"...Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble...."

Preached at Glen Aros Christian Fellowship on
Sunday 17th February 2008

Matthew 26:31-34

Mt 26:31 Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: 'I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'
32 "But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee."
33 Peter answered and said to Him, "Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble."
34 Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times."
35 Peter said to Him, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny you!" and so said all the disciples.

Look at verse 31

Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night,

• All will be made to stumble.

Look at verse 33

33 Peter answered and said to Him, "Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble."

• Even if all men are made to stumble
• I will never be made to stumble

Peter says:

• I will never be made to stumble,
• never,
• never,
• Never!
• Three times Peter!

Verse 31

Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: 'I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'

• All of you will be made to stumble because of me this night! Why?
• Because it is written
• I will strike the Shepherd, and the flock will be scattered

They were all made to stumble because of the Cross.
You see in the plan of God it is the Cross that causes all men to stumble!

The Cross of Jesus is a scandalous event, it offends men.

Peter is always shown as the great example of being offended by the Cross; he is the classic example!

But look at verse 35

And so said all the disciples…

Peter got it in the neck, he was pulled out from the crowd, but in reality all the disciples were offended and stumbled at this scandal of The Crucifixion of the Son of God.

Look at Verse 35

35 Peter said to Him, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny you!" and so said all the disciples.

I will, I will, I will, not deny you!

That is what they all said.

Matthew 16:21-28

Mt 16:21 From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.
22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!"
23 But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men."
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
25 "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
26 "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
27 "For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.
28 "Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom."

Look at verse 23

Jesus says:

• Get behind Me, Satan!
• You are an offense to Me,
• for you are not mindful of the things of God,
• But the things of men.

The words ‘made to stumble’ have within them the idea of ‘caused to take offence at’

The Crucifixion of Jesus ‘causes all men to stumble’

All men are ‘caused to take offence’ with the Crucifixion of Jesus

Here is Peter being told that He has become an offence to Jesus. Not that Peter will be offended, but that Peter has now become an offence himself. How could this be?

V23

• you are not mindful of the things of God
• You are mindful of the things of men

This word stumble, offence, is the word skandolon, scandalous!

Are you mindful of the things of God?
Are you mindful of the things of man?

To be mindful of the things of man, is to begin to act as Satan would

Peter is speaking the words of Satan, and Jesus says to him…Get behind me Satan.

Peter said:

I Will Never be made to stumble, or be offended by you Lord Jesus.

Remember the context is of the coming crucifixion.

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

1Co 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent."
20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom;
23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,
24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.
27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;
28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are,
29 that no flesh should glory in His presence.
30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption--
31 that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD."

Look at verse 23

23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,

• We preach Christ crucified
• To the Jews a stumbling block
• To the Greeks foolishness

We preach a scandals thing, a foolish thing

1 John 2:10

1Jo 2:7 Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning.
8 Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.
9 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.
10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.
11 But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Look at verse 10

10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.

• He who loves his brother
• Abides in the light
• There is no cause for stumbling in Him

There is no stumbling in him, no offence at the cross, which is why he abides in the light and actively loves his brother.

The author of this old Hymn, captured sight of that great truth in these words

At the Cross at the Cross where I first saw the light and burden of my sin rolled away. It was there by grace I received my sight and now I am happy all the day.


Remember Peter is speaking on behalf of Satan, by simply being mindful of the things of man.

Isaiah 14:12-15

Isa 14:12 "How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations!
13 For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north;
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.'
15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit.

Look at verse 13

• You have said in your heart
• I will ascend into heaven
• I will exalt my throne above the stars of God
• I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north

Look at verse 14

• I will ascend above the heights of the clouds
• I will be like the Most High

Peter says:
I will never stumble.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-17

2Th 2:1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you,
2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.
3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?
6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time.
7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.
8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.
9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,
10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,
12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth,
14 to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.
16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace,
17 comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.

