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Understanding What Jesus Said

Table of Contents

Introduction

Mat.5:17, Come not to destroy the Law
Mat.5:29-30, Pluck out your eye
Matthew 6:24, Two masters
Mat.7:6, Pearls before swine
Mat.7:21-23, I never knew you
Mat.8:19-20, No where to lay His Head
Mat.8:21-22, Let the dead bury their dead
Mat.10:5-7, Go not into the way of the Gentiles
Mat.10:16-23, Sheep in the midst of wolves
Mat.10:28, Fear God, not man
Mat.10:34-39, Not peace, but a sword

Scripture verses taken from: [KJV] King James Version
Red bold italics is Jesus’ Words.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. [KJV]

THIS BOOK IS NOT COPYRIGHTED,
AND IS NEVER TO BE COPYRIGHTED.
This book is free and not to be sold.

IT MAY BE USED BY “WHOSOEVER”
TO EDIFY THE CHURCH, AND TO
HONOR AND GLORIFY GOD.

Understanding What Jesus Said
Written and compiled by: HIS SERVANT
Connie Kramer
Understanding What Jesus Said
Introduction

Many people then and now, have a hard time understanding Jesus’ sayings, let alone applying them to their lives. Many people today, do NOT think what Jesus said all those centuries ago, fit into today’s times. They are WRONG! Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. (KJV) . . . He, GOD, does NOT change. Also see: Mal.3:6 and James 1:17.

Jesus was/is the wisest Man to ever walk this Earth! We, as His disciples are to imitate Him. So, how can we be wise?

(1.) Stay close to Jesus . . . trust and obey Him! (2.) Continue in God’s Word; and that will lead to: (3.) right understanding (4.) moral discernment (5.) spiritual insight (6.) responsible words, and (7.) good deeds. TRUE wisdom is Knowing God!

A good rule of interpretation is to consider: (1.) WHO is speaking? (2.) WHO is being spoken to? (3.) WHAT is being spoken about?

Even those closest to Jesus found some of His sayings puzzling and confusing. And the Pharisees considered His Words about God blasphemy because He spoke of GOD in very intimate terms. Jesus was not at all uneasy to be around people of “questionable” character. His eyes were wide open to the road on which He was on, which any “sensible” person could see was going to lead to total disaster.

When Jesus spoke, His audience had to think. Many people then and now, have a hard time when they think because the end result was difficult to apply to their lives. And, people then and now, refuse to accept what Jesus had to say because it would mean a complete change in their lifestyle, and they were/are unwilling to cast aside that beloved sin that gives them so much pleasure. So . . . yes! Some of Jesus’ sayings are difficult to grasp but on the other hand, some of His sayings just were “hard to swallow” meaning that the listeners wanted no part of them and had no intention of applying them to their lives.

For us today, there really are two ways of looking at the words that Jesus spoke. They are too hard to understand (I don’t understand the Bible) and they are too easy to understand! Many people don’t understand, and that it what this little book will try to do . . . give an exposition or try to explain what He says (with His help of course).

Many in today’s world have gone to the new modern bible versions. May I say to you, BEWARE! I have researched these new so-called bibles and they are the work of the devil. The NIV and the Message are two of the worst . . . eliminating as many as 17 complete verses and distorting other verses something awful. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .http://www.hisservants.org/bible_1_bible_corruptions_h_s.html

As for being too easy to understand . . . some people read a Passage of Jesus’ Words and immediately understand exactly what He means . . . BUT . . . their heart becomes hard and they refuse to apply it to their lives. They are actually angered and hostile toward His Words.

Maybe you think that you know Jesus pretty well. He is the only begotten Son of God and He is kind and gentle and loving. YES! He is all of those things plus more! He is meek and mild mannered and merciful as well. But, as you read this book, you will see that Jesus hated too. He hates ALL sin, ANY sin, no matter who it is doing it. And He tells about judgment that is sure to come, and the eternal agony of HELL. Many people in today’s world believe that everyone will go to Heaven (Universalism). That is NOT what Jesus teaches! To my knowledge, Jesus teaches more about HELL than any other subject. WHY does He do this??? He does NOT want anyone to go there!

