Matthew (Written)

Friday, 30 January 2026

When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” Matthew 16:13

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And Jesus, having come to the allotments – Caesarea, the Phillipi, He entreated His disciples, saying, ‘Whom they say, the men, Me to be, the Son of Man?’” (CG).

In the previous verse, the disciples finally clued in to what Jesus was trying to teach them. His words about the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees were speaking of their evil doctrine. Matthew now continues the narrative of their time after arriving on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, saying, “And Jesus, having come to the allotments – Caesarea, the Phillipi.”

A new word, Kaisareia, Caesarea, is introduced. It is derived from Kaisar, Caesar, a Latin word referring to the title of the Roman Emperor. Caesarea refers to two places in the area of Israel. The first is this location, Caesarea Philippi. Of this location, Albert Barnes says –

“There were two cities in Judea called Caesarea. One was situated on the borders of the Mediterranean (See the notes at Acts 8:40), and the other was the one mentioned here. This city was greatly enlarged and ornamented by Philip the tetrarch, son of Herod, and called Caesarea in honor of the Roman emperor, Tiberius Caesar. To distinguish it from the other Caesarea the name of Philip was added to it, and it was called Caesarea Philippi, or Caesarea of Philippi. It was situated in the boundaries of the tribe of Naphtali, at the foot of Mount Hermon.”

Having come to this general area, “He entreated His disciples, saying, ‘Whom they say, the men, Me to be, the Son of Man?’” Translations consider His words in one of two ways. One is “Whom do men say that I am? The Son of Man?”, or “Whom do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”

The latter is correct. Jesus has referred to Himself as the Son of Man nine times already, making this the tenth. Peter’s answer will also show that He is not asking if people say He is the Son of Man. Rather, He is asking what He, the Son of Man, is called by others. He is preparing them for a great pronouncement by asking this probing question first.

Life application: Jesus came to His own country in Matthew 13:53-58. He was rejected by them. In Matthew 14:1-12, the account of the beheading of John the Baptist was given. That was followed by the feeding of the five thousand in Matthew 14:13-21.

Jesus then walked on the sea, as is recorded in Matthew 14:22-33. From there, they came to the area of Gennesaret, at which time He fully saved all who simply touched Him. In Matthew 15:1-20, it then noted the traditions of the Jews which Jesus condemned, explaining that what comes out of a man is what defiles, not what enters into him.

That was then followed by His journey to the allotments of Tyre and Sidon, where the faith of the Canaanite woman was noted, and her daughter was saved. After that, Jesus went around the Sea of Galilee to the eastern side of it. There, He healed many and eventually fed four thousand. After feeding them, they crossed the Galilee, coming to the region of Magdala.

While there, He was accosted by the Pharisees and Sadducees who looked for a sign from heaven. He told them no sign would be given but the sign of Jonah. Once that was complete, they once again crossed the Sea of Galilee to the eastern side, being instructed on the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Now in the account, they have remained on this eastern side and gone north to the area of Caesarea Philippi.

This crisscrossing of the land and the Sea of Galilee all has a purpose. Jesus’ movements are being used as a walking instructional tool in what God is doing in redemptive history. It is good to stop and reconsider where He has gone and where He is at any given time. By considering these things, we can follow what God is doing in reconciling the world to Himself through Jesus.

Each area visited, each topographical marker that is mentioned, and each thing Jesus does is being woven into a marvelous tapestry for us to ponder and learn from. Keep paying attention to the details, both from a micro and macro viewpoint. God is telling us a story of humanity’s long trek back to Him, and it is all centered on Jesus.

Lord God, it would make no sense for You to send Your Son into the world unless there was something to be gained from it. His life of trials and burdens, culminating in His cross and resurrection, tells us that there is a great plan that has been put in place to bring Your people to a place we cannot even imagine at this time. We are grateful to be on this journey because of Jesus! Thank You for the sure hope we possess. Amen.

Thursday, 29 January 2026

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 16:12

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“Then they comprehended that not He said to caution from the leaven – the bread, but from the teaching – the Pharisees and Sadducees” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus explicitly told the disciples that He didn’t speak to them about bread, but about the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. With His words spoken to them, the light bulb came on. Matthew says, “Then they comprehended.”

