May 3rd, 2026
by Kerry Harper
by Kerry Harper
" Who Do You Say Jesus Is?" (Matthew 16 and the Crisis in the Church)
It’s always a privilege to open God’s Word and let it speak into the times we’re living in. Lately, one concern has been heavy on my heart: the decline of the church—not just in numbers, but in conviction, in understanding, and in faithfulness to Scripture.
So many people today don’t really know the Bible. Verses are quoted out of context, doctrines are watered down, and truth is mixed with tradition and opinion until it’s hard to tell what’s of God and what’s not. That’s why Matthew 16 is so important for us right now.
In this chapter, Jesus confronts religious hypocrisy, warns His disciples about corrupt teaching, and asks one of the most important questions any person will ever answer:
“But whom say ye that I am?” (Matthew 16:15)
Let’s walk through this passage and see what it says to the church today.
1. Religious Leaders Who Missed God (Matthew 16:1–4)
“The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.” (v. 1)
Two groups confront Jesus: the Pharisees and the Sadducees.
- "The Pharisees" were legalists. They knew the Law, but they added human traditions and man-made rules on top of it. Their religion became a hybrid—part Scripture, part human opinion—and it served mostly to promote their own self-righteousness.
- "The Sadducees" were upper-class, wealthy, tied into the priesthood and friendly with Roman power. They "did not believe" in a coming Messiah, a resurrection, or many of the prophetic truths of Scripture. Their comfort and status mattered more than the things of God.
These are the people demanding a sign from Jesus.
But notice what they really want: not truth, not repentance—entertainment. A “magic show.” They want miracles, but they don’t want the Messiah. They want wonders, but not worship.
Jesus’ answer exposes their spiritual blindness:
“O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?” (v. 3)
They could read the weather, but they could not read the Word. They could forecast a storm, but they could not recognize that the prophecies about the Messiah were being fulfilled right in front of them.
Then Jesus calls them what they are:
“A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign…” (v. 4)
Their hearts were unfaithful. Their minds were not on the things of God, but on themselves.
He tells them the only sign they will receive is “the sign of the prophet Jonah”—Jonah’s three days in the fish pointing ahead to Jesus’ three days in the grave before His resurrection.
And then:
“He left them, and departed.” (v. 4)
There’s a sobering word in that: if we insist on signs, but reject the Savior, He may simply leave us to our unbelief.
2. Beware the Leaven of False Teaching (Matthew 16:5–12)
As Jesus and the disciples travel on, another problem comes up:
“They had forgotten to take bread.” (v. 5)
The disciples are worried about lunch. In that moment, Jesus gives a warning:
“Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.” (v. 6)
Leaven (or yeast) in Scripture is often a picture of 'evil or corruption'—something small that spreads and works its way through everything.
Jesus is not talking about actual bread. He’s warning them about 'the teaching' of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
But the disciples miss it at first. They think He’s upset they didn’t bring bread.
Jesus reminds them:
- Didn’t He feed 5,000 with five loaves?
- Didn’t He feed 4,000 with seven loaves?
- Didn’t they see how much was left over?
Food is not the issue. Power is not the issue. Provision is not the issue.
The issue is 'doctrine'.
“Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.” (v. 12)
These religious leaders, with their twisted teaching, were 'turning people away from Christ.' They sat in positions of authority, but instead of telling people the truth, they were giving them a distorted, man-centered version of religion.
That’s not just an ancient problem. It’s happening today.
Many churches and teachers are not preaching the pure Word of God. They preach:
- personal experiences instead of the gospel
- tradition instead of truth
- “what I think” instead of “what God says”
You hear a lot about “the Lord,” but often not clearly about "Jesus Christ", the Son of God, crucified and risen, the only way to the Father. And when Scripture is misquoted or half-quoted, there is no power in it.
Just like in Jesus’ day, "the leaven of false teaching" is still active. It spreads quietly and corrupts thoroughly—unless we know the Word well enough to recognize it.
3. “Who Do You Say That I Am?” (Matthew 16:13–17)
Next, Jesus leads His disciples to the region of Caesarea Philippi, about 25 miles from where they were. That would have been a full day’s walk—plenty of time for conversation and teaching we aren’t told about.
When they arrive, He asks them a question:
“Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” (v. 13)
They answer with what they’ve heard from the crowds:
- John the Baptist
- Elijah
- Jeremiah
- or one of the prophets
Then Jesus makes it personal:
“But whom say ye that I am?” (v. 15)
That is the most important question any person will ever answer.