Our precious Saviour and Lord, Christ Jesus is awesome! He absolutely is a God of love, but keep in mind that the Bible says that He will be the ultimate Judge before which we all will stand one day. Are you ready? John 5:22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: (KJV) . . . We must honor God the Son, just as we honor God the Father.

Understanding What Jesus Said

All Jesus’ sayings starting with “But I say unto you” will be omitted in this book, because we have a book by that title. http://www.hisservants.org/books_but_i_say_to_you.html

Matthew 5:17-19, Came to fulfill the Law
Matthew 5:17-19 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. [18] For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. [19] Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (KJV) . . . Christ came not to destroy the Law but to fulfill the Law. He fulfilled it because He kept it while He was on Earth. No sinner can ever partake of Christ’s justifying righteousness (Rom.5:1; 1 Cor.1:30), until he/she repents of his/her evil deeds. Repentance is a must! The mercy revealed in the Gospel shows us we must hate sin. If someone pretends to be Christ’s disciple, and allows himself to disobey God, and/or teaches others to do likewise, he or she is NOT a TRUE disciple of Christ. Christ’s righteousness, imputed to us by faith alone, is needed by every one that enters the kingdom of grace. We need help, we need a Saviour, we need mercy, and we obtain mercy only when we come to Christ. Christ does NOT allow His people to trifle with God’s holy law. Matthew 22:36-40 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? [37] Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. [38] This is the first and great commandment. [39] And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. [40] On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (KJV) . . . In reality, these two commandments summarize the entire Mosaic Law and the Prophets. IF we love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and love our neighbor as ourselves, we will NEVER do any harm to anyone. Jesus’ answer was SO clear and SO accurate that if the Pharisees had been honest, they would have told Him that they had fallen short and that the Law could not save them. At this time the Lord Jesus, their Saviour, was ever so close to the Cross. The logic is clearly this, that ALL the commandments that are in the Law and the Prophets are consistent with, and dependent upon these two commandments that Jesus gives us here. These two commandments cover the whole Old Testament! They are OUR Law!

Matthew 6:24, Two Masters
Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (KJV) . . . Jesus says we can have only ONE master. Many people choose and serve money. They spend all their lives collecting and storing it, only to die and leave it behind. Their burning desire for money and what it can do far outweighs their commitment to God and spiritual matters. Whatever you store up, you will spend much of your time and energy thinking about. Matthew 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: (KJV) . . . Who is your master? God? Or money? 1 Tim. 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (KJV)

Matthew 7:6 Pearls before swine
Matthew 7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. (KJV) . . . Anything of value should not be offered to anyone who is incapable of appreciating them. If “pearls” were given to swine, they would trample them in the mud because they couldn’t eat them. It would be the same as offering the precious Gospel of Christ to some hostile unbeliever. We must tell people about Christ (Mat.28:19-20), but when we see them act in a defiant and hateful way, we must back off. If we give what is “holy” to “dogs” they will bite the hand trying to “feed” them. If we cast our “pearls” before swine, they will trample the precious gems in the mud.

Matthew 7:21-23, I never knew you.
Matthew 7:21-23 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. [22] Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? [23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (KJV) . . . There are many people who sound religious but have NO personal relationship with Him. “That day” is the day of judgment when judging sin and rewarding faith shall occur. Only our relationship with Christ and our acceptance of Him as Saviour and Lord, and our obedience to Him will matter. Many people think that if the good they do outweighs the bad, they will receive eternal life in Heaven. That is NOT so! ONLY our faith in Christ will count on Judgment Day. On that day, many will say “Lord, Lord,” but Jesus will say “I never knew you, depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
Matthew 25:11-12 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. [12] But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. (KJV) . . . This Passage is similar to the above one. The five foolish virgins were not watching, were not ready when the Bridegroom came. They had gone to buy oil for their lamps. They knocked and begged, but He said “I know you not.” Can you imaging people arriving at the door when it’s too late? It will be a sad day. It will be like when God shut the door of the ark (Gen.7:16). One day God’s patience will wear thin, and He will shut the door for anyone who rejects His Son and the salvation that only He can give them. (Pro.29:1).

