The Offense of the Cross – Matthew 16

“Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven. He answered and said to them, ‘When it is evening you say, it will be fair weather, for the sky is red; and in the morning, it will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening. Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.’ And He left them and departed.” Matthew 16:1-4

According to Matthew 15:39, Jesus is now in the region of Magdala. In Matthew 15:29, He was on the Mount of Beatitudes near Capernaum. He has traveled just over two miles to the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Magdala was a prosperous fishing village.

In Matthew 15:31-32, Jesus made the lame to walk, the blind to see, the mute to speak and the maimed unmaimed. In Matthew 15:36-38, He multiplied seven loaves of bread and a few fish to feed over 4,000 men besides women and children. They all ate and were filled.

After all the miracles Jesus did, what did the Pharisees and Sadducees want from Jesus? A sign!

Hypocrites! The Pharisees and Sadducees asked Jesus a nonsensical question. He had done more signs than could be counted. He had massive crowds following Him. As in the days of Jeremiah, these leaders were behaving in wicked and adulterous ways. They were rejecting the prophetic Word of God. He told them to look for the sign of Jonah. Then, He left them.

In Matthew 12:39-40, Jesus told the Pharisees that “as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” The sign that He gave to them would come about as they betrayed Him to the Gentiles. They would crucify Israel’s Messiah. He would die, be buried and resurrect on the third day.

“Now when His disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.’ And they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘It is because we have taken no bread.’ But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, ‘Oh you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread? Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the 5,000 and how many baskets you took up? Nor the seven loaves of the 4,000 and how many large baskets you took up? How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?—but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.’ Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Matthew 16:5-12

Jesus used the lack of bread among them as a teaching moment. He warned His disciples against Pharisaic leaven. Their leaven was doubt about Jesus despite the many signs that He did. Twice, Jesus had multiplied a few loaves of bread and a few fish to feed a multitude of people. No one but God had ever fed such great multitudes in wildernesses. No one in the Bible had done as many healing miracles as He did. Yet, the Pharisees and Sadducees blocked all these miracles out of their minds. They focused on how His ministry did not line up with theirs.

“When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi...” Matthew 16:13

“The distance to Caesarea Philippi from Magdala was approximately 25 to 35 miles. It was a journey that took roughly 2 to 3 days on foot. This journey involved traveling... from below sea level to the base of Mount Hermon, which is about 1,150 feet above sea level.” [1]

“...Jesus... asked His disciples, saying, ‘Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?’ So they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My Church, and the Gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.’” Matthew 16:13-19

Caesarea Philippi was a center of pagan worship and Roman political power. It was filled with shrines to the Greek god Pan and a temple dedicated to Caesar Augustus (known as ‘son of God’ and ‘Lord’). By asking His question there, Jesus directly challenged these false powers.

The area has a cave called the “Gates of Hades” making Jesus’ declaration that ‘the Gates of Hades shall not prevail’ against His Church timely. Peter’s proclamation of Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of the Living God in that place was also timely. [2]

Some, like King Herod, thought Jesus was John the Baptist. Some thought of Him as Elijah, Jeremiah or one of the prophets. Elijah, Jeremiah and the prophets spoke truth in Israel while others prophesied lies. So, people who lived when Jesus lived perceived Him as a truth-teller.

Jesus asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter spoke up and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Peter had the correct answer because the Heavenly Father revealed it to him. Jesus promised to build His Church on the profession of Him. The Gates of Hades shall not prevail against this truth. Jesus gave the keys to the kingdom of heaven to Peter because Peter believed in and professed Him before people. Jesus Messiah is the One who lock doors and opens doors.

In Revelation 3:7-8, Jesus said to the messenger of the church in Philadelphia, “These things says He who is holy. He who is true. He who has the key of David. He who opens and no one shuts and shuts and no one opens. I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My Word, and have not denied My Name.” Jesus has the keys to the kingdom. He shares them with those who profess Him.

“Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ. From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, ‘Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!’ But He turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.’” Matthew 16:20-23

On the one hand, Jesus confirmed to His disciples that He was indeed the Son of God and Messiah. On the other hand, He confirmed to them that the religious leaders in Jerusalem would kill Him, However, after three days, Jesus would resurrect from the dead.

