Matthew 16 Commentary
Who is Jesus? The Pharisees and Sadducees have this same question. Could he be the Messiah as claimed? Their doubt is stronger than their faith. Probably a sign from heaven could help.
Poor Pharisees! There are plenty of signs and they cannot perceive them! The sign of Jonah, perhaps.
And the people? Who is Jesus? Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.
The disciples should know better. Who is Jesus? The Messiah, the Son of the living God? Yes. Peter gets it right and the LORD Jesus demands that they keep quiet about it. Of course, people needed to know who Jesus was, but why do we have this order from the LORD Jesus Christ?
We find the answer of these very lines. The identity of Jesus Christ is always a revelation from the Father in Heaven. It is not up to newspapers and other news channels to proclaim. The Holy Spirit opens the mind of the individual and then they can know who Jesus is.
The disciples must know preaching isn’t like a human campaign or advocacy. It is the work of the Spirit and you are simply a privileged tool!
Let faith respond to this most important question of all. Forget the statistics or citations! It is always a personal question. Who is Jesus to you?
It is on this personal knowledge that the LORD builds His church. It is a house that the LORD builds on a rock. Strong, authoritative, and lasting! Storms and winds beat against it but it stands. Only what the LORD builds can have these characteristics. Forget the teachings of the Pharisees or indeed any other teachings!
But what about the sign of Jonah that the LORD promises the Pharisees and the Sadducees? It is the fate of the suffering Servant of Isaiah 52 and 53. Read Isaiah 53 verse 11. The Servant has the ‘before’ and the ‘after’. In between is an important event we now know as the RESURRECTION. It is the sign of Jonah! Three nights in the belly of the fish are the three nights in the belly of the earth.
Let the disciples know that the Servant’s ‘before’ (Isaiah 53) has all the suffering that includes death.
But Peter must have skipped this entire chapter, or probably the entire lecture! His Messiah shouldn’t die! Like the teachings of the Pharisees, Peter’s poor understanding of the Messiah is dangerously one-sided. And in a flash of time, we have a repeat of the scene in the wilderness. The man Jesus was shown the kingdoms of the earth. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to ride on this platform! The devil is back again and must be resisted accordingly. Get behind me, Satan!
Remember how the devil “left him until an opportune time.” Luke 4 verse 13. Even now, we know the devil isn’t about done when you have overcome your first temptation.
Peter’s “human concerns” are personal security, titles, and well-being. We cannot laugh at him. We need to take care that we too don’t get swallowed up in the concerns of humans – the things of this world.
More resources visit http://www.lovingscripture.com
LOVING SCRIPTURE 