Message Notes

INTERMEDIATE SUNDAY SCHOOL 25 February 2024

STUDIES IN THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

Text: Matthew 16

Subject: “I will build My church” I

INTRODUCTION

1. The Doctrine of the Church

a) This is an important doctrine

b) This is an important text to study carefully

2. The Lord Jesus’ commitment

a) To build the Church

b) The Church is “His!”

COMMENT OF THE LORD JESUS

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.

Matthew 16:16-20

1. The Declaration of Peter

a) The Lord Jesus is “The Christ”

b) He is “The Son of the living God”

2. The Comment of the Lord Jesus Christ

a) “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah”

i) This was a word of commendation

ii) Peter was indeed blessed with this understanding

b) “For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you”

i) Peter’s understanding did not come from human revelation

ii) His understanding did not come from human reasoning

c) But My Father who is in heaven

i) God the Father had revealed this truth to Peter

ii) This was a very special blessing

iii) Deep spiritual understanding is truly a revelation from God

3. Meaning of the word “Rock”

a) Two words may be used to describe a “Rock”

i) Greek “Petros”

It may be used to refer to even a small rock

ii) Greek “Petra”

It is not used to describe a small rock but a large bedrock mass

b) What the Lord Jesus said to Simon Peter

i) He is not just Simon (His birth name)

ii) He is also called “Peter”

iii) This was the nickname the Lord gave to Simon John 1:42

4. “On this Rock”

a) The Lord Jesus said,

“On this rock” (Petra)

b) The Lord Jesus would build His Church on Petra

i) The bedrock of Truth

ii) The Truth that the Lord Jesus is the Messiah

iii) The Truth that He is the Son of God

5. The Church will be indestructible

a) The Lord Jesus Himself will build His church

b) He was aware that the gates of Hades (Hell) will attack the church

c) But the Church will remain strong and steadfast!

OUR CHALLENGE

1. To love the Church of the Lord

2. To make it strong against any attack

3. To be confident in our faith in the Lord!