Jesus took the disciples through an instructional process to help them learn how to think clearly. Instead of just saying what He was talking about, He asked them questions that would help them to think through the matter.

With the questions complete, He then told them what He was talking about while still using the leaven metaphor. From there, they would have to make the final leap from the metaphor to the matter He was addressing, which was, “that not He said to caution from the leaven – the bread.”

They now know it isn’t leaven of bread. Jesus told them He was referring to the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. As Pharisees and Sadducees are not loaves walking around, either leavened or unleavened, Jesus had to be referring to something else while using a metaphor.

With this understood, they were able to deduce that it wasn’t really leaven He was addressing, “but from the teaching – the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

This is their lightbulb moment. Jesus has successfully schooled them on a matter while giving them a warning about that matter. What the Pharisees and Sadducees had asked from Jesus was hypocritical, wicked, and adulterous according to Jesus’ words to them.

Understanding this, Jesus then let the disciples know that such people, who ask for signs when there are already signs galore to confirm what they had wanted, are false teachers. As false teaching comes from a sinful heart, their doctrine itself is sinful.

Jesus told the disciples to beware of their doctrine, meaning concerning the things of God, because the source of what they taught was corrupt. This is essentially the message Jesus conveys to them. It is somewhat analogous to what He said to them earlier concerning false prophets –

“From their fruits you will recognize them. Not any, they gather from thorns a grape or from thistles figs? ¹⁷Thus, every good tree, it produces good fruit. And the rotten tree, it produces evil fruit. ¹⁸Not, it can, a good tree, bad fruit produce, nor a rotten tree good fruit produce. ¹⁹Every tree not producing good fruit, it is exscinded, and it is cast into fire. ²⁰Hence, from their fruits you will know them.” Matthew 7:16-20

Life application: These leaders in Israel were to be obeyed in accordance with the law. Jesus will make this explicit in Matthew 23. However, the disciples were told to beware of what they taught, as it was an infection that would only lead people away from a sound relationship with God.

Nothing has changed with Israel’s religious leaders since then. The rabbis teach what is contrary to what God has determined, meaning salvation by faith through grace, as is found in the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is what God is doing. If they are teaching contrary to that, they are not teaching what God is doing.

This is such a sad situation for the people that many rabbis over the years have been proclaimed the Messiah. Today in Israel, there are billboards and banners along the highways proclaiming one person or another is the Messiah.

Until they get this right, as a nation, they will remain under the curse of the law. However, isn’t this what has happened in Christian circles many times as well? Throughout church history, a litany of false teachers has claimed they were God’s representative on earth.

There are people who have started aberrant cults and sects. There are those who claim the Messiah is alive today and he lives in the Philippines, Russia, Miami, and elsewhere. Why is this the way it is? It is because in both Israel and throughout the rest of the world, people don’t take the time to learn the Bible.

In not knowing the Bible, we cannot know if what we are being told is true or not about what God is doing. All we have to lean on is what we are told and whatever discernment we possess. Unfortunately, quite often those who claim the “gift” of discernment are the ones lacking even a modicum of it.

It is important for us to read the Bible. It has been given to keep us from being led down the primrose path. Be sure to use wisdom, pick it up, and read it!

Lord God, You have said in Your word that there is a proper path leading to restoration with You. If there is a proper path, then not being on it will not lead to that restoration. Help us to be wise and discerning concerning such things. May we be willing to put in the effort necessary to hold fast to You alone by knowing how to do so through Your word. Amen.

Wednesday, 28 January 2026

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.” Matthew 16:11

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“How not you recollect that I spoke not concerning bread to you! Caution from the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus continued His reminders to the disciples concerning His miracles, specifically the giving of the bread to four thousand, which was followed by collecting seven large hampers of leftovers. Because of this, He incredulously asks, “How not you recollect that I spoke not concerning bread to you!”

