PETER’S GREAT CONFESSION

Matt. 16:13-20, “When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?   And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.   He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.   And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.  

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.   And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.   Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.”

I. TWO QUESTIONS

1. Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? He called Himself the Son of man because of human birth and lineage. Notice the lack of concern over the many different theories of who He was. He offers no response, or finds it necessary to comment on man’s interpretation of His identiy.

Matt. 16:14, “And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.”  Men’s Assumptions

It was the opinion of some of the Jews, that he was John the Baptist risen from the dead. This notion was spread, and prevailed in Herod's court, and he himself, at last, gave into it. Matt. 14:1-12

2. Elias Elijah was predicted by Malachi. The prophecy spoke of John the Baptist. Mal. 4:4, 5

3. Jeremiah Jeremiah is omitted both by Mark and Luke; the reason why he is mentioned, is not because of what is said of him, in Jer. 1:5 but because the Jews thought he was that prophet spoken of, in Deut. 18:15 that should be raised up from among them, like unto Moses

2. But whom say ye that I am?  He had never asked this question before, but the crisis that was coming made it fitting that He should find out what they had learned in three years.

II. THREE TITLES

With the context, the three titles of Christ come together: Christ, Son of Man, and Son of God.

1. Son of Man Matt. 8:20, “And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.” Matt. 9:6, “But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.”

Matt. 11:19, “The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.” Matt. 12:8, “For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.”

2. Christ (The Anointed One) Matt. 22:42, “Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David.” Matt. 23:8, “But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.

3. Son of God This title is used over 40 times in the Bible. Jesus was claiming to be equal to the Father. John 5:18, “Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.”

III. FOUR ACTIONS

1. Blessed (Divine Blessing) Matt. 16:17, “Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” 1. Blessed (Divine Blessing)

1. Blessed (Divine Blessing) Peter was blessed by receiving this special revelation from God. He is called Simon Barjona because of his human origin. 1. Blessed (Divine Blessing)

2. Peter (His Name is Changed) Simon’s, the human disciple, name is changed to represent his spiritual identity. Let us not forget that this name was given him when Jesus first called him to the ministry. Jn. 1:42, “And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.”

3. Church (The Foundation to be Laid) “… upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”  3. Church (The Foundation to be Laid)

4. Keys (The Keys are Given to the Kingdom) And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 

IV. FIVE FACTS CONCERNING THE CHURCH

1. The Builder is Christ “I will build MY church.” No matter how you get around it, Christ is the head of the church (Eph. 1:22, 4:15; Col. 1:18). 1. The Builder is Christ

“and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” 2. Unconquerable

3. Celestial Opening “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” 

Given to the Apostles A key is an instrument for opening a door. He that is in possession of it has the power of access, and has a general care of a house. Hence, in the Bible, a key is used as a symbol of superintendence an emblem of power and authority (Isa. 22:22, Rev. 1:18, 3:7). Jesus speaks of apostolic authority. Given to the Apostles

Originated with Christ The keys were passed by Christ to the apostles, who in turn, pass them to all faithful servants of Christ. Originated with Christ

4. Eternal Luke 1:33, “And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.”

5. Unchangeable Mal. 3:6, “For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” If God is unchangeable, why would anyone think that the church changes with the times.