Following the True Christ - Matthew in Twelve Weeks
A Bible Study Covering chapters 16:13-18:35 of the Gospel of Matthew - Leader Guide and Handout
This section of Matthew, chapters 16:13-18:35, covers the climactic transfiguration of Jesus. We will also see how Jesus instructs His followers on the cost and process of discipleship and what that means for the Church. Chapter 18 concludes with Jesus answering a crucially clarifying question that Peter asks concerning the extent of forgiveness. These passages should challenge us to deepen our understanding of Christ and what it means to truly follow Him.
Peter's Confession (16:13-20)
Invite a study participant to read Matthew 16:13-20 aloud. Discuss the nature of the blessing which Jesus bestowed upon Peter.
In this passage, Jesus asks His disciples the crucial question: "Who do you say I am?" Peter's response, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God," is a watershed moment in the Gospel narrative. This confession reveals Jesus' true identity as the long-awaited Messiah and the divine Son of God while showing that Jesus’ disciples truly understood Who they were following.
Jesus affirms that this revelation came not from human understanding, but from God the Father. This divine insight becomes the rock upon which Christ will build His church. The "keys of the kingdom" given to Peter symbolize the authority to declare the terms of entrance into God's kingdom through the proclamation of the Gospel. These “terms” are precisely contained in Peter’s confession, made by faith in Jesus.
Jesus' Foretelling of His Death and Instruction to His Disciples (16:21-28)
Invite a study participant to read Matthew 16:21-28 aloud. Consider Jesus’ call to his disciples in 24-28: Does this call align with the message of Matthew thus far?
Immediately following Peter's confession, Jesus begins to teach about His impending suffering, death, and resurrection. This revelation shocks the disciples, prompting Peter to rebuke Jesus. Christ's stern response, "Get behind me, Satan," highlights the cosmic struggle at play and the necessity of the cross in God's redemptive plan.
While Peter was framing Jesus’ death rightly in some sense — as a horrendous evil — God’s plan for Jesus transcended Peter’s preconceptions. Jesus follows up on His rebuke by clarifying the true cost of discipleship: denying oneself, taking up one's cross, and following Him. Indeed, just as Christ mustn’t have stopped short of death in His ministry to the world, so too the call of discipleship is comprehensive: Jesus called His disciples to follow Him even unto death. This radical call challenges worldly notions of success and self-preservation, redefining victory through the lens of sacrificial love and obedience to God.
The Transfiguration (17:1-13)
Invite a study participant to read Matthew 17:1-13 aloud.
The Transfiguration provides a profound glimpse into Jesus' divine nature and His unique relationship with the Father. As Jesus' appearance is transformed before Peter, James, and John, we witness a momentary unveiling of His eternal glory. This event serves as a pivotal confirmation of Jesus' identity as the Son of God, echoing the Father's declaration at Jesus' baptism. The presence of Moses and Elijah not only connects Jesus to the law and the prophets but also symbolizes the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan throughout history.
This mountaintop experience reveals the intimate communion between the Father and the Son, showcasing their shared glory and purpose. It also foreshadows Jesus' resurrection and ascension, offering a preview of His exalted state. For the disciples, this vision of Christ's glory serves to strengthen their faith in preparation for the trials ahead, particularly Jesus' impending suffering and death. The Transfiguration, therefore, becomes a crucial point of reference for the disciples, reinforcing Jesus' teachings about His identity and mission.
Healing of a Demon-Possessed Boy (17:14-27)
Ask a study participant to read Matthew 17:14-23 aloud. Discuss the disciples' inability to heal the boy and how Jesus' teaching on faith addresses this issue.
Returning from the mountain, Jesus encounters a stark contrast between divine glory and human frailty. The father's desperate plea for his son's healing highlights the pervasive impact of evil and suffering in a fallen world. Jesus' rebuke of the "faithless and perverse generation" underscores a recurring theme in Matthew's Gospel: the centrality of faith in the kingdom of Heaven.
The disciples' inability to cast out the demon reveals the connection between faith and spiritual authority. Jesus emphasizes that even faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains, illustrating that it is not the quantity but the quality of faith that matters. Presumably, either the man in the narrative or Jesus’ own disciples lacked faith in the attempted exorcism. Jesus’ teaching here aligns with Matthew's broader emphasis on faith as a transformative force in the lives of believers. The episode serves as a practical demonstration of the power of faith, showing how trust in God can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
Teachings on Faith and Forgiveness (18:1-35)
Have participants read Matthew 18:1-5, 18:15-20, and 18:21-35. Invite participants to connect these teachings on childlike faith, conflict resolution, and forgiveness to earlier themes in Matthew, such as the Beatitudes and the Lord's Prayer.
In this section, Jesus intertwines the themes of faith, humility, and forgiveness, presenting them as essential characteristics of life in God's kingdom. His teaching on childlike humility challenges prevailing notions of greatness and status. By using a child as an example, Jesus emphasizes the importance of dependence on God, simplicity of faith, and openness to learning - qualities that are crucial for spiritual growth and maturity while illustrating the openness of the kingdom.
The parable of the unmerciful servant powerfully illustrates the imperative of forgiveness in the Christian life. It teaches that our ability to forgive others is directly linked to our understanding and acceptance of God's forgiveness towards us. The stark contrast between the king's forgiveness of an enormous debt and the servant's refusal to forgive a small amount emphasizes the transformative nature of divine grace and the expectation that we extend this grace to others.
This teaching on forgiveness echoes and expands upon Jesus' words in the Sermon on the Mount, where He emphasizes the importance of forgiveness in prayer and interpersonal relationships (Matthew 6:14-15). The parable illustrates that forgiveness is not just a one-time act but a continual attitude of the heart, reflecting the boundless mercy we have received from God. It challenges believers to cultivate a forgiving spirit as a fundamental expression of their faith and gratitude for God's grace.
Conversation Starters
What do you find most challenging about Jesus' teachings on forgiveness? How have you seen the power of forgiveness in your own life or the lives of others?
In what ways might our culture's values conflict with Jesus' teachings on humility and childlike faith?
How can we practically apply Jesus' teachings on conflict resolution (Matthew 18:15-20) in our relationships within the church and beyond?
Reflect on a "mountaintop experience" in your faith journey — a time when you felt extremely sure of your faith. Has has that experience helped you in times since?
In what areas of your life do you find it most difficult to trust God fully? How might cultivating childlike faith help in those areas?
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