Matthew 16:13, commentary and pictures

Jesus was with His disciples when He came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, in a town near Caesarea Philippi beyond Galilee where idolatry and heathen worship were widespread. He used the stay in that seclusion to devote Himself more fully to teaching them, instructing them on the true nature of His kingdom against their desire for a temporal reign of worldly honor. The surroundings were meant to help them recognize their responsibility toward the heathen.

Before asking, He had prayed alone for His disciples that their faith would stand steadfast through His coming suffering and death. In the question He calls Himself the Son of Man. He asked His disciples whom men said that He was, drawing the report that some said John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.

Though people had seen His miracles and some called Him the Son of David or a prophet, they did not recognize Him as the Messiah. He asked what the people thought though He already knew their thoughts, giving the disciples opportunity to state their faith openly before He told them of His coming suffering. The faith then expressed would strengthen them for the trial ahead and remain firm through His suffering, humiliation, abuse, and apparent degradation.

The question about public opinion prepared the way for the closer personal question of what the disciples themselves believed, leading Peter to confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. That recognition came through the Father and the Holy Spirit, revealed by God and not discovered through human wisdom or insight. The confession expresses the living faith and living principle that will animate believers in every coming age through the mysterious working of God's Spirit on the heart, elevating even the humblest mind to knowledge above earthly wisdom and to knowledge of sacred truth.

His words about Peter and the rock did not give Peter superiority over the other apostles: the rock on which He builds His church is Christ Himself, and the powers of evil will not overcome it. The question begins the events that foreshadow the cross, in which He sees that His mission will bring Him to the cross to give His life for humanity, bear the world's sins, and win the world back to loyalty to God, enduring suffering and shame for the joy of that result. No human power could degrade Him, for His Godlikeness would appear in every scene of humiliation and flash conviction into the hearts of priests and rulers in a way they would never forget. The question stands centuries after Isaiah wrote of the Lord's servant called from the womb, named from his mother's bowels, made with a mouth like a sharp sword and as a polished shaft hidden in the shadow of God's hand and in His quiver, and addressed as my servant, O Israel, in whom God will be glorified.