Simon Peter replies:
“Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (v. 16)
Jesus tells him:
“Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” (v. 17)
Peter didn’t get that from human reason. He didn’t arrive at that by opinion or tradition. God the Father revealed it to him.
This is the foundation of the church: "the true identity of Jesus".
4. The Rock Christ Builds On (Matthew 16:18)
Jesus continues:
“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (v. 18)
The name “Peter” means “rock.” This verse is often misunderstood.
Jesus is not saying that He will build His church on Peter 'the man,, but on the "confession" Peter just made, the truth revealed by the Father:
“Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
The church is built on this rock-like truth:
- Jesus is the Son of God.
- He came to seek and save the lost.
- He died on the cross as payment for our sins.
- He spent three days in the grave.
- He rose again, defeating death and the grave.
By His death and resurrection, Jesus repaired what was broken in the Garden of Eden. Sin had driven a wedge between God and man. Jesus became the bridge back to God.
Everyone who places their faith and trust in Christ shares in His victory. One day, we too will be resurrected. Because He conquered death, we can say with Scripture:
“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:55)
This is the message the church is built on—and this is the message the church must never lose.
5. The Church Is at War (and It Will Prevail)
Jesus adds:
“…and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (v. 18)
That language—“shall not prevail”—is warfare language. In the Old Testament you read that Israel “prevailed” against their enemies. They **defeated** them.
So what is Jesus saying?
- The church is in a **spiritual war**.
- Hell will **attack**, but it will **not win**.
Ephesians 6:12 reminds us:
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers…”
Our real enemy is not other people, not each other, but **Satan and his forces**. He knows he cannot ultimately destroy the church, but he will try to do as much damage as possible:
- Confusing people’s minds
- Distorting doctrine
- Keeping people from ever coming to Christ
- Discouraging and weakening believers
You hear it in excuses like, “If I walked into that church, the roof would fall in.” I’ve heard that many times. But that’s just one of Satan’s lies to keep people away from the very place where they might hear the truth and be saved.
Because this is war, Scripture calls us to “gird up our loins”—to get ready, to prepare ourselves for battle. That means:
- Knowing who Jesus is
- Knowing why He came
- Knowing what He accomplished
- Knowing how to explain that to others
If we don’t know Christ and His Word, how can we share Him with a lost and dying world?
---
6. The Weapon God Has Given Us: His Word
The church is not a building. It is an **assembly of believers**. We gather to worship, to encourage one another, and above all to **hear the Word of God** so that our faith can be strengthened.
“Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17)
We are called to go into battle equipped—not with our opinions, not with our traditions, but with Scripture.
2 Timothy 3:16 says:
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness…”
God’s Word:
- teaches us what is true
- convicts us where we are wrong
- corrects us
- trains us to live righteously
It is our 'sword' in spiritual warfare.
Yet many Christians today are:
- on the fence
- misquoting Scripture
- relying on their own power and ideas
When that happens, there is no power. If we don’t know the Word, we can’t recognize when something conflicts with it. And we become easy targets for the modern versions of Pharisees and Sadducees—teachers and groups who sound religious but are leading people away from Christ.
We must become people of the Book. People who measure every teaching, every sermon, every “Christian” idea against Scripture.
“He says this—but is it in the Word of God?”
That kind of discernment only comes from **reading, studying, and knowing** Scripture for ourselves.
7. The Question You Must Answer
At the end of Matthew 16:13–18, Jesus’ question still stands:
“But whom say ye that I am?” (Matthew 16:15)
Not:
“What does your church say about Me?”
“What did your parents say about Me?”
“What do people online say about Me?”
But you.
Who do "you" say Jesus is?
- Is He just a good teacher?
- A moral example?
- A religious figure from history?
Or is He, as Peter confessed:
“the Christ, the Son of the living God”—
your Savior, your Lord, the One you trust for forgiveness, life, and eternity?
That is the foundation of everything else. If we get that wrong, our whole faith is built on sand. If we get that right, we stand on solid rock.
A Call to the Church Today
We live in a time of confusion, compromise, and spiritual laziness—even inside the church. But Jesus’ words in Matthew 16 remind us:
- The church "belongs to Him": “I will build my church…”
- The church is "built on truth": that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.
- The church is "at war": against the powers of darkness, not flesh and blood.
- The church is "equipped": with the Word of God as our weapon.
- The church is "secure": “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
Our responsibility is to:
- know Christ
- know His Word
- stand firm in truth
- and be ready to share Him with others
So I’ll leave you with Jesus’ question, as a personal one:
"Who do you say He is?"