Matthew 8:19-20, No where to lay His Head
Matthew 8:19-20 And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. [20] And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. (KJV) . . . Following Jesus is not always easy. It could mean great cost and sacrifice, with no earthly rewards or security, or even death at the hands of terrorists in some countries. Jesus didn’t even have a place to call home. Some of these modern preachers have million dollar homes and say that being a Christian is not hard. They keep pressing people for more money. They certainly are NOT imitating Jesus, as believers are supposed to do. Jesus was NOT a wealthy Man. He did not even own a home or even a bed where He could lay His precious Head. Following Christ could cost you popularity, friendships, family members turning away from you, etc. The cost of following Christ can be high, BUT the value of being Christ’s disciple is much higher and well worth it. Discipleship is an investment (of self) that lasts for eternity and it yields extraordinary rewards.

Matthew 8:21-22,Let the dead bury their dead
Matthew 8:21-22 And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. [22] But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead. (KJV) . . . This is one incident where Jesus stresses one the vital priorities in accessing the Kingdom. This disciple did not refuse to follow Christ, but instead, to put off following Jesus until his elderly father died. Maybe he was the firstborn and wanted to be sure to claim his inheritance, or maybe he didn’t want to face his father’s wrath if he left the family business to follow an itinerant preacher. Whatever his reason, he simply was not ready to commit himself to Jesus at this time. Any time when commitment to Jesus is put off, most often it is put off permanently. Jesus demands complete loyalty from us. Even loyalty to family must not take priority over the demands of obedience. The decision to follow Jesus should NOT be put off, even though other legitimate loyalties compete for our attention. Nothing should be placed above Jesus, and a total commitment to living for Jesus and serving Him.
Christ did not have a place to lay His head, and if the scribe followed Jesus, he (nor we) could not expect any better. Again, this brings to my mind these money-hungry wolves in many of the pulpits today! I despise and dread false teachers!

Burying the dead, especially a dead father, is good; but following Jesus is better! When we commit our life to Christ, it means a willing, unwavering and determined service, and even love and concern for our nearest and dearest relatives, must take second place, or we are not worthy. Many people cannot go that route. Their loved ones and things of the world that they can “see” takes first place over Jesus and a relationship with Him.

In Luke 9:60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. (KJV) . . . Luke adds but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. What Jesus is saying is that the Kingdom of God lies neglected and needy. The Lord needs you. Go and preach the Kingdom of God.

Matthew 10:5-7, Go not into the way of the Gentiles
Matthew 10:5-7 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: [6] But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. [7] And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. (KJV) . . . Mark 6:7-13 and Luke 9:1-6 also tell of Jesus sending out the twelve. Only the account in Matthew includes the exclusive words “the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Why didn’t Jesus send the disciples to the Gentiles or the Samaritans? A Gentile is anyone who is not a Jew. Jesus told His disciples to go only to the Jews because He came first to the Jews (Rom.1:16). WHY? Because God chose them to tell the rest of the world about Him. Jewish disciples and apostles preached the Gospel of the risen Christ all around the Roman empire, and soon Gentiles were pouring into the church. The Bible clearly teaches that God’s message of salvation is for ALL people, regardless of race, sex, or national origin (Gen.12:3; Mal.1:11; Acts 10:34-35; Rom.3:29-30; Gal.3:28).
But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel . . . Until Christ's death, which broke down the middle wall of partition (Eph. 2:14), the Gospel commission was to the Jews only. The Jews were "lost sheep," not just in the sense which all sinners are (Isa. 53:6; 1 Pet.2:25; Luke 19:10), but as abandoned and left to wander from the right way by disloyal shepherds (Jer.50:6, 17; Ezekiel 34:2-6).

There are many flocks today under the guidance of false, greedy shepherds who do not care about their souls. Pastors are supposed to be watchmen, guarding their flocks but instead they care only about the riches of this world. Just as the prophets in the Old Testament were “watchmen” for the people of Israel (Eze.3:17; 33:6-7), so are the pastors and teachers of today to be “watchmen” for the church. Many people who are supposed to be “watchmen” are sound asleep in their job!!! All many of them are interested in is lining their pockets! May God have mercy on their souls.

