Day 23: Matthew 16
The Pharisees and Sadducees Demand Signs. The Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ. Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection. Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus.
What does it mean to bind or to loose something on earth?
Wikipedia tells me that in usage, to bind and to loose mean simply to forbid by an indisputable authority, and to permit by an indisputable authority ("BINDING AND LOOSING." Encyclopedia Biblica. 1903.) The casual interpretation seems to say that Peter, a human susceptible to sin, was being given the power to judge and to determine the way of life in the kingdom of heaven. But this interpretation just doesn't seem right...
There's something significant I feel about Jesus's reaction to Peter's comment on the foretelling of Jesus's death and resurrection.
Instead of casually addressing Peter's misconception, it appears that Jesus forcefully called out Satan's evil influence on Peter, as something for all humans to avoid.
Why would Jesus call out Satan? What was Peter's sin? Mulling this over, one explanation that came to me is simply that Peter was fearing for the loss of something in this world, specifically the loss of Jesus through death. I think Jesus is saying here that death should not be feared, and that the life of others should be valued but not valued above the "things of God".
I'm just noting here an indication that heaven is a meritocracy, where people's accomplishments in this world will be rewarded in the next life.
However, I think it's equally important to note that I am not suggesting an interpretation that, in the kingdom of heaven, anyone will be what we consider to be "poor" in today's worldly terms.
Bound and loosed on earth and in heaven
What does it mean to bind or to loose something on earth?
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 16:19 ESV)
Wikipedia tells me that in usage, to bind and to loose mean simply to forbid by an indisputable authority, and to permit by an indisputable authority ("BINDING AND LOOSING." Encyclopedia Biblica. 1903.) The casual interpretation seems to say that Peter, a human susceptible to sin, was being given the power to judge and to determine the way of life in the kingdom of heaven. But this interpretation just doesn't seem right...
Death should not be feared
There's something significant I feel about Jesus's reaction to Peter's comment on the foretelling of Jesus's death and resurrection.
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. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” (Matthew 16:21-22 ESV)
Instead of casually addressing Peter's misconception, it appears that Jesus forcefully called out Satan's evil influence on Peter, as something for all humans to avoid.
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 16:23 ESV)
Why would Jesus call out Satan? What was Peter's sin? Mulling this over, one explanation that came to me is simply that Peter was fearing for the loss of something in this world, specifically the loss of Jesus through death. I think Jesus is saying here that death should not be feared, and that the life of others should be valued but not valued above the "things of God".
Heaven is a meritocracy
I'm just noting here an indication that heaven is a meritocracy, where people's accomplishments in this world will be rewarded in the next life.
For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. (Matthew 16:27 ESV)
However, I think it's equally important to note that I am not suggesting an interpretation that, in the kingdom of heaven, anyone will be what we consider to be "poor" in today's worldly terms.