And if you know Him, will you commit yourself afresh to His Word, His mission, and His church in these challenging times?
It’s always a privilege to open God’s Word and let it speak into the times we’re living in. Lately, one concern has been heavy on my heart: the decline of the church—not just in numbers, but in conviction, in understanding, and in faithfulness to Scripture.
So many people today don’t really know the Bible. Verses are quoted out of context, doctrines are watered down, and truth is mixed with tradition and opinion until it’s hard to tell what’s of God and what’s not. That’s why Matthew 16 is so important for us right now.
In this chapter, Jesus confronts religious hypocrisy, warns His disciples about corrupt teaching, and asks one of the most important questions any person will ever answer:
“But whom say ye that I am?” (Matthew 16:15)
Let’s walk through this passage and see what it says to the church today.
1. Religious Leaders Who Missed God (Matthew 16:1–4)
“The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.” (v. 1)
Two groups confront Jesus: the Pharisees and the Sadducees.
- "The Pharisees" were legalists. They knew the Law, but they added human traditions and man-made rules on top of it. Their religion became a hybrid—part Scripture, part human opinion—and it served mostly to promote their own self-righteousness.
- "The Sadducees" were upper-class, wealthy, tied into the priesthood and friendly with Roman power. They "did not believe" in a coming Messiah, a resurrection, or many of the prophetic truths of Scripture. Their comfort and status mattered more than the things of God.
These are the people demanding a sign from Jesus.
But notice what they really want: not truth, not repentance—entertainment. A “magic show.” They want miracles, but they don’t want the Messiah. They want wonders, but not worship.
Jesus’ answer exposes their spiritual blindness:
“O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?” (v. 3)
They could read the weather, but they could not read the Word. They could forecast a storm, but they could not recognize that the prophecies about the Messiah were being fulfilled right in front of them.
Then Jesus calls them what they are:
“A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign…” (v. 4)
Their hearts were unfaithful. Their minds were not on the things of God, but on themselves.
He tells them the only sign they will receive is “the sign of the prophet Jonah”—Jonah’s three days in the fish pointing ahead to Jesus’ three days in the grave before His resurrection.
And then:
“He left them, and departed.” (v. 4)
There’s a sobering word in that: if we insist on signs, but reject the Savior, He may simply leave us to our unbelief.
2. Beware the Leaven of False Teaching (Matthew 16:5–12)
As Jesus and the disciples travel on, another problem comes up:
“They had forgotten to take bread.” (v. 5)
The disciples are worried about lunch. In that moment, Jesus gives a warning:
“Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.” (v. 6)
Leaven (or yeast) in Scripture is often a picture of 'evil or corruption'—something small that spreads and works its way through everything.
Jesus is not talking about actual bread. He’s warning them about 'the teaching' of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
But the disciples miss it at first. They think He’s upset they didn’t bring bread.
Jesus reminds them:
- Didn’t He feed 5,000 with five loaves?
- Didn’t He feed 4,000 with seven loaves?
- Didn’t they see how much was left over?
Food is not the issue. Power is not the issue. Provision is not the issue.
The issue is 'doctrine'.
“Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.” (v. 12)
These religious leaders, with their twisted teaching, were 'turning people away from Christ.' They sat in positions of authority, but instead of telling people the truth, they were giving them a distorted, man-centered version of religion.
That’s not just an ancient problem. It’s happening today.
Many churches and teachers are not preaching the pure Word of God. They preach:
- personal experiences instead of the gospel
- tradition instead of truth
- “what I think” instead of “what God says”
You hear a lot about “the Lord,” but often not clearly about "Jesus Christ", the Son of God, crucified and risen, the only way to the Father. And when Scripture is misquoted or half-quoted, there is no power in it.
Just like in Jesus’ day, "the leaven of false teaching" is still active. It spreads quietly and corrupts thoroughly—unless we know the Word well enough to recognize it.
3. “Who Do You Say That I Am?” (Matthew 16:13–17)
Next, Jesus leads His disciples to the region of Caesarea Philippi, about 25 miles from where they were. That would have been a full day’s walk—plenty of time for conversation and teaching we aren’t told about.
When they arrive, He asks them a question:
“Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” (v. 13)
They answer with what they’ve heard from the crowds:
- John the Baptist
- Elijah
- Jeremiah
- or one of the prophets
Then Jesus makes it personal:
“But whom say ye that I am?” (v. 15)
That is the most important question any person will ever answer.
Simon Peter replies:
“Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (v. 16)
Jesus tells him:
“Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” (v. 17)
Peter didn’t get that from human reason. He didn’t arrive at that by opinion or tradition. God the Father revealed it to him.