He had multiplied bread to feed many thousands on two separate occasions. And more, there was enough bread left over that people could have grabbed a snack for the journey on the way. So why would He care about the disciples not bringing bread? He wouldn’t. Something entirely different was on His mind. That is stated with the words, “Caution from the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

There are two small changes in some of the texts –

How not you recollect that I spoke not concerning bread to you, but to caution from the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
How not you recollect that I spoke not concerning bread to you! Caution from the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Either way, the sense is understood. In the second example, there seems to be a bit of impatience implied in the response, something that would be completely understandable. Jesus’ words in verse 6 said, “You behold, and you caution from the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

Not getting the metaphorical nature of His words, they had assumed He was upset that they hadn’t brought bread. But now, after reminding them that He could multiply bread at will, He restates what He had originally said to them, if not a bit more impatiently. He wants them to contemplate the metaphor without His having to explicitly explain it.

Life application: What Jesus is doing is instructional. Instead of just outright telling the disciples what He means, He gives them a chance to think through the words. Teachers may do this in class.

Instead of saying what the answer to a problem is, they may restate it as a question. In doing this, it forces the students to think through what the teacher intends to say. Otherwise, the students may hear the information in one ear, and it will go right out the other.

However, when confronted with the chance to appear smart or refrain from looking uninformed, the question will cause each person to pay attention and contemplate what is on the teacher’s mind.

An even more subtle approach is what Jesus did. He didn’t ask a question. Instead, He said something intending for a metaphor to be considered, but knowing that probably wouldn’t be understood at first.

Then, after seeing the frustration of the disciples, He takes time to explain why their thinking is askew, and then He restates the original question, implying a demand for them to think again about what they had originally considered.

Suppose a person who owns a bell factory is getting married. He walks into the company and says, “I hear bells ringing soon.” The employees may say, “We are working on the whole new line. They should be ready soon!”

But the owner repeats his original statement, “I hear bells ringing SOON.” By repeating the same thing, he is letting them know he didn’t mean what they thought he meant. By adding stress, he asks them to reconsider the entire paradigm. Searching the recent past, they remember that the boss has been doting on Polly Pretty a lot lately.

Suddenly, the bells in their own minds ring clearly. The boss is talking about getting married. The metaphor is not only understood, but it has also been highlighted for them to joke about and reconsider in the years ahead. Jesus has used such a tool. That has now been reiterated to us in millions and millions of copies of the Bible for the past two thousand years.

We have learned, explicitly, what leaven is to be equated to when we read the Bible.

Lord God, we love how Your word instructs us. Again and again, teaching techniques are used that are intended to help us perfect our doctrine and also remember lessons that may otherwise escape our memories. But because of the way the word is laid out, we will remember many details as clearly as the ringing of a bell. Thank You for this. Amen.

Tuesday, 27 January 2026

Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up? Matthew 16:10

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“Nor the seven loaves – the four thousand, and how many hampers you took?” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus reminded the disciples about the five loaves of the five thousand, asking them to recollect how many handbaskets they had taken up. He next reminds them of the second feeding of a multitude, saying, “Nor the seven loaves – the four thousand.”

If the chronology is as recorded by Matthew, this was a very recent event. It is recorded in Matthew 15:32-38, as the chapter closed out. Therefore, unless the events are not chronological, it has been an extremely short period of time since then.

They went to the area of Magdala, had an interaction with the Pharisees and Sadducees, and then they departed. Upon their departure to the other side, Jesus warned them about the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. The implication is that all of this was in a very short time span. And yet, Jesus is questioning them about what happened, as if they had completely forgotten. He continues with, “and how many hampers you took?”

The answer is seven hampers, meaning big basketfuls, of leftovers. How they could have forgotten that and worried about not having taken bread is a bit astonishing.

Life application: Despite being incredible that the disciples forgot the great thing Jesus did, how can we look down on them for having done so? Do we remember what Jesus did for us? He saved us from the power of sin and the hand of the devil.

One would think we would be constantly and eternally grateful for this. And yet, how often do we forget as we go through our daily lives? We may go back and do some of the stupid things we once did, or we may find some other thing that we never did before and pick up that habit.

Instead of living holy lives and honoring Him, we fail Him often. Imagine the words He would say to us! “Don’t you remember the pit you were in? Don’t you remember the joy of the day you first believed? How can it be that you have forgotten those things and have picked up the ways of the world again?”

