MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 16:1 The PHARISEES AND SADDUCEES were often bitter opponents (see note on 3:7). Here they join forces against Jesus. They saw him as a threat to their leadership and power. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 16:4 SIGN OF JONAH. See note on 12:39. OTHER SIDE. See note on 8:28. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 16:6 In contrast to Matthew 13:33, here LEAVEN is a negative metaphor. It indicates how corruption can ruin what is good. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 16:13 CAESAREA PHILIPPI is some 25 miles (40 km) north of the Sea of Galilee. It had been a center of the worship of (1) Baal, then (2) the Greek god Pan, and then (3) Caesar. At this time it was an important Greco-Roman city. It had a primarily pagan Syrian and Greek populat... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 16:14 JOHN THE BAPTIST... ELIJAH... JEREMIAH... ONE OF THE PROPHETS. The responses are in line with the popular messianic expectations (see Deuteronomy 18:15; Malachi 4:5). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 16:16 SIMON PETER REPLIED. Peter acts as spokesman for the Twelve (compare Matthew 15:15). CHRIST means “Messiah” or “Anointed One.” SON OF THE LIVING GOD. Jesus is the Son of the God who is alive, unlike the pagan gods of Caesarea Philippi (see note on 16:13). Jesus is the f... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 16:17 SIMON BAR-JONAH is an Aramaic name meaning “Simon son of Jonah.” Simon has a natural father, Jonah, but his ability to confess Jesus (v. Matthew 16:16) came not from any FLESH AND BLOOD source but from MY FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElements... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 16:18 YOU ARE PETER, AND ON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH. This is one of the most controversial and debated passages in all of Scripture. The key question concerns Peter’s relationship to “this rock.” For several reasons, it is best to think that “this rock” refers to Pet... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 16:19 KEYS OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. Peter (along with all who are called to preach the gospel) is given the authority to provide entrance into the kingdom through their proclamation (unlike the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23:13). In Acts 1:1, Peter is the apostle who fi... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 16:20 Jesus warned his disciples against telling anyone THAT HE WAS THE CHRIST, since the concept of Christ/Messiah was widely misunderstood by the crowds—and often by the disciples themselves. See note on 8:4; see 9:30; 12:16; 17:9. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsBy... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 16:21 The Suffering of the Messiah Revealed. Jesus reveals the nature of his messiahship. He is a suffering Messiah. His disciples must suffer with him (Matthew 16:21). Still, the transfiguration (Matthew 17:1) shows who Jesus really is: the Son of God. And believers, who are... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 16:22 In the Jewish master-disciple relationship, it would have been unthinkable for a disciple to correct his master, let alone REBUKE him. THIS SHALL NEVER HAPPEN TO YOU. The OT teaches, however, that the Messiah must suffer (e.g., Psalms 22:1; Isaiah 53:1; Zechariah 12:10)... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 16:23 SATAN tries to hinder Jesus’ mission through Peter and his human-centered ideas about the Messiah’s mission (see note on v. 22). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 16:24 TAKE UP HIS CROSS. See note on 10:38. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 16:26 FORFEITS HIS SOUL. A reference to spiritual death and separation from God. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 16:27 SON OF MAN IS GOING TO COME. See note on 8:20. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 16:28 SEE THE SON OF MAN COMING IN HIS KINGDOM. This is probably a prediction of the transfiguration, which immediately follows (see also Mark 9:2; Luke 9:28; 2 Peter 1:16). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getEl [ Continue Reading ]