The Great Confession
An Exegesis Of Mathew 16:13-19
Introduction
1. After the miracle of feeding four-thousand people with seven loaves and a few little fish (Matthew 15:32-38), Jesus and His disciples came to Magdala (Matthew 16:39).
a. It was in Magdala that the Pharisees and Sadducees asked for a sign from heaven to prove He was the Messiah (Matthew 16:1).
2. From Magdala, they sailed across the sea of Galilee to Gergesa. Jesus then warned His disciples to ‘beware of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees’ (Matthew 16:4-12).
a. This doctrine of which they were to beware is hypocrisy (Luke 12:1).
b. The warning came just after His encounter with the Pharisees and Sadducees (Matthew 16:1-4). They had asked for a sign as proof of His identity yet He had already performed many signs.
3. From Gergesa, they traveled toward Caesarea Philippi (Matthew 16:13).
a. It was while ‘by the way’ to the towns (Mark 8:27) that Jesus questioned the disciples regarding His identity (Matthew 16:13ff).
4. Why did Jesus ask this question?
a. Because of what was in His mind:
"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." (Matthew 16:21)
b. As Jesus considered His coming baptism of suffering, He also had in view the reasons He would allow Himself to endure such:
"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2)
I. Whom Do Men Say That I The Son Of Man Am? (16:13-14)
A. Several prevalent views among the people:
1. That He was John the Baptist risen from the dead.
"At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus, And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him" (Matthew 14:1-2)
2. That He was Elijah, the pre-runner to the Messiah (See Malachi 4:5).
3. That He was Jeremiah:
a. Some supposed that he was the prophet alluded to by Moses in Deuteronomy 18:15 (See Gill).
b. Or that he was risen from the dead or transmigrated into another body (See Gill).
4. That He was one of the other prophets. The correct sense is given by Mark, “…or as one of the prophets” (Mark 6:15), i.e., He was a prophetical person, resembling those of old.
B. At first, many had confessed Jesus as the Messiah (John 1:40-41; 4:28-29; cp. 9:42). But as Dummelow says:
“This belief no longer existed. Those who held it had abandoned it because of His continued refusal to declare Himself and to do what was expected of the Messiah” (J.R. Dummelow).
II. But Whom Say Ye That I Am? (16:15-16)
A. Jesus makes no comment concerning the people’s views but seeks now their own personal view.
1. The question is put to all of them but, characteristically, Peter here speaks for them all.
2. Without any hesitation, they confess, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (16:16).
B. Much has been made of the fact that the word Peter means ‘rock,’ and have gone on to say that it is upon Peter that the church is built. We deny this because:
1. Jesus goes on to say that He would give them the keys of the kingdom, making him the door opener, not the foundation.
2. The word Peter actually refers to a small rock or pebble, while the word rock that Jesus uses, upon which the church is built, means ‘a ledge,’ i.e., A Huge Foundation.
3. We conclude, then, that the rock upon which the church is built is Peter’s confession, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Those who believe this fact and confess it are added to His church (Acts 8:36-38 > Romans 10:8-10 > Acts 2:47).
"For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 3:11)
III. And Upon This Rock I Will Build My Church (16:18)
A. The figure employed by Jesus, at first glance, may not seem to “work!”
1. Many people hold to the misconception that a ‘church’ is a physical building, thus, the concept of a church being built on a foundation is easily accepted.
2. However, as we should all know, the church is a reference to people, those ‘called out.’ With this in mind, Jesus is saying, ‘Upon this foundation I will build my assembly of people.’ The figure doesn’t seem to “work” does it?
3. Robertson clears this up for us:
“If one is puzzled over the use of "building" with the word ekklhsia it will be helpful to turn to 1Pe_2:5. Peter, the very one to whom Jesus is here speaking, writing to the Christians in the five Roman provinces in Asia (1Pe_1:1), says: "You are built a spiritual house" (oikodomeisqe oikov pneumatikov). It is difficult to resist the impression that Peter recalls the words of Jesus to him on this memorable occasion. Further on (1Pe_2:9) he speaks of them as an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, showing beyond controversy that Peter’s use of building a spiritual house is general, not local. This is undoubtedly the picture in the mind of Christ here in Mat_16:18. It is a great spiritual house, Christ’s Israel, not the Jewish nation, which he describes” (Robertson’s Word Pictures)
B. Concerning His church, Jesus says, “And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). Speculations abound as to what this phrase means but the meaning is clear form other Scriptures:
1. The word hell is incorrect, there is actually no such word!
“…Gehenna was a well-known valley, near Jerusalem, in which the Jews in their idolatrous days had sacrificed their children to the idol Moloch, in consequence of which it was condemned to receive the offal and refuse and sewage of the city, and into which the bodies of malefactors were cast and where to destroy the odor and pestilential influences, continual fires were kept burning. Here fire, smoke, worms bred by the corruption, and other repulsive features, rendered the place a horrible one, in the eyes of the Jews. It was a locality with which they were as well acquainted as they were with any place in or around the city” (J.W. Hanson, D.D.).
a. The actual Greek word used here is hades and is translated ‘Hades.’ It means ‘the grave.’
b. Many translations correct this error.
2. The (corrected) term ‘gates of Hades’ is explained:
“The gates of walled cities were often popular resorts where people talked or arranged to meet. In time it became a convenient place for princes and judges to discharge their official duties in the administration of justice (Deuteronomy 16:18; 25:7; Joshua 20:4; Ruth 4:1; Job 5:4; 31:21; Psalms 77:5; Proverbs 22:22; 31:23; Jeremiah 38:7; Lamentations 5:14; Amos 5:12; Zechariah 8:16). Thus, the word ‘gate’ became a synonym for power or authority. It is in this sense that it is used here and means, ‘The power of Hades shall not prevail against the church that Christ should establish’” (Quotes & Things, D. Collins).
a. The meaning here is that, ‘the power of death would not prevail against the church.’
b. How fulfilled?
1) In Jesus, the head of the church:
"Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power" (Acts 2:23-24)
2) In believers:
"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage" (Hebrews 2:14-15)
"For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him" (Romans 6:5-9)
"So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory" (1 Corinthians 15:54-55)
Conclusion
1. At first, many people were willing to accept Jesus as the long awaited Messiah.
2. But now we reach a point where the former opinions of the masses had changed. Despite having taught like no other man, they wonder who this Jesus could be. Despite all the miracles He performed, they ask for a sign from heaven to prove his identity.
3. And now in the way to Caesarea, Jesus looking ahead to the baptism of suffering He must soon endure. Will it all be vain? Will there be anyone who believes in Him?
4. Jesus confronts His disciples with the question, “Who do you say that I am?” Without hesitation, Peter answers, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” The disciples have not been swayed by the crowds, they not been influenced by the leaven of the Sadducees and Pharisees.
5. No, Jesus would not die in vain, there was hope after all; there were those who acknowledged and confessed Him as the Christ, the Son of the living God, and He would add to His church those who made the same confession, and even the power of death would not prevail against His church.
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