Matthew 16 Commentary

The Pharisees have teamed up with their rivals, the Sadducees, and greet Jesus in order to trap Him soon after He returns to the district of Galilee. They ask Jesus for a sign to prove that He is the Messiah.

As Jesus and the disciples cross the Sea again, Jesus bids his disciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. They mistake his meaning and think they are in trouble because they forgot to bring bread. Jesus explains to them that He meant to beware of their teaching.

Jesus begins a significant conversation with His disciples In Caesarea Philippi. He asks His disciples about the Son of Man and who He is. Peter confesses that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God. Jesus commends His disciple for God’s revealing this to him, and tells him that such bold faith will lead the church to overcome culture and Hades itself. Jesus also tells Peter that He will give him authority to act on behalf of kingdom of heaven.

Jesus continues His significant private conversation with His disciples in Caesarea Philippi. After Jesus acknowledges His identity as both God and Messiah to His disciples, He explains to them how He will be killed in Jerusalem and rise from the dead. But they do not comprehend; Peter takes Jesus aside and rebukes Him for speaking these things. Jesus admonishes Peter and tells him that his thoughts and motives are Satanic.

Jesus concludes His revelatory conversation with His disciples in Caesarea Philippi by informing them that they too must die if they are to follow Him. Jesus gives the paradox of discipleship, that they must lose their lives for His sake if they are to find their lives. He promises to repay their faithfulness, and prophesies that some of them will see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom before they die.