True Confessions

1. Matthew 16.13-20

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

2. The Background

a. Southern Slope of Mt. Hermon in Northern Galilee [Map]

b. A Center for Baal Worship in Joshua’s time

c. Renamed Paneas for “Pan,” the god of shepherds, flocks, hunters, and was associated with all kinds of lude behavior regarding personal pleasure and lust

d. Herod the Great dedicated a Temple to Caesar there in 20 BC; his son, Philip expanded the area and renamed it Caesarea Philippi to distinguish it from Caesarea Maritima (Cornelius, Acts 10)

e. Caesarea Philippi is mentioned twice in the NT (also Mark 8.27 – same account)

3. Consider the Impact of this Place on Disciples of Jesus

I. The Place of Powerful Consideration (16.13)

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

A. A Pagan Place

1. Allegiance to Caesar and gods of Rome

2. Imagine the trepidation of the Disciples in going to this disgusting place

(What’s my mother going to say?)

B. A Place of Analysis for the Disciples

1. Who do men say I am? (14)

14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

2. Who do YOU say I am? (15)

3. We each have to deal with the same questions – away from the safety of church

4. We have a personal responsibility to encounter Jesus and develop our own relationship with him

II. The Place of Personal Revelation (16-18)

16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

A. Divine Origin of Peter’s Confession

1. Peter didn’t “figure it out” by putting 2+2 together

2. God revealed this reality to him (inspiration)

3. We have a spiritual emphasis, too – Romans 8.16

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

B. The Divine Renaming

1. Jesus loved nicknaming his disciples:

a. Simon to Peter (Rocky); Sons of Thunder

b. Your New Name (Pergamum) – Revelation 2.17

To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.

2. Play on Words

• “Petros” is a small Stone

• “Petra” is a Large Stone Foundation/Boulder

3. The Point – Jesus is the foundation of the church

• Matthew 7.24 Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

• 1 Corinthians 3.11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

4. Confessing Christ is Crucial – Ekklesia and Edah (witnessing community) 1 John 4.15

Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

5. In Hebrew thought there is one place where confession and bearing witness connect – in the Sh’ma – Deuteronomy 6.4-5

a. Jewish Confession of God

b. Contains the word for Witness

c. Peter’s Confession becomes a new Sh’ma

III. The Place of Permanent Conquest (18)

18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

A. The Gates of Hades/Sheol (the Place of the Dead)