The Gospel according to Matthew Chapter 16

MATTHEW 

CHAPTER 

16

1. The Pharisees and Sadducees came and to test Jesus they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 

(Matthew Chapter 16 verse 1)

Oh Jesus during my relationship with You I realise how much You hate being tested because this reflects distrust in You oh Jesus. During the time of Your temptation You strictly commanded the Devil not to test You, therefore I am to be sensitive in relation to this issue and even though the clouds of my situation may be thick and black I am to place my trust in You alone and have absolute faith that You are in control of the situation.

2. He answered them, "When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.' 3. And in the morning, 'It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening,' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.

(Matthew Chapter 16 verses 2 to 3)



Oh Jesus we appear to be so proud and haughty and full of knowledge. We have built instruments that we think give us accurate results, however You are the Master of all knowledge. Even freak storms and volcanic eruptions that may not be detected by such instruments in time to save lives You are aware of because all is under Your control. I am sorry to say that as humans we may think that we are in control of our lives and destiny but in reality even the smallest raindrop or ray of light is under Your control.



4. An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah." Then he left them and went away.

(Matthew Chapter 16 verse 4)



Oh Jesus even today You are giving us the sign of Jonah which was a call for repentance. This is also a time in which we are called to make a radical change in our lives, in both thinking, values and also in our behaviour. May all our actions and judgement be based according to the values found in Your Word oh Jesus instead of on the values and ways of the world.



5. When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. 

(Matthew Chapter 16 verse 5)



Although the apostles had forgotten to bring any bread with them they were not lacking in resources for they had You with them oh Jesus thus they had all the nourishment they needed especially for their souls.


6. "Watch out, and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees."7. They said to one another, "It is because we have brought no bread."

(Matthew Chapter 16 verses 6 to 7)


Oh heavenly Father at times You speak to me as in the case of the apostles and  I do not understand what You mean. When You told me to leave my belongings and follow You, I thought that You wanted me to be a priest, however on the way You showed me that this is not Your will for me. Therefore in order to discern Your will it is wise of us to have a spiritual guide as in spiritual direction in order to help us discern the light from the dark according to Your will in the different situations of our life.


8. And becoming aware of it, Jesus said, "You of little faith, why are you talking about having no bread? 9. Do you still not perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 10. Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 11. How could you fail to perceive that I was not speaking about bread?


(Matthew Chapter 16 verses 8 to 11)


Oh Jesus at times you try to communicate with us however we happen to be on a different wavelength. Our perception and interpretation of the world is so different that, even when You speak openly to us and try to show us the truth about our self we may not always understand what You mean to tell us. Oh Jesus that You may always give us the ability to always discern what You mean to tell us.



12. Then they understood that he had not told them to beware of the yeast of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

(Matthew Chapter 16 verse 12)


On reflecting oh Jesus even during our times the media and many other sources are spreading messages that are contrary to Your teaching and instruction. The forms which these messages are given are very subtle therefore we need to be very careful of what is put on our plate to see by the media in its many forms on line and even offline. I pray for heavenly wisdom so that we be able to sift what is Yours and good from what is not yours and is of a negative nature.



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, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."15. He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"


(Matthew Chapter 16 verses 13 to 15)


Today oh Jesus You are asking me to answer a very important question. Who are You in my life. Are You the God of the old Testament who appeared in a cloud or in mighty wonders, are You Jesus the loving and caring Son of God? Indeed You are more than that my Father. Although I am a sinner and not worthy of Your love I still consider You as my loving Father. Even though I do not always I understand You  I consider You as being the love of my life and greater than knowledge above all knowledge merciful than all existing mercy Amen.



16. Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah,  the Son of the living God."

(Matthew Chapter 16 verse 16)



Oh Jesus may we all share Peter's declaration and even more.On praying over this issue of who are You for us, we can all stop and form our own declaration of thanksgiving to You my God friend and father.



