Commentary on the Four Gospel Books
The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ
G078 The Words of Eternal Life
Peter Confesses the Lord Jesus as the Christ
Matthew 16:13-20; Mark 8:27-30; Luke 9:18-21; John 6:60-71

Download PDF:
https://od.lk/f/MV8zNDM5NDYwNTBf
https://od.lk/fl/MV8xODI0MzMzNl8

Please share this website with all your friends and family members. Thank you, and God bless.

All the Bible verses quoted in this article are from the King James Version, unless otherwise noted.

Matthew 16:13-20

13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

14 And they said, Some say that Thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living *God.

17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father which is in heaven.

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

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.

20 Then charged He His disciples that they should tell no man that He was Jesus the Christ.

Mark 8:27-30

27 And Jesus went out, and His disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way He asked His disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?

28 And they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.

29 And He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto Him, Thou art the Christ.

30 And He charged them that they should tell no man of Him.

Luke 9:18-21

18 And it came to pass, as He was alone praying, His disciples were with Him: and He asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am?

19 They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again.

20 He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of *God.

21 And He straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing;

John 6:60-71

60 Many therefore of His disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

61 When Jesus knew in himself that His disciples murmured at it, He said unto them, Doth this offend you?

62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where He was before?

63 It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray Him.

65 And He said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto Me, except it were given unto him of My Father.

66 From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him.

67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

68 Then Simon Peter answered Him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.

69 And we believe and are sure that Thou art that Christ, the Son of the Living *God.

70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?

71 He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray Him, being one of the twelve.

In this lesson, we will study together the words of the Apostle Peter as he confesses the Lord Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God, and that in Christ are the words of eternal life.

Although all four Gospels record Peter’s confession of the Lord Jesus as the Christ, the Apostle John records the event in a different instance from the one recorded by Matthew, Mark, and Luke. In other words, there were at least two occasions where the Apostle Peter confessed the Lord Jesus as the Christ in two different circumstances. The first instance, recorded only by John, took place in Capernaum, the day after the Lord Jesus performed the miracle of multiplying bread and fish for the first time to feed over 5,000 people. The second instance, recorded by Matthew, Mark, and Luke, took place in the region of Caesarea Philippi, a few days after the Lord Jesus performed the miracle of multiplying bread and fish for the second time to feed over 4,000 people, when He asked His disciples who they said He was.

John 6:60-62

60 Many therefore of His disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

61 When Jesus knew in himself that His disciples murmured at it, He said unto them, Doth this offend you?

62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where He was before?

Matthew and John were both among the twelve original apostles of the Lord Jesus. They were frequently present with the Lord. However, the event that took place in Capernaum the day after the Lord Jesus performed the first miracle of multiplying bread and fish to feed over 5,000 people, which is detailed by John in John 6:22-71, was not recorded by Matthew. The reason for this is unclear. There is no indication that Mark and Luke were informed about it either. Perhaps the Apostle Matthew was not present at that time, and he might have been visiting his family in Capernaum.

After the Lord Jesus taught the large crowd about the bread of life, as recorded by John in John 6:26-58, many of His disciples complained about His teachings. They found His words difficult to accept and believe. The term “hard” here means hard to accept or hard to believe, as it was understood literally rather than figuratively. Many of the Lord’s disciples struggled with the teaching about the bread of life because they understood it literally, thinking they needed to eat His flesh and drink His blood in a literal sense to gain eternal life. Additionally, the Lord Jesus’ claim to be the bread that came down from heaven was also hard for them to accept.

They murmured among themselves about the Lord Jesus’ teachings without directly asking Him for clarification. The Holy Spirit revealed to the Lord Jesus their murmuring, so He questioned them, asking if His teachings had caused them to stumble. And because they could not accept that He had come from heaven, He asked them, “What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?”

The phrase “what and if” implies whether they would still be offended. The Lord’s statement does not mean that those who were murmuring about His teachings would actually witness His ascension. It is merely a hypothetical situation presented by the Lord to illustrate another truth, the truth of His ascension. Certainly, if they were to witness the Lord’s ascension, they would recognize Him as the true Christ and understand that all His words are true.

John 6:63-64

63 It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray Him.

All actions of God are by the will of *God, through the word of the Word, and by the power of the Spirit. Everything coming into existence from nothing, everything that exists, and everything that is restored after being corrupted by sin is all by the will of *God, the word of the Word, and the power of the Spirit.