Look at verse 3 and 4

Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

• The man of sin is revealed
• The son of perdition
• Who opposes
• Who exhalts himself above all that is called God
• Exalts himself above all that is worshiped,
• He sits in the temple of God

Look at verse 9

9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,

• The coming of the lawless on is according to
• The working of Satan
• With all power
• With all signs
• And with lying wonders

Look at verse 10

10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

• Coming with all unrighteous deception
• Among all those who perish
• Because they did not receive the love of the truth
• That they might be saved

Look at verse 16 and 17

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace,
17 comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.

• May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself
• And our God and Father
• Who has loved us
• And given us everlasting consolation
• And given us good hope
• By grace
• Comfort your hearts
• Establish you in every good word
• Establish you in every good work

Exodus 9:13-17

Ex 9:13 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Rise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh, and say to him, 'Thus says the LORD God of the Hebrews: "Let My people go, that they may serve Me,
14 "for at this time I will send all My plagues to your very heart, and on your servants and on your people, that you may know that there is none like Me in all the earth.
15 "Now if I had stretched out My hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, then you would have been cut off from the earth.
16 "But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.
17 "As yet you exalt yourself against My people in that you will not let them go.

Look at verse 16

"But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.

• I have raised you up
• That I may show My power in you
• That My name may be declared in all the earth
• As yet you exalt yourself against My people
• That you will not let go

John declared that God will not go beyond, nor fall short of what He has put in this book

You can see here that God’s people are restrained by the hand of Pharaoh

God’s hand is behind the restraining of God’s people. He used Pharaoh to work his purpose

Genesis 55:15-21

Ge 50:15 When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may actually repay us for all the evil which we did to him."
16 So they sent messengers to Joseph, saying, "Before your father died he commanded, saying,
17 'Thus you shall say to Joseph: "I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you."' Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father." And Joseph wept when they spoke to him.
18 Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, "Behold, we are your servants."
19 Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God?
20 "But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.
21 "Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones." And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

Look at verse 19

Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God?

• Do not be afraid
• For am I in the place of God?

Satan tries to take the place of God in the hearts of men.

Peter started to act like Satan as he says I will, I will, I will.

Look at verse 20

"But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.

• You meant evil against me
• But God meant it for good
• In order to bring it about as it is this day
• To save many people alive

God says I have brought you to this place and to these set of circumstances, in order that good will come forth, and that many people will be saved alive.

Do not do the work of Satan saying I will, I will, I will.

Go out and preach how the Crucifixion of Jesus brings live to all who believe.

Go out and preach the gospel and collect the spoil

Mark 1:16

Mr 1:16 And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.

Jesus never chooses an apostle from among the religious people.

The twelve disciples were ordinary folk.

One of the common problems in religious folk is they trust in themselves

They think God will use them because of their great holiness or spiritual abilities

Peter said: I will, and all the disciples said a loud Amen!

We have already read that God has chosen the foolish things of this world

God is constantly searching for someone who recognizes he is nothing so that he can do something through him

Instead of thinking of your responsibility, will you respond more to his great ability?

Ok, let’s sum up if we can.

Genesis 22:1-3

Ge 22:1 Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am."
2 Then He said, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."
3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.

Look at verse 2

Then He said, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."

• Take you son

Abraham was learning to walk by faith

He was learning to be mindful of the things of God, and not the things of men.

It is astounding how we can know, by faith, that something is right before God

But we find excuses for not doing it now

As a human being you must carry out God’s will now.

Look at verse 3

So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.

Thanks Father Abraham

When God spoke you did not confer with flesh and blood (Gal 1:16), your own thoughts, nor did you lean to your own understanding

You did not choose what the sacrifice would be.

The death of the Son Is God’s choice not yours!

Brothers and sisters guard yourself against self-chosen sacrifice for God

Peter said: I will

Peter was calling the shots, telling the son of God there was no way Jesus was going near any Roman Cross

Peter was saying what should and should not be done by the Son of God.

Dangerous, very dangerous!

Look at verse 3

So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.

• Abraham rose early in the morning
• Saddled his donkey
• Took his young men with him
• And Isaac his son
• He split the wood for the burn offering
• Arose and went to the place which God had told him

God bless you as you do the same by faith!