Matthew 16
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To listen to Nick read the one-minute introduction.
Leaven is an image Jesus uses with both positive and negative meanings. Last Sunday we listened to leaven as an image of the Kingdom growing within a person. Here, the leaven is that of the Pharisees and Sadducees—pride and ambition. Repent if you find these vices in you.
Peter receives the gift of knowing who Jesus is. From yesterday’s reading, God is to receive the glory for the gift. Yet Peter seems to take the gift in a prideful manner, presuming to question Jesus in the first prediction that Jesus was going to suffer and die. Similar to the challenge to Peter about having his feet washed at the Last Supper, the name that Peter has just been given, “Rock,”is quickly changed to “Satan”in the hopes that Peter will be shaken into belief and obedience.
Are you impetuous as Peter, quick to take in the leaven of pride?
Bible Breaths
What are these?
Wary of the yeast of pride v. 6ff
The Son of the living God v. 16
Following You with the cross v. 24
Losing life to saving life v. 25
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for the version for children and families.
This is the ninth of thirteen weeks in Pentecost, Year A.
See “Solar and Sacred Seasons” in the menu above.
We continue reading the Gospel of Matthew.
Today’s image courtesy of http://thepropheticnews.com
The Bible Through the Seasons 