Matthew 10:16-23, Sheep in the midst of wolves
Matthew 10:16-23 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. [17] But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; [18] And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. [19] But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. [20] For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. [21] And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. [22] And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. [23] But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. (KJV) . . . Jesus warned His disciples about persecution. He told them to avoid all things which gave advantage to their enemies: meddling with worldly or political concerns, the appearance of pride, evil or selfishness, and all deceitful actions. Christ foretold of troubles to them and us! He said they (and we) would suffer, and who would cause it. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . http://www.worldlychaos.org/w_c_cults_rich_preachers.1.htm

Jesus dealt fairly with them, and faithfully with us. He tells us the worst we can expect as we serve Him. Sufferings from friends and relatives is very distressing; it cuts deep. Jesus makes it plain, that if we walk with Him, we can expect persecution; and entering the kingdom of God shall be through many tribulations.

Christ was hated, and His disciples are hated as well. Many try to ruin us. We need the serpent’s wisdom, yet should be as harmless as doves. Rough road!
Many Christians throughout the world suffer persecution and even death. Many are brought before courts and jailed for false charges. Even family members can be witnesses against you according to Jesus. Jesus told the disciples that when they were persecuted in one city, flee to another. But, what did He mean when He told the disciples: “Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.” I think He means that the evangelism of Israel will not be completed before the end of the present age.
When God calls us to speak for Him, we can depend on Him to give us words to say. It is great encouragement to those who are doing Christ’s work, that it is a work which shall be done. Providence extends to all creatures, even to the sparrows. This should silence all the fears of God’s people; Ye are of more value than many sparrows. God takes care and keeps His people. It is our duty, not only to believe in Christ, but to profess that faith, knowing that we may well suffer for Him in our service to Him. Christ will walk with us through any and all sufferings, count on it. Those best prepared for eternal life are those not afraid of the bumps service to Christ may provide. Let us boldly confess Christ to all those around us. Matthew 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. Amen! (KJV) . . . Hang in there Christians!

Matthew 10:28, Fear God, not man
Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.(KJV). . . Can man hurt us? Yes! Do we fear the hurt they can cause us? Yes, most often. Jesus said we are NOT to fear man because he can hurt only our body. Man CANNOT touch our soul! We are to fear the Creator of man, Almighty GOD, for He can destroy both body and soul in Hell. Destroy = eternal destruction in Hell’s agony. This is positive proof that there is a Hell for the body as well as the soul in the eternal world, which many people fail to believe. We are assured, there is absolute torment that awaits the lost, and it shall exist for ever. Luke 12:4-5 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. [5] But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. (KJV) . . . BEWARE!!! God does have power to cast into Hell, ALL who reject His Son, Jesus. Do you believe God? Do you “fear God?”

Matthew 10:34-39, Not peace but a sword
Matthew 10:34-39 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. [35] For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. [36] And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. [37] He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. [38] And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. [39] He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. KJV) . . . Christ did not come to bring peace at His First Coming. Sin is still in the world; and as long as it is here, there will be no peace for the wicked. Only those “in Christ” have inner peace (John 14:27).
Taking a firm stand for Christ may separate friends and loved ones. Jesus is telling us that His Presence demands a decision. Because a few will follow Christ and many will NOT (Mat.7:13-14), conflict will come. When we take our cross and follow Him, our new values, morals, goals, and purposes set us apart from others. We should not neglect family, but we must remember that our commitment to God is even more important. God must always come first!
1 Cor. 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. (KJV) . . . Paul verified this truth that Jesus spoke. Families have been divided by the preaching of the Gospel. There is unity of believers, and that unity makes a division with the unsaved world. I think Jesus’ Words in Mat.10:34-39 could well have been from personal experience, for His brothers did not believe in Him until after His death (Ps.69:8; John 7:5; Acts 1:14). So, Jesus had division in His own family.
Love of family is a law of God, but even this love can be self-serving and used as an excuse not to serve God or do His work. To take our cross and follow Jesus means to be willing to publicly identify with Him, to experience almost certain opposition, and to be committed to face even suffering and death for His sake. “Not worthy of me.” Many of us are at times NOT worthy of Jesus! I am at the top of the list! Not worthy of Jesus means that He will NOT use us unless we are really committed to Him. But, praise God, He will not throw us overboard!
Verse 39 is a positive AND negative statement about the SAME Truth. If we cling to this life, we may forfeit the best from Christ in this world and in the next. The more we love pleasure, power, fame and fortune; the more empty we really are. If we forget about earthly rewards, we can be free to follow Christ, and inherit eternal life, and we experience many benefits of following Christ.
Jesus contrasts the life which we have here in the flesh with eternal life which comes only through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. There is a possibility that when a person comes to Christ, he/she may be put to death because of his/her faith. This is not true in the United States YET, but it IS true in other parts of the world. If a person loses his physical life for Christ, they shall find they will be taken directly into the Presence of Christ. “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” (2 Cor. 5:8).

