Author: drthomasclothier

“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26 ESV)

A basic component of the economics, especially in Capitalism, is the concept of profit and loss. What exactly is meant by this phrase?

Profit and loss (P&L) are financial statements that summarize the revenues, costs, and expenses incurred during a specified period, usually a quarter or a year. It provides information about a company’s ability to generate profit by increasing revenue, reducing costs, or both. P&L statements are often presented on a cash or accrual basis. Company managers and investors use P&L statements to analyze the financial health of a company.

What does the concept of profit and loss have to do with the condition of an individual’s soul? Jesus referred to P&L in today’s text. He raised two questions.

The first question is, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” The scenario Jesus paints is a stark and serious one.

The word profit (ὠφελέω; opheleo) refers to some benefit, aid and/or good. (See Prov. 10:2; Isa. 30:5, 6; 44:9; 47:12; 57:12; Jer. 2:11; 7:8; 12:13; 23:32; Hab. 2:18). The word gains (κερδαίνω; kerdaino) means to make a profit. In effect, Jesus asked what profit was there in profiting the entire world, when doing so results in forfeiting or losing one’s soul?

The second question is similar to the first. “Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” In other words, what is the rate of exchange that an individual is willing to give in order to redeem their soul?

John Calvin writes, “None can be reckoned to be the disciples of Christ unless they are true imitators of him, and are willing to pursue the same course.”

“To be a Christian means engaging in the lifelong pursuit of conformity to the teaching and example of Christ. We are united to our Lord by faith in Him alone (Phil. 3:9), and then we prove that faith over the course of our lives by obeying our Savior and following Him as our example,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.

“Whoever thinks only or even mainly of his own ease, comfort, popularity, prestige, opulence, etc., lacks love and outgoingness. It is love that causes the soul to expand, impart riches, usefulness, joy and satisfaction,” writes Dr. William Hendriksen.

“Selfishness causes the soul to contract; love makes it expand, enriches it, fills it to overflowing with assurance, peace and joy. Do not seek to possess the whole world. That will mean loss. Leave the matter of receiving a reward to the Son of Man. He, at His coming, will reward every man according to his deeds.”

Soli deo Gloria!

“For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:25 ESV)

A particular figure of speech in grammar pertains to today’s text. It is called an oxymoron. An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction (e.g. faith unfaithful kept him falsely true). The oxymoron forces together two terms which are seemingly incompatible.

Jesus taught His disciples that whoever would save his life would lose it. To save (σῴζω; sozo) means to deliver a life from death. To lose (ἀπόλλυμι; apollymi) means to utterly destroy or kill resulting in death. The irony is clear. Sinful man’s attempts to deliver themselves from the penalty of sin, which is eternal damnation, results in just that; eternal damnation.

Conversely, whoever loses his life for the Lord’s sake would find it. To find (εὑρίσκω; heurisko) means to attain and to achieve. Those who understand that they are destined for eternal death will, by grace alone through faith alone in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone, attain salvation from damnation.  

Who are some biblical characters that fit the former category as eternal losers? These include, but are not limited to, the following: Cain (Gen.4:1-8; I John 3:12), Ahab and Jezebel (I Kings 21), Haman (Esther 3:1-5; 5:9-14), King Herod I (Matt. 2:1-16), Judas Iscariot (Matt. 26:14-16; Luke 22:47-48) and the rich young ruler (Matt. 19:16-22).

In contrast, who are some of the Bible’s great finders? These include Judah (Gen. 44:18-34), Jonathan (I Sam. 18-20), the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37), Epaphroditus (Phil. 2:25-30) and Onesiphorus (2 Tim. 1:16; 4:19).

This is not to suggest that following Jesus is easy. On the contrary, Jesus made sure His disciple knew that it would be difficult. In the Upper Room Discouse (John 13-17) Jesus taught His disciples the following.

¹⁸ “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. ¹⁹ If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. ²⁰ Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. ²¹ But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. ²² If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. ²³ Whoever hates me hates my Father also. ²⁴ If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. ²⁵ But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’ (John 15:18–25 ESV)

Since the fallen world hates believers in Christ, we can take comfort knowing that we are in good and holy company. Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!

²⁴ “Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. ²⁵ For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:24–25 ESV)

In the immediate aftermath of Jesus’ rebuking Peter (Matt. 16:12-23) he began to instruct His disciples. He told them, ““If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” What exactly did Jesus mean by this statement?

What Jesus said was in the form of a cause and effect. The causal statement was “If anyone would come after me.” Anyone could be any certain someone: young or old, rich or poor, male or female, slave or free. To come (ἔρχομαι; erchomai) means to arrive at a destination or to one’s senses. The arrival of any individual Jesus said was not to a place, but rather to a person; Himself.

