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Matthew 16

The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.

He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.

And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.

And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.

Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.

Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?

Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?

Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

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.

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.

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.

Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

What does Matthew 16:13 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 16:13 is a pivotal verse that captures a moment when Jesus directly questions His disciples about His identity.

In the verse, Jesus is said to have come into the region of Caesarea Philippi, which is north of the Sea of Galilee.

There, He asks His disciples about the public's perception of Him, specifically referencing Himself as "the Son of man." This title is significant as it is a messianic term rooted in the Old Testament (Daniel 7:13-14), yet it also carries connotations of humanity and humility.

The question prompts the disciples to reflect on the various opinions held by others, setting the stage for a deeper revelation of Jesus's true nature and purpose.

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Historical Context

Caesarea Philippi was a Gentile city located at the base of Mount Hermon.

It was known for its dedication to various gods and was a place with significant pagan worship, including the worship of Pan.

The question posed by Jesus in this setting is profound, given that the prevalent religious beliefs of the region were polytheistic.

By asking who people think He is in such a region, Jesus was contrasting the beliefs of the age with the revelation of the true nature of His person and mission.

Theological Insights

Different theological perspectives view this verse variously:

Traditional Christian View: Most Christian traditions see this passage as Jesus prompting His disciples to distinguish Jesus' identity from popular opinions, paving the way for Peter's declaration of Jesus as the Messiah in the verses that follow.
Critical Perspective: Some scholars argue that the historical Jesus might not have made explicit messianic claims and that this narrative reflects the early Christian community's beliefs.
Messianic Judaism: Followers often emphasize the importance of Jesus' title "Son of Man" and its Old Testament roots, seeing it as evidence of Jesus' dual nature as both divine and human.

Practical Applications

This verse invites individuals to consider the identity of Jesus and to discern the truth amid various opinions and teachings.

The verse encourages personal reflection about who Jesus is and challenges believers to understand and affirm their faith's foundational beliefs.

It also serves as a reminder that popular opinion is not always aligned with divine truth, which has practical implications for how one should live their life and witness to their faith.

Cross-References

Daniel 7:13-14: The prophecy of the "Son of man" which is seen as a messianic reference.
Matthew 8:20: Jesus refers to Himself as the Son of man.
Matthew 16:15-16: Peter answers Jesus' question, affirming His identity as the Christ.
John 12:34: The crowd reflects on the concept of the Son of man.

Language Study

The phrase "Son of man" translates from the Greek "ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου" (ho huios tou anthrōpou).

The term "υἱὸς" (huios) directly translates to "son," and "ἀνθρώπου" (anthrōpou) translates to "man," or more broadly, "human." The term is Semitic in origin, found in the Old Testament to denote a human being or to refer to the Messiah coming with God's authority.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The concept of a central figure who comes to fulfill a divine purpose can be found in various cultures and religions.

For example, in many ancient myths, heroes undergo extraordinary births or feats to save their people.

In Buddhism, the idea of a Maitreya, a future Buddha who will appear on earth, share teachings, and achieve enlightenment, presents a parallel concept.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientific perspectives do not typically intersect with theological or historical questions about religious figures like Jesus. The scientific method requires empirical evidence and doesn't address spiritual or existential queries.

Thus, there is no scientific perspective on Jesus's question about his identity or the disciples' understanding of it.

Commentaries

Various biblical commentators have provided their perspectives on Matthew 16:13:

John Calvin: Emphasized the importance of this passage as a test of the disciples' faith, and that Christ's question is a preparation for the confession of His divinity.
Matthew Henry: Suggested that the question of Jesus was designed to check what the disciples had observed and what improvement they had made.
William Barclay: Indicated that in such a setting, full of pagan influences, the question about Jesus' identity held particular significance as it contrasted the claims of paganism with the revelation of one true God.
**R.T.

France**: Pointed out that this passage signals a turning point in Jesus' ministry and the growing understanding of His true identity among His followers.

Matthew 16

Matthew 16

What does Matthew 16:13 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Matthew 16:13 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?