In consequence of the opposition of Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem (chap. Matthew 15:1; Matthew 15:21), our Lord had withdrawn to heathen and unfrequented regions. On His return, He lands at a retired locality in Galilee; the Pharisees seek Him, on this occasion in company with the Sadducees,... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 16:1. AND SADDUCEES. First mention of them, in antagonism to Christ. Opposed to each other, these two parties united against our Lord; opposition to the truth overbears other antagonisms. Extremes of error consistently meet in opposing our Lord's people and cause. TEMPTING, or ‘trying' Him... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 16:2. WHEN IT IS EVENING, YE SAY, FAIR WEATHER, etc. In answer to their demand for a ‘sign from heaven,' our Lord cites two weather ‘signs,' such as all men look for, ‘in the face of the heaven.' These signs (cited, not given by our Lord) hold good in other regions. The design was to rebuke... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 16:3. Symbolical meaning (not to be pressed): ‘The red at even of the Old Testament betokened fair weather at hand. Similarly, the red sky at the commencement of the New Testament, indicated the storm about to descend upon Israel. But they were incapable of understanding either one or other... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 16:4. Comp. chap. Matthew 12:39 (exactly the same words). The audience may have been in part the same, hence no explanation is added here. AND HE LEFT THEM AND DEPARTED. Abruptly it would seem. As events proved, He now gave them up to their blindness, but with pain at their unbelief. See o... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 16:5. AND THE DISCIPLES COMING TO THE OTHER SIDE. To the eastern shore. It is improbable that this conversation took place during the voyage (see below). FORGOT TO TAKE BREAD. Provisions were not indispensable for so short a voyage. The original suggests that the neglect occurred after they... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 16:6. THE LEAVEN OF THE PHARISEES AND SADDUCEES. ‘Leaven; ‘figure for a permeating spiritual influence, generally an evil one (comp, however chap. Matthew 13:33). Their want of bread made the illustration apt. They were now withdrawing, both bodily and spiritually, from the Jews; hence there... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 16:7. AND THEY REASONED AMONG THEMSELVES. In their own hearts and then with each other; not in dispute, but in earnest conversation. IT IS BECAUSE WE TOOK NO BREAD. An unspiritual but not altogether unreasonable thought. As Jews they would naturally think about not eating bread with these... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 16:8. AND JESUS KNOWING IT SAID. This avoids the incorrect notion, that He took some time to discover it O YE OF LITTLE FAITH. Words applied to them before (chap. Matthew 8:26; Matthew 14:31) on occasions of great weakness. After such miracles their cares were unbelieving.... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 16:9. DO YE NOT YET PERCEIVE. Mark (Mark 8:17-18) is more full. Besides want of faith, they had shown great want of perception.... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 16:10. BASKETS. A different word in the original from that used in Matthew 16:9, but the same one we find in the account of the miracle (chap. Matthew 15:37). This difference incidentally confirms the truthfulness of the account.... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 16:11. HOW IS IT THAT YE DO NOT PERCEIVE, etc. The recent instruction (chap. Matthew 15:19-20) that eating did not defile a man, should have prevented the surmise about not eating bread with the Pharisees and Sadducees; the miracles should have shown them that lack of earthly bread was not r... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 16:12. BUT BEWARE. This is the correct reading. THE TEACHING OF THE PHARISEES AND SADDUCEES. Comp. Luke 12:1. The leaven of the Pharisees is ‘hypocrisy.' But the Sadducees, the ‘liberal Jews' of that age, went to the other extreme. The reference is, therefore, not to what they taught in co... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 16:13. THE PARTS OF CESAREA PHILIPPI. Mark: ‘villages.' Probably not the city itself, but retired localities in the neighborhood, better adapted for private intercourse. The city was situated at the foot of Mount Hermon, and formerly bore the name _Paneas._ Philip the Tetrarch beautified it,... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 16:14. SOME SAY. The people had never been fully convinced that He was the Messiah. In the presence of opposition they only held that He was a remarkable personage. JOHN THE BAPTIST. Herod's opinion, see chap. Matthew 14:2. ELIJAH. The forerunner of the Messiah. JEREMIAH, etc. Some rea... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 16:15. BUT WHO SAY YE, etc. The question does not imply that they doubted His Messiahship, but is a demand for a decided expression as to what He was _as the Messiah_. This is the main point in Peter's reply.... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 16:16. SIMON PETER; answering for the others as well as for himself. THOU ART THE CHRIST (‘the Messiah'), THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD. Peter's reply is a decided, solemn, profound confession, that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God in a specific sense. This specific sense is clearly vi... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 16:17. BLESSED ART THOU. An answering confession of Peter as an object of the Divine favor, a subject of Divine grace (comp. Romans 10:9). SIMON BAR-JONA _,_ son of Jonah. His human name and paternity are introduced, probably with an allusion to the title: Son of man (Matthew 16:13); there... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 16:18. AND I ALSO SAY UNTO THEE. In answer to thy concession. The meaning of our Lord's words has been angrily discussed, and misapprehended by Romanists and Protestants alike. THOU ART PETER (‘petros'), AND UPON THIS ROCK (‘petra') I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH _._ The name Peter ‘had been proph... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 16:19. UNTO THEE. To Peter, who is addressed throughout; but as chap. Matthew 18:18 includes the other Apostles in the second promise of this verse, they are probably included here also. THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. Power to open and shut Peter first admitted Jews (on the day of Pent... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 16:20. THAT THEY SHOULD TELL NO MAN. Until our Lord Himself announced His Messiahship before the Sanhedrin (chap. Matthew 26:64), the Christian acknowledgment was to be kept separate from the carnal expectations of the Jews.... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 16:21. FROM THAT TIME BEGAN JESUS. The confession prepared them for the revelation. We infer that He spoke often and familiarly on this topic, to prepare them for their own trials, and to impress upon them the truth they deemed so strange. (Comp. chap. Matthew 17:22-23; Matthew 20:17-19, and... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 16:22. THEN PETER TOOK HIM. Either laid hold on Him to interrupt Him, or took Him aside. The explanation, ‘took by the hand,' for friendly entreaty, is unwarranted. AND BEGAN TO REBUKE HIM. He did not proceed far in this chiding. BE IT FAR FROM THEE, LORD, lit, ‘propitious to thee,' equi... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 16:23. BUT HE TURNED. Not turned from Peter, but turned round. SAID UNTO PETER. In the presence of all the disciples (Mark 8:33), whom Peter again represented to a certain extent. GET THEE BEHIND ME, ‘avaunt,' ‘begone.' Comp. chap. Matthew 4:10, where the same words are addressed to Sata... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 16:24. UNTO HIS DISCIPLES. To others also whom He called about Him (Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23: ‘to all'). IF ANY ONE WOULD COME AFTER ME. A general statement, involving on this occasion the question, will you follow me even to the death, which, I have assured you, must come. Unlike worldly lead... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 16:25. FOR WHOSOEVER WOULD SAVE HIS LIFE, etc. Comp, the same thought in chap. Matthew 10:39. Whoever makes the lower life the supreme motive shall lose the higher life, and whoever, making Christ supreme, shall lose even life for His sake shall find it in the highest, truest sense. The cont... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 16:26. WHAT SHALL A MAN BE PROFITED. In view of this saving and losing. FORFEIT HIS LIFE. Same word as in Matthew 16:25. The variation in the common version is unfortunate. It has the double meaning ‘life' and ‘soul.' But here ‘life' in the higher sense is meant, not ‘soul' in distinction... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 16:27. FOR. The reason this transaction is so unprofitable is now given. THE SON OF MAN, who now in humble form asks to be followed on the path of suffering. SHALL COME IN THE GLORY OF HIS FATHER. Through suffering to glory. He spoke first of His own sorrows, then of His people's; now He... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 16:28. VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU. Solemn preface. THERE BE SOME OF THEM THAT STAND HERE. The Twelve and the people about (Mark 8:34). WHO SHALL IN NO WISE TASTE OF DEATH. Death is represented under the figure of a bitter cup. Some of those present should be still alive when the event referre... [ Continue Reading ]