Matthew 16.AT 16{
Matt. 16:19,19And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 16:19) "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Now this is not the Church; there are no keys for it, nor do men build with keys, nor are there any keys for heaven. The present aspect of the kingdom is the place of profession of Christ's name on earth, it is therefore a kingdom where the King is absent in heaven, so it is called the kingdom of heaven; and the keys given to Peter, was Christ's authority for Peter to act for Him in opening the door for the Jewish converts in Acts 2, and for the Gentile converts in Acts 10: after that the door is open to both Jew and Gentile. It was Peter that gave the last offer to the nation of the Jews in Acts 3. This was in answer to Christ's prayer on the cross, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do," but this offer closed with the murder of Stephen, fulfilling Luke 19:1414But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. (Luke 19:14). It was Peter also that bound the first sin in the assembly on Ananias and Sapphira so that they were disciplined by the Lord and carried out dead. (Discipline is not eternal judgment, 1 Cor. 11:3232But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. (1 Corinthians 11:32).) It was Peter, with John, who prayed that the Samaritan converts might receive the Holy Spirit, and thus the feud was removed between Jews and Samaritans, and the Lord preserved unity. It was Peter who pronounced Simon the sorcerer, not a true child of God at all. All this was clearly apostolic authority, which the Lord conferred on Peter. There were other apostles also to whom the Lord gave authority, but this was specially Peter's. There is no apostolic succession in the Word of God. They gave us the Word of God, but those who came after them were grievous wolves. (Acts 20:2929For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. (Acts 20:29).) The Word of God has been ever since our only authority.
Matt. 16:20,20Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ. (Matthew 16:20) "Then charged He His disciples that they should tell no man that He was the Christ." That testimony is over. He shows to them that He must go into Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Ah, how that touches them; and, favored Peter, how will he take it?
That means loss to them, and a path of suffering, instead of a great and glorious place, and Peter lets nature guide him instead of the thoughts of God. No doubt, it was kindness, but it opposed the cross, and without the cross we could not share the glory. And Peter said, "Be it far from Thee, Lord: this shall not be unto Thee." The Lord turned and said unto Peter, "Get thee behind Me, Satan: thou art an offense unto Me: for thou savorest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men." Peter was not an enemy of Christ. He was a true disciple, but led astray by his own thoughts, he acts as an enemy of the cross of Christ. Alas! through unwatchfulness, how often this happens with us now! Peter, privileged to receive revelations from the Father in heaven, in the same chapter is called Satan, by the Lord. The old nature, even in an apostle, is no better than in any of us. If Paul was caught up to the third heavens, and he was, he must wear a thorn in the flesh ever after to keep him humble. (2 Cor. 12.) How closely do we need to cleave to Christ, and not trust our own hearts for a moment, or we make some mistake. But it does not alter the love and grace of Christ. He just goes on to make the lesson good in their hearts, saying, "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." It is association with one rejected by this world, so the rejected path must be the lot of the one who will come after Me." It must be the setting aside of self. If I put self first, it is a wasted life, I will lose it. If I put Christ first, it is gain now, in the joy of His approval, and gain for all eternity.
What profit would it be to possess the whole world, and lose the soul? The world cannot give happiness now, and the soul without Christ will be eternally miserable. Christ can give happiness now, and an eternity of bliss in His own company. "What shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" Which is better? -a good time now-the pleasures of sin for a brief moment, or rejection with Christ, but assurance of His love and grace, and pleasures which are forever more and fullness of joy with Him for all eternity?
Matt. 16:27,27For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. (Matthew 16:27) "For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to his works." What new thoughts these must have been to them; thoughts of the Son of man's kingdom, but to have it He must now be the rejected, suffering, crucified, Son of man. He is the Savior now. He will be the Judge then.
(Continued.)