17. And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven.

(Matthew Chapter 16 verse 17)


At times when our Holy Spirit decides to make use of our senses in order to pass on to ourselves or and to to others we end up as in the case of Peter, making such wonderful declarations and giving such a bold and powerful testimony that is greatly appreciated, by You my God and Father.



18. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. 19. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever yo loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."20. Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

(Matthew Chapter 16 verses 18 to 20)



Oh Jesus how greatly You reward us for such simple acts, especially when we permit ourselves to be the mouthpieces of Your Holy Spirit. From a simple fisherman, You ordained to be the first Pope who after Your resurrection would lead us, to our eternal home in heaven. I thank You oh Jesus Son of God for giving us all the Popes, throughout the course of time and especially, for Pope Francesco and his down to earth character and simplicity. In more ways, than one I compare him to You oh Jesus. May he and other popes that may precede him, will continue to be filled with Your Spirit values and determination in order, to continue to overcome the forces of evil that will never stop harassing Your Church. I pray for the protection of Your Holy Spirit, and that of Your Angels St. Michael and his legions, for I am also attacked for what I believe do and say. Amen. May I never stop giving testimony of You and Your holy Word amen.



21. From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.


(Matthew Chapter 16 verse 21)




Oh Jesus You know us more than we know ourselves, You are aware when we are ready to take on new responsibilities and when we are ready to move on as in the case of the disciples. Now that they had been formed and matured in their faith You started preparing them for the most important part of their earthly life with You. The moment that You had been waiting for. The moment when You would claim a final and total victory over the forces of evil by means of Your death and resurrection. Oh God You also prepare us for peak moments of our lives, however we are not always aware of, the ground work that You are doing behind the scenes.



22. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him saying, "God forbid it,  Lord! This must never happen to you."

(Matthew Chapter 16 verse 22)



The devil had long been in waiting for such an opportunity. He chooses people who are close to us in order to test us by means of actions and situations.



23. But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things."

(Matthew Chapter 16 verse 23)



Oh Jesus this is a great conflict that we face throughout our daily life. I am aware that certain issues that are negative however in order to justify my reasons I focus on worldly reasons instead of placing my focus on the divine. In truth it may be that, when You rebuked Peter You did not rebuke him as human but the negative presence in him that was trying to use Peter in order to misguide You in Your mission for our salvation.



24. Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

(Matthew Chapter 16 verse 24)



To deny the self oh Jesus can be achieved only with Your help oh Jesus, for our nature is egotistic. If given the opportunity we will first cater for our needs over those of others. When I start using the terms 'me' and 'mine' over that of 'theirs' or of 'others' my human self is being given priority over that of others. This does not imply that I am to neglect my personal needs and fall into a stage of degradation, however when I think of others needs before that of my own You always compensate for my needs. Taming the self and its urge to have more, to be sexually fulfilled, to be the best in life even if this means denying others of their rights is to be our main goal in life. It is a spiritual goal that we must aim for if we want to be followers of Jesus. Therefore this means a radical change in my lifestyle oh Jesus. During traffic jams I am always to give others the right of way, in a cue or in a supermarket I am always to give others to shop before me. When You see that humility has become part of my daily life in some way or another on earth, or in heaven I will receive Your reward Amen.



25. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.

(Matthew Chapter 16 verse 25)



For those of us who think that they will never die and do their best to live a life of comfort and worldly carnal pleasure they are in for a surprise for all the good things come to an end, and on leaving this world as souls we will take nothing with us but all the good deeds and sins that we have done while still alive on earth. Therefore it can be said that those who love their life will loose it. However those who loose their life in proclaiming Your name or simply beheaded because they are Roman Catholics of Christians will also loose their life but will find a better life in Your holy presence, while those who are worldly will live a never endless life in the fires of hell or in purgatory.



26. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?

(Matthew Chapter 16 verse 26)



Many people oh Jesus have reached the peak of their career, of which many are happy, however others even though they have been successful according to the standards set by the world, end up committing suicide or ending their career by some form of abuse that brings their career to a drastic end. However those who invest their life in living according to Your will will never toil in vain for they are aware that our reward is the kingdom of heaven.



