Matt 16. Opinions

Your Opinion Matters by Dr. Franklin L. Kirksey Adrian Rogers said, “Everyone has a right to his own opinion, but no one has a right to be wrong about the facts.” He also said, “Tolerance was once a good virtue, an entitlement to your own opinion. Now, tolerance is an unreasonable thought that all opinions are correct.” Matthew 16:13-19 provides an account of the exchange between Jesus and His disciples about His identity. Opinions varied then as they do today. This passage reveals three ways opinions need to be addressed. Some opinions need to be challenged. Matthew 16:13-14 reads, “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?’ So they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’” Matthew 16 records what is called “the most significant case of mistaken identity in history.” Paul warns about those who erroneously preach “another Jesus” in 2 Corinthians 11:4. Some opinions need to be changed. Matthew 16:15-17 reads, “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.’” Someone explains, “Jesus commends Peter for this revelation, which was divinely inspired, indicating that human understanding alone was insufficient to fully comprehend His identity.” Some opinions need to be championed. Matthew 16:18-19 reads, “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.’” “This rock” refers to Peter’s confession of Jesus’ true identity, who is the Rock (1 Peter 2:4-8; Acts 4:11-12; and Psalm 118:22) upon whom the church is built (1 Corinthians 3:11). Stephen F. Olford shared the following in a letter dated April 24, 2000, about his book titled, A Time for Truth: “In this book I warn us to not fall prey to the scourge of post-modernism, which denies absolute truth for the subjective assertion that ‘your opinion is no better than my opinion, so let’s agree to differ since there is no absolute truth!’” R.A. Torrey said, “The truly wise man is he who believes the Bible against the opinions of any man. If the Bible says one thing, and any body of men says another, the wise man will decide, ‘This book is the Word of Him who cannot lie.’” “Let God be true, but every man a liar” (Romans 3:4). Charles H. Spurgeon said, “The Word of God is the anvil upon which the opinions of men are smashed.” Your opinion matters! Dr. Franklin L. Kirksey, Author of Don’t Miss the Revival! Messages for Revival and Spiritual Awakening from Isaiah and Sound Biblical Preaching: Giving the Bible a Voice [Both available on Logos and Amazon © June 4, 2026 All Rights Reserved

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