The life of all creatures is sustained by the power of the Spirit. Both physical and spiritual life in humans are also by the power of the Spirit. After the first human, Adam, sinned, humanity experienced death both physically and spiritually. This death is passed down through human generations. Physical death is the decay and frailty of the flesh, which eventually separates from the soul and spirit. At that point, the flesh returns to the dust, awaiting the resurrection to face final judgment for all sins committed. The spirit is the spiritual body that returns to *God (Ecclesiastes 12:7). The soul is temporarily held in the Hades, awaiting reunification with the resurrected flesh to face final judgment (Luke 16:19-31; Revelation 20:11-15). Spiritual death means the separation of the soul and spirit from God, losing communion with God until repentance and acceptance of God’s salvation occur.

“The Spirit that quickeneth” means that for those who sincerely repent of their sins and accept God’s salvation, God the Spirit revives their spirit, reconnecting them with God. As a result, they receive knowledge and power from God to live a life pleasing to *God, delighting in and keeping His commandments.

“The flesh profiteth nothing” means that human efforts alone cannot bring about resurrection for the physical or spiritual body. All human endeavors based on religious teachings do not solve the problem of sin. No one can stop sinning until they sincerely repent, accept *God’s salvation, and have their spirit revived by the Spirit, receiving the power of God.

“The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” means that these words speak of spiritual nourishment, helping humanity receive the salvation of *God. These words cannot be interpreted literally. They imply that the physical body of the Lord Jesus had to die to bear the penalty for humanity’s sins. His innocent blood, that is, His holy life, had to be shed to cleanse the sinful nature of those who believe in His atoning death. This means that the very life of the Lord Jesus will flow into those who believe in His atoning death, replacing the sinful life inherited from Adam. Therefore, the Apostle Paul said:

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

The death of the Lord Jesus is called the atoning death for humanity because He died to bear the penalty for humanity’s sins. He was born as a human but did not sin. He was also not tainted by the sinful nature inherited from Adam, as He was conceived by God in the womb of the Virgin Mary.

The Lord Jesus, through the inspiration of God the Spirit, knew in advance that among His disciples, many would not believe in Him and some would even betray Him. We must always remember that when the Word of God became flesh and was born as Jesus, He was fully human. He did not use the attributes of God. Everything He did beyond human capability was due to the power of God through God the Spirit, filling Him with divine strength.

The fact that the Lord Jesus knew in advance that some disciples would not believe in Him and would betray Him, yet He still allowed them to follow Him until they chose to turn away or betray Him, shows that *God always gives everyone the opportunity to accept His salvation. He does not wish for anyone to perish. A person perishes because they choose not to accept *God’s salvation. The Word of God affirms: *God “wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4).

John 6:65-66

65 And He said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto Me, except it were given unto him of My Father.

66 From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him.

Although many people come to the Lord Jesus, they do not truly repent of their sins and believe in His atoning death. They may come to Him or follow Him because they see the miracles He performs or because they want Him to meet their material needs. Today, many claim to be disciples of the Lord Jesus because they were born into a family associated with a religious organization bearing His name. Others claim to be His disciples to attain positions within such a religious organization. Some join a religious organization bearing His name to receive aid from the organization or to marry someone within that organization.

Although God desires for everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth, He only brings those who genuinely seek salvation to the Lord Jesus. This truth never changes.

Since the Lord Jesus declared that He is the bread that came down from heaven and called people to eat His flesh and drink His blood to receive eternal life, many of His disciples no longer followed Him. Today, many people do not continue to follow the Lord because they do not want to obey God’s commandments. They prefer to live according to their own desires, satisfying the cravings of the flesh in this life, and thus face eternal destruction.

John 6:67-69

67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

68 Then Simon Peter answered Him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.

69 And we believe and are sure that Thou art that Christ, the Son of the Living *God.

Perhaps after the Lord Jesus spoke the words recorded in verse 65, many of His disciples left. Therefore, He said to the twelve apostles, “Will ye also go away?” The Bible often uses the term “The Twelve” to refer to the original twelve apostles of the Lord Jesus. The Apostle Peter quickly responded on behalf of the other apostles. Peter’s response highlighted two truths:

• The Lord Jesus has the words of eternal life. This means that those who believe in and follow the words of the Lord Jesus will receive eternal life. The term “eternal” in the original Greek (G166) means never-ending.

• The Lord Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living *God. This means that the Lord Jesus was born in human flesh by the Living *God to accomplish the redemption of humanity by offering His own life as a sacrifice for sin. The title “the Living *God” means the self-existent and eternal *God.