However, Jesus taught that there was a condition if anyone would seek to follow Him. The effect condition to the corresponding cause was “…let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

To deny (ἀπαρνέομαι; aparneomai) is a command to be personally obeyed. It means to utterly reject oneself as the source of salvation. There is no self-salvation for the believer in Jesus Christ except faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

“To deny oneself means to renounce the old self, the self as it is apart from regenerating grace. A person who denies himself gives up all reliance on whatever he is by nature, and depends for salvation on God alone,” explains Dr. William Hendriksen. “He no longer seeks to promote his own predominately selfish interests but has become wrapped up in the cause of promoting the glory of God in his own and in every life and also in every sphere of endeavor.”

The best interpretation of Matthew 16:24 is Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Such an individual is also commanded to take up his cross.  To take up (αἴρω; airo) means to carry and lift something. The something in mind is his own cross. Jesus previously declared this same statement to His disciples in Matthew 10:38.

“To them it would have evoked a picture of a violent, degrading death. He was demanding total commitment from them—even unto physical death—and making this call to full surrender a part of the message they were to proclaim to others. This same call to life-or-death devotion to Christ is repeated in Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23; 14:27. For those who come to Christ with self-renouncing faith, there will be true and eternal life (Matt. 10:39),” explains Dr. John MacArthur.

Finally, such an individual who denies self-salvation and takes up a total commitment to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord is commanded to follow. To follow (ἀκολουθέω; akoloutheo) means to obey.

“One follows Christ by trusting in him, walking in his footsteps (I Peter 2:21), obeying his commandments out of gratitude for salvation through him and being willing even to suffer in his cause.” says Dr. Hendriksen. “Only then, when he is willing and ready to do this, can he truly be Christ’s disciple.”

Jesus’ call to follow Him remains the same. It is no different in the 21^st century than it was in 1^st century. Jesus demands total self-renunciation and total Christ focused exaltation. May this be said of us.

Soli deo Gloria!

²¹ “From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. ²² And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” ²³ But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” (Matthew 16:21–23 ESV)

Following Peter’s confession and Jesus’ commission to not only Peter but also the other disciples, the Lord from that time on began to personally, actively and infinitely show them what awaited Him. He made known to the disciples three primary truths.

First, Jesus made known to the disciples that He must go to Jerusalem. Second, the reason Jesus had to go to Jerusalem was to suffer many things from the elders, chief priests and scribes. Third, Jesus told His disciples that He would be killed. Finally, Jesus told His disciples He would rise from the dead.

As he often did, Peter took the initiative in responding to Jesus’ comments. To begin with, Peter took Jesus aside to have a private conversation. Then, Peter rebuked Jesus several times. To rebuke (ἐπιτιμάω; epitamo) means to reprove, scold and reprimand. The apostle, knowing full well who Jesus is, rebukes God. If Peter‘s confession of Jesus as the Christ was him at his best, this scene is the apostle at his worst.

Peter was literally saying ‘May God be merciful to you in sparing you from having to undergo this experience’—‘God forbid it, may it not happen.’

“For Peter, the very idea of messiahship, which he had just now ascribed to Jesus, excluded that of suffering and death, violent death at that,” explains Dr. William Hendriksen.  

Jesus’ reaction was swift and sure. There was no ambiguity in the Lord’s meaning. He turned to face Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan!”  In effect Jesus was commanding Peter to depart from Him. Why? It was because what Peter intimated, however sincere, was of the Devil. It was a satanic idea that would hinder Jesus’ purpose for coming to this world (Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 2:8-11, 22-32; Phil. 2:5-11).

Jesus added, “You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

“Jesus immediately recognizes the trap Satan is setting. Not for a moment does He entertain the devil’s suggestion. From God’s point of view it was necessary for the Savior to suffer, die, rise again, etc. in order to save His people,” states Dr. Hendriksen. “From the human point of view the two concepts Messiah and suffering were wholly incompatible. Peter, allowing himself to be influenced by Satan, was speaking from the foolishly human point of view. He did not realize that he was asking for his own eternal damnation”

What of people today? There are those who think that Jesus was a good moral teacher, a prophet or a non-violent revolutionary who did not die the cross, let alone resurrected from the dead. They admire His teachings they like. However, they reject the truth He spoke concerning His death and resurrection and its implications of the sinner’s need for a substitutionary atonement from the penalty, power and eventual presence of sin.

Peter would later write, “⁴ As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, ⁵ you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ⁶ For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” ⁷ So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” ⁸ and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.” (1 Peter 2:4–8 ESV)  

What was a rock of offense for Peter would later become a precious cornerstone. What about you?

Soli deo Gloria!  

²¹ “From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. ²² And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” ²³ But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” (Matthew 16:21–23 ESV)

“This phrase (From that time) marks a new phase of Jesus’ public ministry. Matthew turns from Jesus’ public proclamation of the kingdom’s near approach to His careful instruction of the disciples that the kingdom must come through His death and resurrection,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.

