Matthew 16:13 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?
This was not a sea coast, but a city about 25 miles north of Capernaum
He asked His disciples what others thought because others spoke more freely to His disciples than they spoke to him.
Matthew 16:14 And they said, Some say that you art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
John the Baptist – Mark 6:14 And king Herod heard of him; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do show forth themselves in him.
Elias (Elijah) Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: 6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
Jeremias (Jeremiah) Jeremiah 1:4 Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 5 Before I formed you in the belly I knew you; and before you came forth out of the womb I sanctified you, and I ordained you a prophet unto the nations.
Jeremiah 7:1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, 2 Stand in the gate of the Lord’s house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the Lord, all ye of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the Lord.
Or one of the prophets: they could perceive Jesus as a dead man come to life, but they refuse to see Him as the Messiah.
But they knew He was the Messiah. John 3:3 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that you do, except God be with him.
Matthew 16:15 He said unto them, But whom say you that I am?
Now Jesus asks His disciples for their opinion. It is sort of a mathematical equation. Can you disciples add up all that you have heard and witness of me?
Matthew 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Here is a confession of faith. 1 John 5:1 Whosoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loves him that begat loves him also that is begotten of him.
Peter rightly describes that relationship of God and Christ as Father and Son.
He declares God as a living God as compared to a lifeless idol made of wood, metal and stones.
It is only through our belief in God that we can believe in Jesus and it is the Holy Spirit of God that awakens our consciousness to this truth.
Matthew 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed are you, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood has not revealed it unto you, but my Father which is in heaven.
Blessed are you – Happy as used by Jesus in the Beatitudes in the 5th chapter of Matthew: Example Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Barjona – Aramaic for “Son of John.” Simon’s father was named John.
Flesh and Blood are mortal and does not have the full knowledge of Godly works and or God’s Will.
My Father has made it known – Romans 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto you, That you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
In verse 17, God makes the revelation by His Spirit. Now in verse 18, Jesus makes a revelation using the word “Also” meaning that He and God are one in Spirit.
He refers to Simon as Peter meaning Petros (a fragment of rock)
John 1:42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shall be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.
He says upon this Rock – “Petra – meaning stone – speaking of Himself – the truth spoken by Peter – that He will build His Living Body – the Church.
John 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and will you rear it up in three days? 21 But he spoke of the temple of his body.
Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus said the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believes shall not make haste.
The Gates of Hell cannot prevail against the church, because the church is the body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:55 O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 16:19 And I will give unto you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
All believers are given the keys – not Peter alone.
The keys are a symbol of authority
Isaiah 22:22 And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. 23 And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father’s house
The authority is given to us to do the works of Christ.
John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. 13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Matthew 16:20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
It was not yet the proper time to reveal His true identity. Also, He was not grand in His presenting of Himself. He was the embodiment of humbleness. He rather His works speak for Him and His identity be revealed by a faith that comes over those who witness the works of God in Him.
Matthew 16:21 From that time forth began Jesus to show 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.
This begins the third phase of His ministry – a period of rejection.
Matthew 17: 22 And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:
Matthew 20:18 Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, 19 And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.
Matthew 20: 28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Matthew 16:22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from you, Lord: this shall not be unto you.
Peter takes physical hold of Jesus and rebukes what He is prophesying. Peter was operating out of selfishness for what he wanted and not what God was willing to be performed.
Matthew 16:23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get you behind me, Satan: you art an offence unto me: for you savor not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
This is the law of double reference. Jesus is addressing Peter, but He is speaking to Satan who has overcome the spirit of Peter.
One moment, the Spirit of God uses Peter to reveal Christ to the Disciples and in the next moment Satan has control.
The battle of Spirit over Flesh.
1 Corinthians 15:31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
Matthew 16:24 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.
Mark 8:33 But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get you behind me, Satan: for you savor not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.
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