Matthew 16 - Printer Friendly

What does Matthew 16 mean?

Chapter Commentary:

Matthew 16 begins with another confrontation between Jesus and some of Israel's religious leaders. A group of Pharisees and Sadducees approach Jesus together. This is unusual, since the two sects don't agree on more than the most basic points of theology. Their demand to Jesus is for another sign from heaven (Matthew 12:13–14, 22). Jesus points out they can read basic signs in the skies to predict weather. However, they refuse to recognize obvious signs such as the many miracles He has already accomplished. He declares He will not give them any sign but that of Jonah (Jonah 1:17), who was swallowed by the great fish and restored on the third day (Matthew 16:1–4).

Jesus and the disciples get in a boat again to cross the Sea of Galilee, perhaps to gain space away from Jewish religious leaders. The disciples realize they have forgotten to bring bread for this trip. Jesus, apparently still thinking about His exchange with the Pharisees and Sadducees, warns the disciples to watch out for the "leaven" of those religious leaders. Leaven, or yeast, was often used as a metaphor for sin: something tiny which could thoroughly infiltrate and change whatever it entered. The disciples wonder if Jesus is upset because they forgot the bread (Matthew 16:5–7).

Instead, Jesus becomes upset about their small faith and focus on earthly bread. He reminds them that they were present—twice—when He fed thousands of people from just a few loaves (Matthew 14:13–21; 15:34–38). There's no reason they should be so worried about food as to miss such an obvious metaphor. He warns them again about the false teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees (Matthew 16:8–12).

Jesus and the disciples travel north about 25 miles from the Sea of Galilee to Caesarea Philippi. There, Jesus asks them who the people say He is. By this, He means the general opinion of the public. The disciples report that some people think He is the return of a great prophet, others that He is somehow John the Baptist. Making an important contrast between "popular opinion" and "personal belief," Jesus asks who the disciples say He is. Peter answers for the group: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:13–16).

This results in an enthusiastic response, with Jesus saying God the Father has revealed the truth to Peter. Jesus then makes a wordplay out of Peter's name, using two different Greek words. One, referring to Peter, means "a stone or a rock." The other, referring to the substance on which the church will be built, refers to "rock" as a substance or a material. On Peter's statement—the belief he expressed—Jesus says He will build His earthly church. The gates of hell won't prevail against it. Jesus tells Peter he will be given the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever the disciples bind or loose on earth will be bound or loosed in heaven (Matthew 16:17–19).

Surprisingly, Jesus then tells this group of men not to tell others about His role as Messiah, just yet. Jesus is aware that the people are hungry for a victorious, earthly Messiah. They are likely to revolt against Rome, based on how they've responded to Jesus in the past (John 6:15). For that reason, widespread proclamation of His role needs to wait (Matthew 16:20).

Jesus, who has limited His travels and ministry mostly to the region of Galilee in northern Israel, begins to show the disciples that He must go to Jerusalem. This is literally the headquarters—the home territory—of the enemies who hate Him the most. He predicts He will suffer many things from those elders, chief priests, and scribes. Ultimately, He will even be killed. Of course, Jesus also mentions that He will be raised on the third day (Matthew 16:21).

Peter seems to have gained too much confidence from Jesus' recent praise. He does not merely disagree with Jesus, he rebukes Him. Peter is scolding the same Man he recently identified as Messiah, because Jesus is not meeting Peter's expectations. In what must have been a devastating reply to Peter, Jesus shockingly refers to Peter as Satan. Peter's mind is set on human things, including human preferences and human traditions, and not the things of God (Matthew 16:22–23).

Jesus repeats an earlier message to those gathered nearby. Anyone who would come after Him must take up their cross of self-denial and follow Him. Crucifixion, in that era, evoked concepts like humiliation, dishonor, shame, agony, misery, and death. Christ is not speaking about tolerating minor inconvenience; He's speaking of willingness to sacrifice everything associated with the world. Those who live for themselves—clinging to worldly things and earthly ideals—will lose their eternal lives. Those who lose their earthly lives will find true eternal life. Jesus frames this in a common-sense rhetorical question: what good would it be to gain all the temporary things of the world, only to suffer an eternity of loss? Judgment will come, for all people, and those who reject Christ will be lost (Matthew 16:24–27).

The final comment made by Jesus in this chapter is a reference to "some" of these disciples seeing Him coming into His kingdom before they die (Matthew 16:28). This is a reference to the transfiguration: the very next thing described by Matthew (Matthew 17:1–2). In that event, Peter, James, and John will witness a glorified scene which foreshadows Jesus' rule on earth.

Matthew 16:1–4 describes Jesus' confrontation with a group of Pharisees and Sadducees asking for a sign from heaven—a miracle. He points out that they can read the signs of the weather, but stubbornly won't recognize the signs He has already performed. The demand for even more evidence, when so much is already provided, is the sign of a spiritually bankrupt approach. The only sign Jesus tells such people to expect is the sign of Jonah. This is a reference to His impending death, followed three days later by resurrection.

Matthew 16:5–12 follows His confrontation with critics demanding yet another miracle as proof of His authority. The disciples mention they have forgotten to pack bread, to which Jesus responds they need to watch out for "the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." They think He is talking about the missing bread. Jesus challenges their faith. They were present when He fed thousands from a few loaves. Why are they talking about literal bread? He warns them again about the Pharisees and Sadducees, indicating that their teachings are false.

Matthew 16:13–20 describes a conversation between Jesus and the disciples about His identity. It takes place about 25 miles north of the Sea of Galilee in the district of Caesarea Philippi. Jesus asks who the people say He is and then asks who the disciples say He is. Peter says Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus says this declaration of faith will be the rock on which He will build His church.

Matthew 16:21–28 describes the disciples' reaction when Jesus reveals He must be killed by religious leaders and raised on the third day. Peter, recently praised for His faith (Matthew 16:17), chastises Jesus for saying such things. Jesus responds with a devastating rebuke of His own, saying "Get behind me, Satan!" Peter's insistence that Messiah could not be killed is based in his own assumptions, not truth. Christ warns that those who follow Him must be willing to give up all else in the world, and to take on hardship and persecution, as needed. He adds that some standing there will not die before seeing Him coming in His kingdom; this prediction is fulfilled in the next passage (Matthew 17:1–2).

Chapter Summary:

A group of Pharisees and Sadducees demand a miracle from Jesus, though He has already performed many. Jesus refuses and warns the disciples to beware of the teachings of these religious leaders. Jesus asks the disciples who the people say He is, as well as their own opinion. Peter says Jesus is the Christ, and is commended for that statement. Jesus begins to reveal that He must suffer and be killed before being raised on the third day. Peter's attempt to scold Jesus results in a devastating rebuke. Jesus then says all who would follow Him must take up crosses of self-denial.

Chapter Context:

Matthew 16 finds Jesus returned from the Gentile regions, only to be immediately confronted by another group of Jewish religious leaders. Yet again, these men prove they are insincere: no amount of evidence will ever be enough for them. After a dramatic discussion about Jesus' role as Messiah, Jesus indicates that those who would come after Him must take up their crosses and follow Him. His references to some seeing the Son of Man coming in His kingdom will be fulfilled at the beginning of chapter 17, in an event known as the transfiguration.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.

Accessed 5/6/2024 7:36:19 AM