Why was Peter rebuked by Jesus? He was not setting his mind on the things of God, but on the things of man. (23) God won’t even accept our love if we are not minding God’s things. From verse 24 (“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”), we know the motive for Peter preventing Jesus going to Jerusalem to die was partly because Peter didn’t want to die. It is very easy for us to cover up our selfish motive by a noble one.
Mike
From ch 14, Jesus focus on His disciples. He let them help Him in feeding the 5000+ (ch 14), He walks on the lake to the disciples (ch 14), He teaches them about the Pharisees (ch 15), and let them help Him in feeding the 4000+ (ch 15). In 16:1-12, Jesus teaches them how to focus their own mind on what is the more important thing. They forget to take bread on their journey across the lake (Matthew 16:5), but Jesus thinks they are wasting their energy to talk about that (Matthew 16:8). After seeing the miracles of feeding the multitudes, food should not be a concern to the disciples (Matthew 16:11). The Pharisees cannot interpret the miracles because of their hardening of their heart (Matthew 16:1-4),but Jesus wants their disciples to be able to interpret His parable about the yeast of bread (Matthew 16:6). Therefore, I see 2 guidelines of interpretation here: do not harden your heart, and focus your heart on the things on heaven.
Audrey
Mike
From ch 14, Jesus focus on His disciples. He let them help Him in feeding the 5000+ (ch 14), He walks on the lake to the disciples (ch 14), He teaches them about the Pharisees (ch 15), and let them help Him in feeding the 4000+ (ch 15). In 16:1-12, Jesus teaches them how to focus their own mind on what is the more important thing. They forget to take bread on their journey across the lake (Matthew 16:5), but Jesus thinks they are wasting their energy to talk about that (Matthew 16:8). After seeing the miracles of feeding the multitudes, food should not be a concern to the disciples (Matthew 16:11). The Pharisees cannot interpret the miracles because of their hardening of their heart (Matthew 16:1-4),but Jesus wants their disciples to be able to interpret His parable about the yeast of bread (Matthew 16:6). Therefore, I see 2 guidelines of interpretation here: do not harden your heart, and focus your heart on the things on heaven.
Audrey
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