Matthew 11:11, None greater than John the Baptist
Matthew 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. (KJV) . . . (Luke 7:28). Have you ever wondered who was greater: Abraham, Moses, or David. Jesus clears that up here. Jesus said that John the Baptist was greater than anyone in the past. No one was greater than John the Baptist according to Jesus.
But, what about this? “Notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” When Jesus came, He began calling out a group of people who are even greater than John the Baptist. HOW can they (we) be greater? Because they are “in Christ”(2 Cor. 5:17) and clothed with His righteousness (1 Cor.1:30).

Matthew 11:12-15, Violence and the Kingdom
Matthew 11:12-15 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. [13] For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. [14] And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. [15] He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. (KJV) . . . The forces of evil seek to destroy the Kingdom of Heaven. But also there are those who would take it by violence if possible. From the time John the Baptist preached his message until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has suffered violent attacks, and violent men try to grab it.
     Verse 13 tells us that the Old Testament (Law and the prophets) spoke about the future Kingdom.
     Verse 14 is extremely difficult! Some commentators say that John was not the resurrected Elijah, but that he took on Elijah’s prophetic role . . . boldly confronting sin and pointing people to God. That is true in the respect that John did boldly confront sin and pointed people to Jesus. BUT, what does Jesus say here? if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come . . . Jesus told the multitude that IF they were willing to believe the prophets’ message, John the Baptist was Elijah, whose coming was predicted (Mal.3:1). HOW could John the Baptist be Elijah?
    A BIG question arises: “IF Israel had accepted Christ at His First Coming, would Christ have established the Kingdom immediately, and would John the Baptist have been Elijah?” I think that the answer is yes. You ask: “How can that be?” I have only one answer. I don’t know. I only know that this is what Jesus said. And with God, ALL things are possible (Mat.19:26). He does many things which I can’t explain or understand; I just accept them. Israel did NOT accept Jesus as their King, so John was John! Elijah will be back though! (Rev.11).

Matthew 11:27, The Father and the Son
Matthew 11:27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. (KJV) . . . This is just another way of saying, “… no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). In the Old Testament, “know” means more than knowledge. It means an intimate relationship. The fellowship between God the Father and God the Son is the core of their relationship. For anyone else to know God, God must reveal Himself to that person, and that happens ONLY through God the Son. We are blessed indeed that Jesus has clearly revealed God the Father and His Truth to us so that we can “know” Him!

Matthew 12:30, Either for or against Jesus
Matthew 12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. (KJV) . . . It is impossible to be neutral about Christ. You CANNOT sit on the fence! Black is black and white is white! IF you are NOT actively following Jesus, you have chosen to reject Him. IF you try to remain neutral in the struggle of good against evil, you have CHOSEN to be separated from God, for only God is good! IF you refuse to follow Christ, my friend, you are following the devil straight to Hell (Mat.25:41).