Following Peter’s confession and Jesus’ commission to not only Peter but also the other disciples, the Lord from that time on began to personally, actively and infinitely show them what awaited Him. He made known to the disciples three primary truths.

First, Jesus made known to the disciples that He must go to Jerusalem. However, His reason for going to Jerusalem was not for a vacation or to visit friends and family. He had to go to the capital city. Jesus used the word must (δεῖ; dei) meaning absolutely necessary.

“He (Jesus) must satisfy the demands of the law, that is, He must pay the penalty for His people’s sin in perfect obedience to His Father’s will and in fulfillment of prophecy (Matt. 20:28; Mark 10:45; Luke 12:50; 13:33; 22:37; 24:26, 27, 44; John 1:29; 17:4; 2 Cor. 5:21; Isaiah 52:13-53:12),” states Dr. William Hendriksen.

Second, the reason Jesus had to go to Jerusalem was to suffer many things from the elders, chief priests and scribes. To suffer (πάσχω; pascho) means to undergo an experience of pain. Jesus knew what was before Him. The elders, chief priests and scribes refer to the Jewish religious leaders of the day and they were going to make Jesus suffer.

Third, Jesus told His disciples that He would be killed (ἀποκτείνω; apokteino). This does not refer to a natural death from a disease or old age. Rather, it means to die by the forceful action of another. Jesus knew He would be the passive recipient of the Jews and Romans forceful, active and murderous behavior against Him (Acts 2:22-23). They were going to kill Him.

Finally, Jesus told His disciple He would rise from the dead. To be raised (ἐγείρω; egeiro) means to be restored to physical life. This would be by the active action of the Holy Spirit upon the passive corpse of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:1-4; 6:10-11).

“Jesus had made clear to The Twelve that He was indeed the long awaited Messiah. Therefore the next lesson was now very definitely in order. He must now convey to this little company the shocking truth, which at first seemed entirely unbelievable, that this Messiah must suffer and be killed,” explains Dr. Hendriksen.

“To be sure, Jesus added ‘and the third day be raised up’ but it is doubtful whether His first clear announcement of the resurrection even fully registered in the disciples’ minds, so utterly painful and inconceivable did the news of their Master’s fast approaching suffering and death seem to them.”

What would be even more shocking was Jesus’ next statementto Peter. We will examine this next time.

Soli deo Gloria!

¹⁷ “And Jesus answered 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 tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. ¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:17–19 (ESV)

Following Peter’s confession of Christ (Matt.16:13-16), Jesus pronounced an oracle of weal, or blessing, upon His disciple. Simon received not only a unique commissioning from the Lord, but also a significant name change. It was then Jesus gave Peter, and the other disciples, four promises.

First, Jesus promised He would build His church and the gates of hell would not prevail against it. To prevail (κατισχύσουσιν; katischysousin) means to dominate and overpower.

Second, Jesus promised to give Peter the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Jesus stated He would appoint Peter, and also the other apostles, an important foundational responsibility as He built His church. What did the Lord mean by using this metaphor?

Keys (κλείς; kleis) is normally an instrument for locking and unlocking doors. It is a means of entrance or the power of entrance. Metaphorically, Jesus used this term to refer to the entrance to the kingdom of heaven. Jesus gave Peter a singular responsibility that would involve people entering into a covenant relationship with Christ as Savior and Lord.

Thirdly, involved in having the authority of the keys, Jesus further instructed Peter that “whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Binding and loosing respectively mean forbidding and permitting.

“This metaphor specifies how the apostles are foundational to the church. They have been given binding and loosing powers of ‘keys’ which lock and unlock doors. The apostles open the kingdom to those who share Peter’s confession and exclude those who will receive their testimony to Christ (Matthew 10:14-15),” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul. “The apostolic foundation of the church is laid in the written Word of God., the Scriptures, which are now the keys of Christ’s authority in the church (Ephesians 2:20; 3:5), through the power of the Spirit (Matt. 18:18).”  

“The one who ‘has the keys’ (Rev. 1:18; 3:7) of the kingdom of heaven determines who should be admitted and who must be refused admission. That the apostles as a group exercised this right is clear from the entire book of Acts. All did this on an equal basis (Acts 4:33): there was no boss or superintendent. Nevertheless, as has already been shown, the influence of Peter was outstanding. By means of the preaching of the Gospel he was opening the doors to some (Acts 2:38-39; 3:16-20; 4:12; 10:34-43), closing them to others (3:23),” states Dr. William Hendriksen.

Peter was the first apostle to share the Gospel to the Jews (Acts 2), to affirm the Gospel preached to the Samaritans by Phillip (Acts 8), and the first apostle to preach the Gospel to a Gentile (Acts 10). Peter led the way in exercising the power of the keys.

