Matthew
16 – The Coming of the Kingdom (Fulfilled Perspective) Matthew
16:1 † The demand for a
sign from heaven shows their unbelief. They had already seen
miracles yet wanted cosmic proof. They were blind to what was before
them. † Josephus,
Antiquities 18.1.3: The Pharisees have delivered to the people a
great many observances by succession from their fathers, which are
not written in the laws of Moses. And the Sadducees reject them,
saying that we are to esteem those observances to be obligatory
which are in the written word, but are not to observe what are
derived from the tradition of our forefathers. Matthew 16:2-3 † They could read
the sky, but they could not see the prophetic signs of judgment
approaching. The signs of the times were miracles and fulfilled
prophecies pointing to the end of the Old Covenant. † Josephus, Wars
6.5.3: A star resembling a sword stood over the city, and a comet
that continued a whole year. And before sun-setting, chariots and
troops of soldiers in their armor were seen running about among the
clouds, and surrounding of cities. Matthew 16:4 † The sign of Jonah
is Christ's death and resurrection. That generation rejected the
greatest sign God would ever give them. † Tacitus, Annals
15.44: Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the
extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of
our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous
superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only
in Judea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome. Matthew 16:5-6 † The leaven was
their corrupt doctrine. The Pharisees clung to traditions, the
Sadducees to political power, both rejecting the truth of Christ. † Josephus, Wars
2.8.14: The Sadducees are those that compose the second order, and
take away fate entirely, and suppose that God is not concerned in
our doing or not doing what is evil, and they say, that to act what
is good, or what is evil, is at men’s own choice. But the
Pharisees say, that some actions, but not all, are the work of fate,
and some of them are in our own power, and they ascribe all to fate
and to God. Matthew 16:13-16 † In a land filled
with pagan temples, Peter’s confession set Christ above all gods
and rulers. Matthew 16:17-18 † The rock is
Peter’s confession. The church would endure while the Old Covenant
system collapsed. † Eusebius,
Ecclesiastical History 3.5.3: But the people of the church in
Jerusalem had been commanded by a revelation, vouchsafed to approved
men there before the war, to leave the city and to dwell in a
certain town of Perea called Pella. And when those that believed in
Christ had come there from Jerusalem, then the destruction of
Jerusalem came to pass, as if it were in accordance with a divine
decree of God. Matthew 16:19 † Binding and
loosing were rabbinic terms for teaching authority. Jesus gave it to
His apostles, establishing covenant law under Him. Matthew 16:21-23 † Peter wanted a
political Messiah, but the true Messiah would conquer through
suffering. Matthew 16:24-25 † Many of His
disciples literally carried crosses under Roman persecution. † Tacitus, Annals
15.44: Mockery of every sort was added to their deaths. Covered with
the skins of beasts, they were torn by dogs and perished, or were
nailed to crosses, or were doomed to the flames and burnt, to serve
as a nightly illumination, when daylight had expired. Matthew 16:26-27 † This was
fulfilled in AD 70 when Christ judged Jerusalem, coming in glory
with His angelic hosts. † Josephus, Wars
6.5.3: Chariots and troops of soldiers in their armor were seen
running about among the clouds, and surrounding of cities. Matthew 16:28 † Jesus promised
that His coming would occur in the lifetime of some hearing Him.
This was fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. † Eusebius,
Ecclesiastical History 3.5.3: The whole body, however, of the church
at Jerusalem, having been commanded by a divine revelation, removed
from the city, and dwelt at Pella beyond the Jordan, and thus
escaped the severe ruin of the Jews. Matthew 16 reveals Christ’s
authority, the corruption of Israel’s leaders, the foundation of
His church, the necessity of the cross, and the certainty of His
coming in judgment within that generation. History confirms His
words. Josephus, Tacitus, and Eusebius bear witness that signs
appeared, persecution came, and Jerusalem fell exactly as Jesus
said. † This is the fulfilled
perspective we proclaim at Fulfilled Prophecies † Source Index † Josephus,
Antiquities of the Jews 18.1.3 –
https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=J.+AJ+18.1.3 † Josephus, Wars of
the Jews 2.8.14 –
https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=J.+BJ+2.8.14 † Josephus, Wars of
the Jews 6.5.3 –
https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=J.+BJ+6.5.3 † Tacitus, Annals
15.44 –
https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Tac.+Ann.+15.44 † Eusebius,
Ecclesiastical History 3.5.3 –
https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/250103.htm
By Dan Maines
The Pharisees and Sadducees came up, and putting
Jesus to the test, they asked Him to show them a sign from heaven.
† Josephus describes the Pharisees and
Sadducees as rival groups who nevertheless worked together against
Christ.
But
He replied to them, When it is evening, you say, It will be fair
weather, for the sky is red. And in the morning, There will be a
storm today, for the sky is red and threatening. Do you know how to
discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of
the times?
†
Josephus recorded heavenly omens before Jerusalem’s destruction.
An
evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and a sign will
not be given it, except the sign of Jonah. And He left them and went
away.
†
Roman historians acknowledged the impact of Christ.
And
the disciples came to the other side of the sea, but they had
forgotten to bring any bread. And Jesus said to them, Watch out and
beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
†
Their teaching influenced the nation, which led to ruin.
Peter
confesses, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.
And
Jesus said to him... upon this rock I will build My church, and the
gates of Hades will not overpower it.
† Christians fled
Jerusalem before its destruction, proving the church endured.
I
will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven...
Peter
rebukes Jesus, but Jesus says, Get behind Me, Satan!
If
anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his
cross, and follow Me.
†
Tacitus confirms Nero’s persecution of Christians.
For
the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His
angels, and will then repay each person according to his deeds.
† Josephus records
supernatural visions of angelic armies.
Truly
I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will
not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.
†
Eusebius confirms the church’s survival and the destruction of
Jerusalem.
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