Comparing this confession with the second confession recorded by Matthew, Mark, and Luke, we see that this confession adds the truth: The Christ has the words of eternal life.

John 6:70-71

70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?

71 He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray Him, being one of the twelve.

The Lord Jesus affirmed that He had chosen twelve men as apostles, even though He knew that one of them was a “devil.”

The term “διάβολος” (diabolos) /dee-ab’-ol-os/ (G1228) in the original Greek of the Bible means: having the characteristic of slandering or making false accusations. This is the characteristic of the sinful angels. Therefore, this term is used in the Bible as a noun to refer to the sinful angels and is translated as “devil.”

The Lord Jesus called Judas Iscariot a devil not because he had the characteristic of slandering or making false accusations, but because he sided with the devil when he betrayed the Lord. The Bible records that, on the night Judas Iscariot betrayed the Lord, Satan entered him (Luke 22:3; John 13:27). Later, in the early Church in Jerusalem, Ananias and Sapphira sinned by lying to the Holy Spirit due to their greed. The Apostle Peter recognized that Satan had filled Ananias’s heart (Acts 5:3).

We do not know how the twelve apostles reacted when the Lord said that one of them was a devil. We also do not know whether each one examined themselves.

Matthew 16:13-14

13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

14 And they said, Some say that Thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

Mark 8:27-28

27 And Jesus went out, and His disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way He asked His disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?

28 And they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.

Luke 9:18-19

18 And it came to pass, as He was alone praying, His disciples were with Him: and He asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am?

19 They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again.

After healing the blind man in Bethsaida, the Lord Jesus, along with His disciples, went into the region of Caesarea Philippi.

This was a small town but a strategically important location. It was situated north of the Decapolis, at the foot of Mount Hermon, within Syrian territory. Today, Caesarea Philippi is just a historical site in the Golan Heights, under Israeli control. The population of Caesarea Philippi during the time of the Lord Jesus was likely less than 10,000, with the people primarily engaged in agriculture and livestock. The town had the Temple of Caesar, built by Herod Philip, the son of Herod the Great, to honor Caesar Augustus, the first Roman emperor to use the title Caesar. From then on, Roman emperors were called Caesars.

The Lord Jesus did not enter the city of Caesarea Philippi but went into the surrounding villages. On the way, He asked His disciples about what people said concerning who He was. Luke added the detail that the Lord Jesus posed this question to His disciples after He had withdrawn to pray.

The disciples informed the Lord that there were many differing opinions. Some said that the Lord Jesus was John the Baptist, implying that He was John the Baptist who had been beheaded by King Herod but had come back to life. Others believed that the Lord Jesus was the Prophet Elijah, as the Old Testament spoke of the return of Elijah (Malachi 4:5-6). Some thought that Jesus was the Prophet Jeremiah, possibly because Jeremiah prophesied about the destruction and rebuilding of Jerusalem, as well as the restoration of Israel. There were also those who thought that Jesus was a prophet from the Old Testament who had come back to life. However, no one said that He was the Christ, the Messiah promised in the Old Testament.

Among the three accounts mentioned, Matthew’s record is likely the most in line with the words of the Lord Jesus and the responses of the disciples, as he was a direct witness.

Matthew 16:15-16

15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living *God.

Mark 8:29

29 And He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto Him, Thou art the Christ.

Luke 9:20

20 He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of *God.

The Lord Jesus asked His disciples directly whom they said He was. The Apostle Peter quickly responded, acknowledging, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living *God.”

When Peter said, “Thou art the Christ,” he meant that Jesus was the promised Prophet, Savior, and King foretold in the Old Testament.

As a Prophet, He proclaimed about *God, the Kingdom of *God, and the salvation that *God offers to humanity. As the Savior, He is the high priest who offers His own life to *God as a sacrifice for the atonement of humanity’s sins. As King, He reigns over those who accept *God’s salvation and will rule over the Kingdom of *God.

Specifically for the people of Israel, the Lord Jesus fulfilled the following ministries:

• Proclaiming about *God, the salvation of *God, and the Kingdom of *God.

• Executing salvation for the people of Israel, saving them from the power and consequences of sin.

• Bringing the people of Israel from all places back to the promised land of Canaan.

• Providing them with healing for all diseases and restoring their spiritual well-being.

• Granting them rebirth and new life.

• Bestowing peace and justice upon them.

• Establishing an eternal kingdom of Israel ruled by King David.