The good news is, Jesus didn’t say, “You guys can’t be my disciples anymore. Your memory is short, and your level of understanding isn’t up to par.” Rather, He continued to work with them despite their many faults and limitations. And He will continue to work through those He has saved throughout the ages.

We are fallible creatures doing an imperfect job in telling the world about the goodness of God in Christ. This is how Jesus has set things up, and it is how God is being glorified as the years pass. When people point their finger at you and say, “You aren’t a good Christian because of XXX,” you can respond, “XXX is why I am a Christian. Jesus saved imperfect me. I understand my faults, and Jesus does too. We are in the process of getting me to be more like Him. That is why I need Jesus!”

If we were all perfected when we came to Christ, there would be no need for us to grow in Him. We wouldn’t be dependent on Him for our walk. But just as the universe is being held together by the power of His word, we are continually being saved by the power of His all-sufficient atonement.

Thank God for Jesus Christ, who has accepted us and granted us eternal life. How great He is! Let us not forget the great thing He has done and is doing for us. Praise God for His goodness to us.

Lord God, thank You for the surety we possess because of Jesus. We are ever-unfaithful, and yet You are ever forgiving of it because You have saved us through the fully sufficient sacrifice of Jesus. Despite our faults and waywardness, we are Yours. Hallelujah! Hooray for Jesus! Amen.

Monday, 26 January 2026

Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? Matthew 16:9

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“You grasp, not yet, nor you recollect the five loaves – the five thousand, and how many handbaskets you took?” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus called the disciples little-faithed for thinking His words were about not having brought bread. Now, He continues His rebuke, saying, “You grasp, not yet, nor you recollect.”

Two new words are seen here. The first is oupó, not yet. It is derived from ou, no, or not, and po, an enclitic particle of indefiniteness meaning yet, or even. Taken together, they form the thought of “not yet.” The disciples were slow on the uptake, and Jesus is letting them know it is so.

The second new word is mnémoneuó [mnay-mon-YOO-oh], to exercise the memory. Thus, it signifies to recollect or remember. Jesus is letting them know that they need to pay attention, consider, exercise their memories, and recollect what had already taken place… right in front of their eyes.

What they needed to recollect is a continuation of the question, saying, “the five loaves – the five thousand, and how many handbaskets you took?”

These same men had been with Jesus when there was almost nothing to eat, and yet, from five loaves, He had multiplied the bread to feed five thousand people. The disciples were not thinking things through clearly. But Jesus isn’t done yet. He has more to remind them before He finishes.

Life application: What is it that is causing you to question your faith, or to lack faith in something the Bible says? If you believe the word, you will remember that the Bible says God created everything by simply speaking the word. The Bible also says that everything is currently being held together by the power of that same word.

God fashioned every living thing on the planet to do certain things. For example, bees spend their lives gathering nectar to make honey. God had to design everything in the process of making honey to work together. There have to be flowers that make nectar.

There needs to be bees to gather the nectar. At the same time, they pollinate other flowers and plants as they move around. There has to be rain and sunshine for the plants to grow. Bees have to have a little compass in their heads to direct them. There has to be a communication system set up for them to tell other bees about where the best spots to go are.

Really… think about it. You could spend all day thinking of things necessary for bees to make honey. And even then, you still wouldn’t have all of the parameters necessary for it to happen. And yet, everything has been set up by God so that we have honey.

If He puts this much attention into such a process, don’t you think He is tending to the fulfillment of His word to His people? Think of all that it has taken to preserve Israel. They became a nation and have endured for thousands of years, despite all that the Bible and recorded history tell us has come upon them.

But His word said this would be the case. We are without excuse in believing that God can do what His word says. The evidence is right in front of us in ten jillion ways. Don’t be discouraged or disheartened about whether God will fulfill His word to you. He will.

When all is said and done, there will be a life for us that is so much more wonderful than this one that we cannot even imagine what lies ahead. Have faith! God has got everything under control. Be confident of this.

Lord God, we do have moments of weakness from time to time. Help us in such times to remember all that You have done and are doing. Our insignificant little issues will fall into their proper place in our minds when we consider all You are doing. Surely, You have all things under control! Amen and amen.