Matthew 16:13-20
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
Peter’s Declaration about Jesus
13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesare′a Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do men say that the Son of man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Eli′jah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”[a] 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.”[b] 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! 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,[c] and on this rock[d] I will build my church, and the powers of death[e] shall not prevail against it.[f] 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven,[g] 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.
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- 16.14 The title of prophet had a Messianic significance because the gift of prophecy, which had been extinct since Malachi, was expected to return at the beginning of the Messianic era, especially by an outpouring of the Spirit as foretold by the prophet Joel and as realized in Acts 2.16.
- 16.16 The context shows that Peter recognizes the sonship of Jesus as divine and not adoptive like ours. Mark and Luke in the parallel passages mention only the confession of the Messiahship.
- Matthew 16:18 Greek Petros
- Matthew 16:18 Greek petra
- Matthew 16:18 Greek the gates of Hades
- 16.18 The name “Peter” comes from the Greek word for “rock.” Jesus makes him the foundation on which the church is to be built. The word “church” means “assembly” or “society” of believers. The Hebrew equivalent is used in the Old Testament to indicate the chosen people. In applying it to the church, Jesus shows it to be the Messianic community foretold by the prophets.
- 16.19 the kingdom of heaven: Peter has the key to the gates of the city of God. This power is exercised through the church. “Binding” and “loosing” are rabbinic terms referring to excommunication, then later to forbidding or allowing something. Not only can Peter admit to the kingdom; he also has power to make authoritative decisions in matters of faith or morals.
Matthew 16:13-20
New King James Version
Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ(A)
13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, (B)“Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”
14 So they said, (C)“Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or (D)one of the prophets.”
15 He said to them, “But who do (E)you say that I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered and said, (F)“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, (G)for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but (H)My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that (I)you are Peter, and (J)on this rock I will build My church, and (K)the gates of Hades shall not [a]prevail against it. 19 (L)And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth [b]will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
20 (M)Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.
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- Matthew 16:18 be victorious
- Matthew 16:19 Or will have been bound . . . will have been loosed
The Revised Standard Version of the Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1965, 1966 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