27. "For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. 28. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."

(Matthew Chapter 16 verses 27 to 28)




As much as reality is true so is the second coming of Jesus the Son of God. Although some of us seem to deny it by the way they speak, act and promulgate laws that at times clash with the teachings of the Church, the truth is that the second coming is true and will eventually take place. I would like to end this chapter with a prayer to You my Father that we all be found well prepared for Your second coming and that we will all meet again in heaven amen.

The Gospel according to Matthew Chapter 15

MATTHEW 

CHAPTER 

15

1. Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 2. Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not was their hands before they eat?

(Gospel of Matthew chapter 1 verses 1 and 2)

It seems oh Jesus that the forces of evil as in the case of the Pharisees and scribes were already united against You for in relation to this issue they had discussed and even travelled together in order to confront You with such an issue. Therefore when negative forces join together against us, we are to join with You the most powerful positive Spirit in a spirit of prayer and thanksgiving.


3. He answered them, "And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4. For God said, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must surely die.' 5. But you say that whoever tells father or mother, 'Whatever support you might have had from me is given to God,' then that person need not honor the father. 6. So, for the sake of your tradition, you make void the word of God.

(Gospel of Matthew chapter 1 verses 3 to 6)


Traditions at times oh Jesus can be very harmful indeed. When filtering the basic premises of certain tenets we may find out new things about ourselves and may even become aware of false beliefs about ourselves that have controlled our lives for a long time and have become part of our life-script. A typical example is the following. When I was a little boy my mum always told me that I was like my father who had been unfaithful to her and hurt her very much. On the other hand my father told me that I was a very forgetful person and as a consequence I would never be good at Arithmetic. When going through the family tree the trait of unfaithfulness is very dominant in the family tree to this very day. When I grew up and was married I started fearing that I would also live up to this tradition and be unfaithful to my wife or be emotionally abusive to her as others had been to me. Theory holds that the abused will become abusers themselves, however such traditions may be fallacious. I have been married for 14 years and to this very day I am happy to say that this tradition has not lived up to its name. On the other hand the mentioned theory is also not water tight, for although I have been emotionally abused many times even to this very day I am very sensitive in relation to this issue and am very careful not to hurt others by what I think and say. I am not saying that I never make mistakes and hurt others oh God because I am still human, however I believe that You oh God are able to smash such traditions and empower me to live according to the commandment of love more than on traditions.

7. You hypocrites ! Isaiah prophesied rightly about you when he said: 8. 'This people honors me with their lips but their hearts are far from me; 9. in vain do they worship me teaching human precepts as doctrines.'

(Gospel of Matthew chapter 1 verses 7 to 9)


This is one of the most verses that sends tremors running up and down my spine because its message hits home. I have been meditating on the word of God and sharing my prayers for all these years, however I am still afraid of falling into the trap of the hypocrite by not living a life that reflects the presence of God in me. I pray oh Jesus that You save me from falling into this trap.


10. Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, "Listen and understand: 11. it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles."

(Gospel of Matthew chapter 1 verses 10 to 11)


On having meditated on the book of Leviticus mainly chapters 10 to 11, I have found a whole list of creatures that are considered by God as being considered to be unclean for human consumption. However Oh Jesus when making such a declaration I understand what You are referring to. When we consume food that is contaminated we bring harm on the body however when we formulate a negative thought this is more harmful than when we contaminate the body. The process is also longer and more complex, and the consequences may afford both the body and even more the soul. In order to understand how our brain works please click on the following link:-

How the brain works


However when we process negative images and thoughts as in viewing negative pornographic material or negative thoughts and process the process of such images becomes more complex and is harder to reverse this is what You my God may have been referring to which in the ends causes the contamination of both the body and the soul. As referred to in the following link negative thoughts are toxic as much and more than bacteria in the body. I invite you to click on the following link Negative thinking is toxic


12. Then the disciples approached and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said? ". 13. He answered, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. 14. Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another both will fall into a pit."

