Matthew 16:13-28
Who do you say Jesus is?
In Jesus we find meaning and purpose to our lives, but we are only able to recognise who He is because God graciously opens our eyes and hearts to see.
There are many profound questions in life – will you marry me? Is it a boy or a girl? Why do I matter? The most significant question is, ‘Who do you say Jesus is?’ Ultimately, our future depends on how we answer. Jesus’ identity is at the heart of the gospel we believe and proclaim. In verse 20 Jesus tells His disciples to tell no-one He is the Christ. Why?
Who do you say that Jesus is not only determines our future but our life now. In Jesus we find the purpose of our lives, our identity, where we belong. Here, Peter says, ‘You are the Christ.’ Matthew 16:16 is not included in the other gospels. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Matthew includes these verses to show his theme – that Jesus fulfils Old Testament prophecies, He is the King of Kings. Throughout the Coronation Service of Charles III, we heard that he not king of all, he is to serve. Society today is very unchurched and has a limited understanding of Biblical things. As Jewish people heard the prophecy of the coming Messiah, they did not understand this. Matthew tries to show Jesus is the Messiah.
This passage marks a turning point in Jesus’ ministry. Now Jesus has to prepare His disciples for all He is about to face. “From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” (v.21).
In this message we will explore:
- A timely conversation
- A challenging question
- An empowering instruction
- A surprising command
1. A timely conversation
Jesus knows all He is going to face. His disciples need to know who He is. This conversation is just with His disciples. The people recognised there was something special about Jesus. There were times when Jesus had alluded to His kingship (v.17) but He never used the title ‘Christ,’ He used ‘Son of Man,’ “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” (v.13). Old Testament prophecies use this phrase e.g. Daniel 7.
People recognised He healed, He had power and authority over death, the elements and had outcast demons. On one occasion (Matthew 8) Jesus does not acknowledge where He has the power from. But now, Jesus asks the disciples, “But who do you say that I am?” He wants to get them thinking about who he is.
2. A challenging question
Who do people say the Son of Man is? Why is this important? The disciples had been with Jesus, seen Him performing miracles. When Jesus asks them, they answer, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” (v.14). ‘They’ Shows that more than one of them replied. They were talking amongst themselves. The people acknowledged Jesus was a prophet who had some authority, realising His teaching was from God, but not that He was the Son of God. They couldn’t determine who Jesus was.
Jesus then asks His disciples, “But who do you say that I am?” (v.15). The answer is given by Simon Peter, the bold, brash disciple, on behalf of all of them. His answer acknowledges exactly who Jesus is. Peter clearly recognises Jesus is the Messiah, the chosen One. Why were they able to see this and the crowds were not? It was not because they were more spiritual or more educated. They were fishermen. So, how were they able to recognise Jesus was the Messiah? Because God revealed it to them (v.17). There was no possibility that Peter and the other disciples could come to this conclusion themselves. It is the same for us today, we cannot know the things of God because we are ignorant, “They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.” (Ephesians 4:18).
After Jesus had explained this to the disciples, Peter clearly understands. We come to see Him as our Saviour through God’s divine power. He has opened our eyes so that we may see. It is solely God’s work. By His glory, virtue and grace, He opens our hearts and we can see. It is because of all He he has done we can come to Jesus and have salvation. God has given us all things to be right with Him. All we have to do is simply respond. Have you come to Him asking for forgiveness of sins? It is only when you have done this that you will be blessed. To be blessed is to be in a state of spiritual happiness, to have a deep joy of the soul of knowing I am His and He is mine. Being a Christian is the start of our lives with God and for God. All have a part in building up His church. Jesus tells His disciples they have a part in building His church, “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.” (v 18-19).
3. An empowering instruction
Verses 18-19 contain metaphors of great encouragement. Christ’s church will last forever. Peter’s declaration is Jesus is the Christ, the solid rock on which our faith stands. Jesus has conquered death and the grave. His Kingdom will be victorious. Jesus will use them and us to bring others into His Kingdom (v.19). In order to enter the Kingdom you have to go through a door – the key – recognising Jesus is the promised One. At the end of verse 19 Jesus tells His disciples, “Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matthew is writing to Jews. This is a common Jewish phrase. To bind means it is forbidden. To loose means allowed to enter into heaven. When a person is told who Jesus is and does not believe, they are bound. As we proclaim the gospel, we are fulfilling what God has already planned.
4. A surprising command
“Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.” (v.20). Jesus forbids the disciples to tell anyone He is the Christ. Why? Jesus also told others the same thing. It was not the right time. In those days the title Messiah was misunderstood. Peter vehemently rejected Jesus’ prediction, “From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” (verses 21-23).
Peter was looking at the situation the way man would look at it, not God. Jesus was not a military power, He what is stablishing a spiritual Kingdom. Jesus would be a suffering servant (Isaiah 53). Jesus told them to wait until He had been crucified and resurrected.
We need to ensure we understand who Jesus is. What did Jesus come to accomplish as a saviour? What does it mean to those around us? Everyone is facing battles. Many people are looking for hope and escape, someone to rescue them. We need to be careful when we proclaim the gospel that we do not say these difficulties will disappear (Romans 8:35, John 16:33). We will face tribulation but we can know peace if we are in Christ. Jesus wants to deliver us from the punishment we deserve from our sins. When we have peace from God, we have hope and can look forward to the day when we will be with Him in eternity.
Who do you say that Jesus is? Is He your Lord? Praise God if He is!
Penuel Baptist Chapel, Roch 