Peter was not ready for this conversation. He just had a happy moment. He rightly professed Jesus as the Son of God. Jesus affirmed Peter’s profession of Him as God’s Son.

But when Jesus spoke of being killed and resurrected after three days, Peter exclaimed, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You.” He went from speaking for God to speaking for Satan. Jesus rebuked such speech.

On May 17, 1958, Billy Graham spoke of why people don’t want to hear about the cross—and why we must come to terms with what the cross says to all of us, in order to be saved. Below are some excerpts from that message:

“This expression ‘the offense of the cross’ sounds strange to our modern ears. Because, you see, we have a beautiful cross on our churches. We have crosses around our necks. We never think of it as a scandal and as an offense. And yet the Bible says it’s a stumbling block. It’s an offense. It’s a scandal among men. It’s a base and despised thing.”

“The cross was a place to execute criminals. It was a place where the vilest died. And when I see Christ hanging on the cross, I say with Isaiah, ‘There is no beauty that I should desire Him.’”

“And I’ve found in my own ministry that I can preach anything else, and it’s called popular. It pleases the ear. But when I come to the heart of Christianity, when I come to the cross and the blood and the resurrection, that is the stumbling block. That’s the thing people do not want to hear. That’s the thing that is an offense, and yet it’s that very thing that is the heart of the Gospel. Without the cross, there is no salvation, there is no forgiveness.”

“God said, ‘I’ll meet the human race only one place. That is the cross.’ And if you haven’t been to the cross, there is no salvation and there is no forgiveness.”

“The cross is an offense because it says to the world, ‘You’re a sinner.’ The cross said to the thief who was dying on the other cross, ‘You’re a sinner. You’d better repent.’ And the thief did repent. He confessed his sins. And he said, ‘Remember me when You come into Your kingdom.’ And Jesus turned to him and said, ‘Today you will be with Me in Paradise.’ Christ forgave him right there. But, first, the cross condemned his sins and made him confess and acknowledge that he was a sinner.”

“The Pharisees fasted twice a week. They paid tithes. And yet Jesus, in the most scathing language, denounced them... There is no pride in the world as terrible as religious pride. Proud of our religion, proud of the things we do, when down inside we are filled with pride, jealousy, envy, backbiting and gossiping.”

“And when I come to the foot of the cross, the first thing I have to say is, ‘I am a sinner.’”

“You cringe and say, ‘No, no, no. Don’t expose me.’”

“God says that someday every secret thing will be brought out. And when I stand at the judgment in that day, I shall plead only one thing... I had my sins cleansed by His blood. I claim to be going to Heaven only on the merit and the ground of Jesus and His death at the cross.”

“Even though it may seem foolish and irrational, and it may not seem the right thing to do, and people may laugh at it, yet God says He has chosen the preaching of the cross to bring men to Himself.” [3]

Jesus affirmed Peter when he spoke rightly but rebuked him when he did not. His affirmation and rebuke of Peter stemmed from love. In Revelation 3:19, Jesus said to the messenger of the church in Laodicea, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.”

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.’” Matthew 16:24-28

Jesus called His disciples to embrace His cross and follow Him. If they wanted to preserve their lives, they must lose them for His sake.

Before the Apostle John died, Jesus gave him a vision of His glorious return. In Revelation 19:11-16, John testified, “I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a Name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His Name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a Name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Previously, Jesus came to earth to reveal to us how we could have a relationship with the heavenly Father. He atoned for our sins on the cross. He resurrected from the dead for our resurrection.

The next time Jesus comes, He shall destroy all that is contrary to God. Thus, it is vital that each of us come to the foot of His cross and ask that His atoning blood be applied to our lives.

Romans 5:9 says, “Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him.” Ephesians 1:7 says, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” 1 John 1:7 says, “...And the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

If you haven’t been to the cross of Jesus Christ, come, confess your sin, and be cleansed today!


[1] Google Sources
[2] Ibid
[3] billygraham.ca/stories/why-does-the-cross-offend-people