiah 51:1]
2. The Cross