Matthew 16:16-19, You are Peter
Matthew 16:16-19  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. [17] And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. [18] 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. [19] And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (KJV) . . . Only the Holy Spirit can make Christ known to any person. No man can call Jesus “Lord” except by the Holy Spirit. When Jesus asked His disciples who they thought He was, Peter said: Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus then said that no person had revealed that to him, it was given to him directly by the Father in Heaven.
       Let us look at verse 18 carefully. On what ROCK did Jesus build His church? Many people say that it was built on Simon Peter. That’s not so, because there is a play on words here. In the original Greek it is, “Thou art Petros [a little piece of rock], and upon this petra [bedrock] I will build my church.” Who is the Rock? The Rock is Christ. The church is built upon Christ. What does Peter say?
1 Peter 2:4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, (KJV)
1 Peter 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. (KJV) . . . And Isaiah!
Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. (KJV) . . . And Paul!
1 Cor. 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (KJV) . . . Paul also knew WHO the Rock was!    The “gates of hell” refers to death. The word used for hell is the Greek word hades, sheol in the Old Testament, which refers to the unseen world and means “death.” The gates of death shall not prevail against Christ’s church. One of these days the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout. That shout will be like the voice of an archangel and like a trumpet because the dead in Christ are to be raised. The gates of death shall NOT prevail against His church.

Matthew 18:21-35, If you do not forgive
Matthew 18:21-35 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? [22] Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. (KJV) . . . In verse 21, according to the rabbis, two or three times was all you had to forgive. Peter was willing to forgive seven times. But Peter’s generosity was frugal in comparison to what Jesus said. In verse 22, Jesus says 70 X 7 . . . that’s 490! The point our Lord is making is, as long as forgiveness is needed and sought. We are never to refuse forgiveness when sincerely asked. How many times has God forgiven you? I know mine is well over 490!
Matthew 18:23-26 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. [24] And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. [25] But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. [26] The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. (KJV) . . . It sounds like he wanted to pay it back on the installment plan.
Matthew 18:27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. (KJV) . . . The Lord is using an far-out illustration here to prove His point. The amount of money that this servant owed his lord was several million dollars.
Matthew 18:28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. (KJV) . . . “An hundred pence” is about about $17.00. Big difference from several million!
Matthew 18:29-35 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. [30] And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. [31] So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. [32] Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: [33] Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? [34] And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. [35] So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses. (KJV) . . . Verses 23-35 is the parable of the unmerciful servant.
Even though we live completely on mercy and forgiveness, we are reluctant to forgive those who offend us. Jesus is showing us just how much grief God has from His family on Earth, and how heartless His servants really are. Jesus states three facts in this parable: (1.) The Master’s awesome mercy. The debt of sin is so great, that we are not able to pay it. In truth, what every sin deserves is for us to be sold as a slave. (2.) The servant’s unreasonable harshness toward his fellow-servant, even though his Lord forgave him. (3.) The Master condemned His servant’s unkindness. We do not forgive our offending brother rightly, if we do not forgive from our heart. The humbled sinner relies only on free, abounding mercy, through the ransom of the death of Christ. We must seek more of the renewing grace of God, to teach us to forgive others as we hope for mercy and forgiveness from Him.
      This parable of the servant, who was forgiven but refused to forgive another, illustrates the principle of forgiveness. Because God has forgiven us, we are to forgive one another. If God forgave our sins in the same way we forgive others, NONE of us would be forgiven. After we have become children of God, because we have been forgiven, we are to forgive. Eph. 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. (KJV)
    To whom is Jesus speaking in Matthew 18:21-35? To Peter. But, not only Peter! He is speaking to all Christians. But, in verses 34 and 35 . . . very hard to understand.
     The debt in this parable is sins. One man had many sins and God forgave him; but he refused to forgive his fellowman who had done him a small wrong. This parable is about our life here on Earth and how we treat each other. Jesus clearly puts the emphasis on the necessity of having a forgiving spirit. It is clearly revealed in the following verses.
Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Debts = faults, sins.
Matthew 6:14-15 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: [15] But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (KJV) . . . Trespasses = transgression, faults, offences, sins.
Luke 11:4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. (KJV) . . . Jesus’ WARNING is unmistakable and it is NOT wise to try to avoid its uncomfortable meaning. Forgiveness does NOT come easy to us, but, IF we want God to forgive us, we must forgive those who offend us. How will those be judged, who, though they say “I’m a Christian” yet persist in unmerciful treatment of their brethren and/or refusal to forgive them?