Matthew 16:13-28
When Jesus came to the area of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They answered, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “You are blessed, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven! And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.
Whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven.” Then he instructed his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.
From that time on Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.
So Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him: “God forbid, Lord! This must not happen to you!” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, because you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but on man’s.”
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it. For what does it benefit a person if he gains the whole world but forfeits his life? Or what can a person give in exchange for his life?
For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. I tell you the truth, there are some standing here who will not experience death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
The Scriptures quoted are from the NET Bible® http://netbible.com copyright ©1996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.
COMMENT & QUESTIONS
This is a central part in Matthew’s Gospel. After Peter declares that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, the story will begin to focus on the impending death of Jesus. The whole story of Jesus is pointing to the cross from now on.
Why do you think Peter rebuked Jesus for what He said? Why was Peter so upset at this?
Peter was passionate about Jesus becoming king and being the true Messiah of Israel. He had a strong idea in his head about what it looked like for Jesus to become King. His idea was completely contrary to what Jesus said about His suffering and death.
Are you ever guilty of “not setting your mind on God’s interests, but on man’s”?
This is the second reference to the coming of the Son of Man. This is a big theme in this Gospel.
Prayers
Give thanks for Jesus our Messiah and the mission He had Pray for strength to deny yourself, to take up your cross and follow Jesus Pray for people who are currently coming to put their faith in Jesus as ‘the Christ’