“The Son of the Living *God” means being born of the Self-Existent and Eternal God. He took on human flesh from a woman, referred to as the seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15). However, He was not infected by the sinful nature of Adam. He did not commit any sin Himself. He was entirely innocent and thus could serve as a sin offering to atone for humanity’s sins.

“Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe Me?” (John 8:46)

“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)

“Who did no sin, neither was guile found inHis mouth.” (1 Peter 2:22)

He was fully human, so He could bear the penalty for humanity’s sins. He was also fully God, with His life being limitless, so He could die in place of everyone.

Matthew 16:17

17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father which is in heaven.

The compound term “flesh and blood” is often used in the Bible to refer to the physical body of humanity and, more broadly, to humanity itself. The Lord Jesus wanted Peter to understand that his confession was not taught by any human being but was revealed to him by *God.

Jesus had the habit of referring to *God as “My Father, which is in heaven.” *God is the Father of the human Jesus, but in His divine nature, the Lord Jesus is God the Word who is self-existent and eternal with *God (John 1:1-2).

All who truly repent of their sins and accept the atonement of the Lord Jesus will have *God reveal to them in their spirit that “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living *God.” The Holy Spirit will help them understand what it means for Jesus to be the Christ and the Son of the Living *God. For the Holy Spirit is the one who leads God’s people into all truth.

Matthew 16:18

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

The name Peter in the original Greek of the Bible is “Πέτρος” (petros) /pet’-ros/ (G4074), which means “stone, rock” and is a masculine noun. The rock on which the Lord Jesus said He would build His Church, in the original Greek of the Bible, is “πέτρα” (petra) /pet’-ra/ (G4073), which means “a mass of rock, a crag,” and is a feminine noun. Therefore, the Lord Jesus did not mean that He would build His Church on Peter, as interpreted by the Catholic Church. Instead, Jesus referred to Peter’s confession, his faith that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living *God, as the rock on which He would build His Church.

The term “Church” in the original Greek of the Bible is “ἐκκλησία” (ekklēsia) /ek-klay-see’-ah/ (G1577), which literally means an assembly of citizens called out from their homes to gather in a public place. The figurative meaning used in the Bible is the gathering of citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven called out from the world to assemble anywhere and worship God together. There is only one true Church, established by the Lord Jesus, which is the collective of all those who have sincerely repented of their sins, accepted the atoning death of Christ, and wholeheartedly obey the commandments of God. The Church is not a religious organization bearing the name of the Lord. Denominations are merely religious organizations established by humans and are not the Church.

The term “hell” was translated from the noun Hades (G86) and is used to refer to the place where the souls of the dead and the fallen angels from the time of Noah are temporarily confined. After the resurrection of Christ, He brought the souls of those who belonged to God out of Hades and into heaven. Currently, Hades contains only the souls of the dead who do not belong to God and the fallen angels [1].

“The gates of hell” symbolize the power of those opposing the Church. In ancient times, cities were surrounded by walls with gates for entry and exit. During warfare, the gates of a city would be opened for soldiers to go out and attack the enemy or closed tightly to defend against attacks. Revelation 1:18 records Christ’s statement that He holds the keys to Hades and death. Therefore, the Church established by the Lord will overcome Hades and death. Hades and death cannot prevail over the Church. The Church will also triumph over all attacks from those belonging to Hades, including non-believers and fallen angels, also known as demons.

When Peter confessed that Jesus was the Christ, the Church had not yet been established. Many believe that the people of Israel were the Church of the Lord in the Old Testament. However, the people of Israel were not the Church of the Lord but rather a symbolic representation of it. Jesus Himself affirmed that He would build His Church. This means that when the Lord spoke these words, He had not yet established the Church. The Church was established by the Lord Jesus only after He had completed the atoning death, had risen, and had ascended to heaven. The Church was established on the Day of Pentecost in the year 27. A day very soon, which could occur at any time, Christ will return to take the Church out of the world before *God executes judgment on the people of Israel and the entire world. This judgment will occur during the seven years of the End Times, which is the final week that *God has appointed for the people of Israel.

The Church does not replace the people of Israel any more than the Kingdom of Heaven replaces the nation of Israel. The Church includes people from all nations and is a distinct entity from the people of Israel. The Church is a collective of those whom God has set apart to co-reign with Christ in the Kingdom of Heaven. The nation of Israel, like other nations, will also belong to the Kingdom of Heaven. In the Eternal Kingdom, the kings will bring their glory and the glory of the nations they rule into the holy city of Jerusalem to honor God (Revelation 21:24, 26).

