By the very words in the phrase "Kingdom of Heaven," it should be obvious it would be a kingdom not of this world. Yet the traditions of the Jewish leadership had completely discounted that element in the Covenant of the Law. Having totally missed the implications of Messianic prophecies, they were utterly certain all they needed to seek was paradise on earth. Every spiritual issue was twisted into a mere earthly concern. Had Satan himself dispatched the Romans, granted some wealth and a decent harvest or two, they would gladly have placed him on David's throne. For this reason, the teachings of Jesus were incomprehensible to them.
Having heard of all these miracles, which to the national leaders in Jerusalem sounded very much like the false Messiah they expected, the Sanhedrin sent yet another delegation to Jesus. This time it included both Pharisees and Sadducees. The former we know to have arisen as a supposed revival of covenant faithfulness, but a concept long twisted by materialist assumptions. True, it was this the Law of Moses actually promised, and little more, but its purpose was far above that. However, the Pharisees were the primary force behind promoting the corrupt Talmudic expansions of Mosaic Law. We saw in the previous lesson how these expansions served to break the Law itself. The latter group were quite the opposite, though still thoroughly Hellenized. They embraced the spirit of the Law, proposing God was good and loving. Further, they so embraced the practical applications of Mosaic Law they denied the afterlife to which the Pharisees at least paid lip service. We end up with Pharisees who were conservative, legalistic, materialistic Hellenists, and Sadducees who were liberal, immoral, materialistic Hellenists.
Together, these two were deeply concerned with mere political matters as if it were an issue of holiness. Jesus was upsetting their applecart. So they proposed a test to examine a sample miracle to see if He was just faking it, somehow practicing some sleight of hand or something. Jesus refused, using a parable regarding wisdom. They knew all about the things of this world, but understood nothing of God's Word. The prophets had granted more than enough teaching and warnings, and Israel had resolutely turned away, like an adulterous wife. Having strayed so very far away from the Hebrew mystical understanding of God's creation, they no longer had the bare ability to hear from God. To drive the point home, Jesus referred to the experience of Jonah. On the one hand, Jonah represents the ultimate indictment of Israel's complete failure to take God's revelation to the world. Instead, their smug racism condemned all mankind to Hell. Jesus compare Himself to Jonah, in that He would be presumed dead for three days, then rise to take the message to the world. Jesus was correcting the mistakes of Israel, as exemplified by Jonah's attitude about his mission. It would be a mistake to think the delegation weren't stung by the reminder of their racist hatred.
On this occasion crossing the Galilee, the disciples realized they forgot to pack food. While they were discussing this, Jesus tossed them a parabolic line about the leaven of the Sanhedrin. Jewish teaching had been utterly worthless in embracing materialism, turning away from the Spirit. The Disciples missed the cue, by taking the comment from a materialist viewpoint. Jesus berated them, reminding them of the abundance of food He had produced twice. Even if they starved for a few days, it would hardly hinder their mission. This was the whole point of His comment.
The encounter with the delegation from Jerusalem must have brought to the forefront of Jesus' mind His impending suffering and death. They had taken a journey some 20 miles north toward Caesarea Philippi. As usual, we aren't told the ostensible purpose, which hardly matters, but the spiritual events which do matter. It was not a question of their knowledge, but their spiritual perception. First, we notice what the world thought of Jesus. The answers ranged all over the map of human thought. But what did the Disciples think? It was natural Peter should answer first, for he was even now the acknowledged leader among the Twelve, being the eldest, not to mention brash. In his brashness, he was altogether correct this time: Jesus was the promised Messiah, and the unique Son of God. His Master replied the truth of this answer was not a matter of humans, nor of human understanding. It was the truth of God Almighty. Peter was altogether certain of his answer, but it smacks of a child in school correctly quoting the textbook answer to a question he hardly understands. Time was so short, and there was so much they needed to grow to carry on this gospel ministry.
Still, Jesus is able to press the message with a sense of humor. Looking past the nit-picking debate over the meaning of the words in the Greek text of Matthew's Gospel, we see a Hebrew play on words which just barely comes across in English. Peter, the name Jesus gave His cousin, was both a joke and prophecy. If anyone was more likely to bluster and brag, then reverse himself repeatedly, it was Simon. Jesus called him "a stone." Later, it would be a fit name. Hebrew culture often presumed a man's name given at birth would predict his character, but a name given by one's lord upon vestment of an office was more a title, though often there might be a pun involved. In this setting, Jesus called attention to the joke, then added the image of Peter broken off from the foundation stone of this mighty confession of who Jesus was. With such a confession, Peter would be the first stone of a grand building (1 Peter 2:4-6), a massive congregation of souls committed to following Him.
The gates of a city were the not just a defense, but the place where the local wise men gathered to conduct the business of the city, especially in dispensing justice as a lower courts system. The justice system of Hades would not be able to stand in the face of God's truth as spoken by Peter. With such a declaration of faith, Peter -- or anyone else -- could execute the justice of God in this fallen world. With such an understanding, the congregation of Christ's followers would represent the King of Heaven in all the earth. Indeed, it would be for Peter to exercise the first use of Kingdom keys to open this same truth to those outside Israel living in Palestine. It was Peter who led the way in taking the message to the Diaspora at Pentecost, Samaritans (Acts 8:14-17) and finally to Gentiles (Acts 10). In Hebrew thinking, keys were not about authority to control as a ruler, but about giving access to the Ruler.
However, the time had not yet come to carry this declaration into the world. That had to wait for the carrying out of God's sentence against all sin. Here it was Jesus began to introduce to His Disciples just what sort of Messiah He was. The Jewish leadership were the very heart of opposition on this earth. In the end, they would kill Jesus. Yet, this would hardly be the end of the matter, for He would rise again the third day. Having already taken the mantle of junior leader, Peter pulled Jesus aside and insisted He stop saying such things. Brash as ever, the text indicates Peter was quite sharp in his rebuke. Jesus responded by warning Peter such thoughts made him an adversary, too. Peter was still trapped in dreams of a political kingdom on this earth, not thinking spiritually.
Indeed, Jesus pointedly said following Him required nailing this life to a cross. The image was shocking. Learning to let go of this world, not just our goods and our position, but all our hopes and dreams for this life, would be the most agonizing experience any of them could imagine. Yet it was the only way. Clinging to this existence guaranteed the loss of it and the soul, too. The price of eternal salvation for the soul was abandonment of this life. When He came back to end this age and take up the harvest of souls with His angels, those whose works reflected such truth would join Him in eternity, not some mere earthly kingdom.
Matthew records Jesus' last comment, which was surely something meant to lighten the mood of a dark discussion about His coming death and their future sufferings. Some of those standing with Him at that moment would see something of that eternal glory when the Kingdom was inaugurated on this earth. They would see Him in is glorified body, and would begin living in the temporal manifestation of His reign before they left this world. They would get a taste of eternity here on earth.
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Ed Hurst
03 November 2007
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