This divine responsibility remains for each and every believer in Christ. The church is God’s witness (Acts 1:8). May each of us be found faithful and never ashamed of the Gospel (Romans 1:16-17).

Soli deo Gloria!

¹⁷ “And Jesus answered 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 tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. ¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” ²⁰ Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.” (Matthew 16:17–20 (ESV)

Following Peter’s confession of Christ (Matt.16:13-16), Jesus pronounced an oracle of weal, or blessing, upon His disciple. Simon received not only a unique commissioning from the Lord, but also a significant name change. It was then Jesus gave Peter, and the other disciples, four promises.

First, Jesus promised He would build His church and the gates of hell would not prevail against it. To prevail (κατισχύσουσιν; katischysousin) means to dominate and overpower. Dr. Wendall G. Johnston, the second president of Detroit Bible College renamed William Tyndale College, preached this text in chapel one year. He remarked that while Jesus promised the gates of hell would not prevail against the church, Jesus didn’t mean that Satan wouldn’t try. I have always remembered that observation.

“Gates of Hell, by metonymy represents Satan and his legions as it were storming out of hell gates in order to attack and destroy the church. What we have here is an oft-repeated promise to the victory of Christ’s church over the forces of evil,” explains Dr. William Hendriksen. (See John 16:33; Romans 16:20; Ephesians 6:1-13; Revelation 12:13-16; 17:14; 20:7-10).  

“Jesus promised that He would always cause His people to triumph over the devil and his army. The promise is given to Christian soldiers.”

 “When Peter confessed that Jesus is the Christ, Peter clearly affirmed that Jesus is Israel’s Messiah, the One of whom the prophets foretold throughout the Old Testament. Peter also grasps the fact that Jesus is the Son of God and the one in whom all of Israel’s hopes are fulfilled. While Jesus responds to Peter’s confession of faith with words of blessing: “blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah,” Jesus goes on to extend His blessing to His people. This can be seen in the fact that Jesus promises that the “gates of hell” (the power of Satan) will not prevail against His church,” explains Dr. Kim Riddlebarger, pastor of Christ Reformed Church, Anaheim, CA.

How great to know Jesus prevails over the world, the flesh and the devil. Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo  Gloria!

¹⁷ “And Jesus answered 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 tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. ¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” ²⁰ Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.” (Matthew 16:17–20 (ESV)

Following Peter’s confession of Christ (Matt.16:13-16), Jesus pronounced an oracle of weal, or blessing, upon His disciple. Simon received not only a unique commissioning from the Lord, but also a significant name change.

First, Jesus said, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.” Jesus wanted Simon to understand that it was not his innate ability that permitted him to comprehend and confess Jesus as Lord. Rather, it was through a sovereign revelation from God the Father.

“Jesus emphasizes that ‘flesh and blood,’ that is, merely human calculation, cognition, intuition, or tradition, could never have produced in this disciple’s heart and mind the insight into the sublime truth that he had just now gloriously professed,” explains Dr. William Hendricksen.

“To this disciple, and to all those similarly minded, He, this Father in heaven, had revealed (Matt. 11:25-26); and this not necessarily directly, by whispering something into the ear, but by blessing to the heart the means of grace, not the least of these means being the lessons which issued from the words and works of Jesus.”

Second, Jesus exclaimed, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church.” What did Jesus mean by this statement? There are many interpretations, but only one true meaning.

Some scholars say the passage is unauthentic and was never in the original text. Others argue this is biblical evidence that Simon/Peter was the first pope. Still others explain that Jesus’ statement does not implicate Simon at all.

The preferred interpretation is that Jesus said to Simon that he was a petros (little rock). Then, on this petra (large rock or bedrock), referring to Jesus, the Son of God, who God the Father revealed to Peter and who he confessed, the Lord would build His church.

“The word for “Peter,” Petros, means a small stone (John 1:42). Jesus used a play on words here with petra, which means a foundation boulder (cf. Matt. 7:24–25). Since the NT makes it abundantly clear that Christ is both the foundation (Acts 4:11–12; 1 Cor. 3:11) and the head (Eph. 5:23) of the church, it is a mistake to think that here he is giving either of those roles to Peter. There is a sense in which the apostles played a foundational role in the building of the church (Eph. 2:20), but the role of primacy is reserved for Christ alone, not assigned to Peter. So Jesus’ words here are best interpreted as a simple play on words in that a boulder-like truth came from the mouth of one who was called a small stone. Peter himself explains the imagery in his first epistle: the church is built of “living stones” (1 Pet. 2:5) who, like Peter, confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Christ himself is the “cornerstone” (1 Pet. 2:6–7)” states Dr. John MacArthur.

We will examine what else Jesus had to say to Peter when next we meet. Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!