This is the foundation of the church: "the true identity of Jesus".
4. The Rock Christ Builds On (Matthew 16:18)
Jesus continues:
“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (v. 18)
The name “Peter” means “rock.” This verse is often misunderstood.
Jesus is not saying that He will build His church on Peter 'the man,, but on the "confession" Peter just made, the truth revealed by the Father:
“Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
The church is built on this rock-like truth:
- Jesus is the Son of God.
- He came to seek and save the lost.
- He died on the cross as payment for our sins.
- He spent three days in the grave.
- He rose again, defeating death and the grave.
By His death and resurrection, Jesus repaired what was broken in the Garden of Eden. Sin had driven a wedge between God and man. Jesus became the bridge back to God.
Everyone who places their faith and trust in Christ shares in His victory. One day, we too will be resurrected. Because He conquered death, we can say with Scripture:
“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:55)
This is the message the church is built on—and this is the message the church must never lose.
5. The Church Is at War (and It Will Prevail)
Jesus adds:
“…and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (v. 18)
That language—“shall not prevail”—is warfare language. In the Old Testament you read that Israel “prevailed” against their enemies. They **defeated** them.
So what is Jesus saying?
- The church is in a **spiritual war**.
- Hell will **attack**, but it will **not win**.
Ephesians 6:12 reminds us:
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers…”
Our real enemy is not other people, not each other, but **Satan and his forces**. He knows he cannot ultimately destroy the church, but he will try to do as much damage as possible:
- Confusing people’s minds
- Distorting doctrine
- Keeping people from ever coming to Christ
- Discouraging and weakening believers
You hear it in excuses like, “If I walked into that church, the roof would fall in.” I’ve heard that many times. But that’s just one of Satan’s lies to keep people away from the very place where they might hear the truth and be saved.
Because this is war, Scripture calls us to “gird up our loins”—to get ready, to prepare ourselves for battle. That means:
- Knowing who Jesus is
- Knowing why He came
- Knowing what He accomplished
- Knowing how to explain that to others
If we don’t know Christ and His Word, how can we share Him with a lost and dying world?
---
6. The Weapon God Has Given Us: His Word
The church is not a building. It is an **assembly of believers**. We gather to worship, to encourage one another, and above all to **hear the Word of God** so that our faith can be strengthened.
“Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17)
We are called to go into battle equipped—not with our opinions, not with our traditions, but with Scripture.
2 Timothy 3:16 says:
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness…”
God’s Word:
- teaches us what is true
- convicts us where we are wrong
- corrects us
- trains us to live righteously
It is our 'sword' in spiritual warfare.
Yet many Christians today are:
- on the fence
- misquoting Scripture
- relying on their own power and ideas
When that happens, there is no power. If we don’t know the Word, we can’t recognize when something conflicts with it. And we become easy targets for the modern versions of Pharisees and Sadducees—teachers and groups who sound religious but are leading people away from Christ.
We must become people of the Book. People who measure every teaching, every sermon, every “Christian” idea against Scripture.
“He says this—but is it in the Word of God?”
That kind of discernment only comes from **reading, studying, and knowing** Scripture for ourselves.
7. The Question You Must Answer
At the end of Matthew 16:13–18, Jesus’ question still stands:
“But whom say ye that I am?” (Matthew 16:15)
Not:
“What does your church say about Me?”
“What did your parents say about Me?”
“What do people online say about Me?”
But you.
Who do "you" say Jesus is?
- Is He just a good teacher?
- A moral example?
- A religious figure from history?
Or is He, as Peter confessed:
“the Christ, the Son of the living God”—
your Savior, your Lord, the One you trust for forgiveness, life, and eternity?
That is the foundation of everything else. If we get that wrong, our whole faith is built on sand. If we get that right, we stand on solid rock.
A Call to the Church Today
We live in a time of confusion, compromise, and spiritual laziness—even inside the church. But Jesus’ words in Matthew 16 remind us:
- The church "belongs to Him": “I will build my church…”
- The church is "built on truth": that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.
- The church is "at war": against the powers of darkness, not flesh and blood.
- The church is "equipped": with the Word of God as our weapon.
- The church is "secure": “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
Our responsibility is to:
- know Christ
- know His Word
- stand firm in truth
- and be ready to share Him with others
So I’ll leave you with Jesus’ question, as a personal one:
"Who do you say He is?"
And if you know Him, will you commit yourself afresh to His Word, His mission, and His church in these challenging times?
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