Matthew 16:19

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.

The statement of the Lord Jesus recorded in Matthew 16:19 is not a pronouncement specifically for the Apostle Peter, nor is it for a representative of the twelve apostles. It is a statement for the representative of all who belong to the Church. The Lord Jesus will establish His Church on the confession of faith shared by all who have the same confession of faith as Peter. Therefore, the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, along with the authority to bind and loose, are given to every member of the Church.

The “Kingdom of Heaven” begins with the Church. The “keys of the Kingdom of Heaven” are the proclamation of the Gospel and the teaching of God’s Word to those who accept the Gospel, guiding many into the Kingdom of Heaven. Proclaiming the Gospel informs the hearers about *God’s salvation and gives them the opportunity to accept the Gospel. Teaching God’s Word to those who have accepted the Gospel helps them grow in faith, in the knowledge of God, and continue to live a holy life according to God’s Word. Everyone who belongs to the Church has the duty and responsibility to preach the Gospel to those who are not yet saved and to teach God’s Word to those who have accepted the Gospel.

The keys to the Kingdom of Heaven are in the hands of every member of the Church. The question is whether each person will utilize the authority that the Lord has given them. The people of God should earnestly preach the Gospel and fervently teach God’s Word to those who accept the Gospel.

“Whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth” and “whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth” refer both to the non-proclamation or proclamation of a certain truth from the Scriptures and to the forgiveness of sins and holding sins accountable. For those who do not wish to hear the Gospel, the people of God are not obligated to declare other truths from the Scriptures to them. This is what Jesus instructed the apostles and His disciples to do: “shake off the dust of your feet” (Matthew 10:14; Mark 6:11; Luke 9:5; 10:11). For those who commit sins without repentance, the Church has the authority to declare their sins and to expel them from fellowship (Matthew 18:17; 1 Corinthians 5:13). For those who are truly repentant, the Church has the authority to forgive and receive them back into the Church (2 Corinthians 2:5-11).

The two statements of the Lord Jesus quoted below help us understand the true meaning of Matthew 16:19.

“Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 18:18)

“Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.” (John 20:23)

The Catholic Church’s teaching, which asserts that the Lord Jesus’ statement in Matthew 16:19 granted Peter, the first pope of the Catholic Church, the authority to bind and loose in the Kingdom of Heaven, and that this authority has been passed down to subsequent popes, is not supported by Scripture. There is no place in the Bible that indicates that Jesus conferred the office of pope upon Peter. The Church, which was established by the Lord Jesus, does not have the office of pope.

Matthew 16:20

20 Then charged He His disciples that they should tell no man that He was Jesus the Christ.

Mark 8:30

30 And He charged them that they should tell no man of Him.

Luke 9:21

21 And He straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing;

After Peter’s confession and Jesus’ statement about establishing the Church, the Lord Jesus strictly forbade His disciples from telling others that He was the Christ. The reason for this was likely that the time had not yet come. An early proclamation of Jesus as the Christ would have led to:

• The Roman authorities and Jewish leaders obstructing His ministry.

• The people misunderstood Him as a political and military leader who would overthrow the Roman Empire and restore a physical kingdom of Israel.

Jesus wanted to focus His time and effort on preaching the Gospel. When a person understands and believes the Gospel, they will no longer misunderstand His ministry through the title of Messiah, that is, the Christ.

We conclude this lesson here.

May the Holy Spirit guide us into all the truths of God’s Word (John 16:13). May the Word of God sanctify us (John 17:17). May the Faithful *God of Peace Himself sanctify our spirit, soul, and body entirely, without blame (1 Thessalonians 5:23), at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, our Beloved Savior. Amen!

Timothy Christian Huynh
Priscilla Christian Huynh
09/07/2024

Notes:

[1] https://preachingfromthebible.net/ten-reflections-on-the-final-judgment/

About Using “*God” and “holy spirit”

Wherever the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts of the Bible uses a definite article with a noun to denote GOD, we translate it into English as *God or “the God” to refer to God the Father. We understand that “God,” without a definite article, was used as a collective noun for all and any of the three Persons of the Godhead. And “God,” with a definite article, was used to refer to God the Father.

In the Greek manuscripts of the New Testament, the term “holy spirit” (πνευματι αγιω) without the definite article “the” (το) is used to denote the power of God, which is given by God the Holy Spirit. “The Holy Spirit” (το πνευματι το αγιω) is God, and “holy spirit” (πνευματι αγιω) is the power that comes from God.