Matthew 16, Part One

The Pharisees want to see a sign (vs. 1-4)—We’ve already been down this road. The Pharisees asked Jesus for a sign in Matthew 12:38, and Jesus didn’t give them one then, either. Jesus rebuked them: you can read the weather, why can’t you read the signs of the times? He mentions again the “sign” of Jonah (v. 4), but they no doubt didn’t understand or care to.

The leaven of the Pharisees (vs. 5-12)—The disciples didn’t have any bread with them (v. 5), so Jesus uses the occasion to teach an object lesson: “’Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees’" (v. 6). The apostles, obtuse as usual, thought He was talking about real bread. Jesus, seemingly frustrated, censures their lack of faith and understanding, referring them to the feeding of the 5,000 and the 4,000. If the Lord could feed that many miraculously, why were they worrying about food? “Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (v. 12). They finally got it.

Peter’s confession (vs. 13-20)—The apostles had been out on the so-called “limited commission” (chapter 10), and at times, Jesus had been alone so they had had a chance to mingle with the people. Jesus tests them now: “'Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?’" (v. 13). Well, some thought He was Elijah, or Jeremiah, or John the Baptist, or another of the prophets. “’But who do you say that I am?’" (v. 15). Peter spoke up immediately: “'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God'" (v. 17). Jesus pronounces a blessing upon Peter for this proclamation, and then says, “'On this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it’” (v. 18). Peter is not the rock upon which the church is built; Jesus uses an interesting play on words here, just as He had done in the previous section concerning the leaven of the Pharisees. The name “Peter” in the Greek is the word “petros”, which means a small stone. The “rock” upon which the church is built is “petra”, or a huge boulder. Surely Jesus would not build the most important institution in the world—the church—upon something as weak and frail as a human being. He does promise Peter “the keys of the kingdom,” which doesn’t mean Peter is standing at the gate of heaven, deciding who gets to see God and who doesn’t. The reference is probably to the fact that, after Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension, Peter preached the first gospel sermon to both Jews (Acts 2) and Gentiles (Acts 10), thereby opening the door of salvation to both. Jesus’ reference is a bit obscure, but that seems to me to be the best explanation. In verse 20, Jesus commanded His apostles “that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.” Why? Probably because He didn’t trust their level of understanding yet, and feared they would muck it up.