(Gospel of Matthew chapter 15 verses 12 to 14)


It is the case oh Jesus that to many of us who believe in You Your Gospel is a guidelines and means of encouragement and support, however those who do not believe in You may find the same Bible as being illogical , biased non-scientific and even offencive if viewed from different perspectives. However when reading praying, or meditating on Your Gospel we are to pray Your Holy Spirit to help us understand the meaning behind the meaning so that we can sustain our souls with the bounty of Your Word.


15. .But Peter said to him, "Explain this parable to us." 16. Then he said, "Are you also still without understanding? 17. Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach and goes out into the sewer? 18. But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles, 19. For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. 20. These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile."

(Gospel of Matthew chapter 15 verses 15 to 30)


Oh God for how long can You put up with us and our complaints or problems. It seems that You have a high tolerance threshold but enough is enough. I admire You oh God that instead of calling Peter a silly, ignorant and dumb person and smashed his self esteem as  people did to me, You calmed down and positively educated Peter so that he would reach the understanding that he was lacking. You oh God are more than aware of our limitations. You do not scold us for it  because You know our strengths and weaknesses and show empathy and understanding instead of being judgemental and critical. Thank You for being such a loving and caring father and may we imitate You during our interactions with others and with ourselves.


31. so that  the crowd was amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.

(Gospel of Matthew chapter 15 verse 31)


oh Jesus this is the best attitude and disposition in the sense that the people were not only influenced by the miracles that they had witnessed but were also moved to offer their praise and thanksgiving  to You.


32. Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way."

(Gospel of Matthew chapter 15 verse 32)



Oh Jesus thanks for having compassion on the human condition we try and follow in your steps but our sinful nature at times gets the better of us. However when we keep our focus on you we are never hungry.


33. The disciples said to him, "Where are we to get enough bread in the desert to feed so great a crowd? 34. Jesus asked them, "How many loaves have you?" They said, "Seven, and a few small fish."

(Gospel of Matthew chapter 15 verse 33 to 34)


When we are facing a crisis oh Jesus it is as if we are in a desert. There are no signs of resource even if they are right under our noses, we might not be able to access them. However You know that no case however difficult it may appear is not a lost case. You questioned the apostles regarding the quantity of loaves that  they had and not if they had any available because You were aware that in all situations there are always resources at hand. The greatest resources are Your presence and our faith in Your divine providence and the knowledge and faith that You love us so much that You do not want us even to be in such a situation.


35. Then ordering the crowd to sit down on the ground, 36. he took the seven loaves and the fish; and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 37. And all of them ate and were filled; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. 38. Those who had eaten were four thousand men, besides women and children. 39. After sending the crowds, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan.

(Gospel of Matthew chapter 15)


This is what I call faith in action and in practise this is how it should be. On observing the example set by Jesus, we have the following procedure to follow during the course of our daily lives. Jesus knows that we have inner potential. He tells us to use that potential or use it to broaden our opportunities to improve our situations. Oh Jesus You believe in us more than we actually believe in ourselves. Thanks for doing so. Following this step oh Jesus even though the miracle has not yet been accomplished in faith and gratitude You thank Your Father that He was going to make this miracle in effect. Before it had actually taken place oh Jesus You thanked Your father for it. Even before difficult situations are resolved we are to pray to God in gratitude and thank Him in faith that He is going to resolve our situation or else provide a much better alternative for our own good. If nothing happens we still thank Jesus because the delay may also have been an act of God in order to protect us against making a wrong decision or maybe it is simply not the time. However whatever the issue we are always to have an attitude of faith and thanksgiving before the issue is actually resolved. Instead of accusing Jesus for having placed us in such a situation we are to thank Jesus for this situation and he will surely respond to our positive and faithful thanksgiving attitude Amen



I would like to end this chapter with a prayer of thanksgiving to You oh Jesus I invite you all to click on the following link:-

Prayer "Thank You God"