Matthew 16

From Wikichristian.org

1 The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing him, asked him to show them a sign from heaven. ^edit Full Text of Matthew 16

Matthew 16

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OPINIONS

Matthew 16 (discussion) (For short comments and opinions)

CONTENTS

1 Verses
2 Commentary
3 Translations of Matthew 16
4 Quotes
5 Links

Verses

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

Commentary

The sixteenth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew contains a discourse between Jesus and some Pharisees demanding a sign, as well as the famous Confession of Peter. In this confession, the apostle Peter states that Jesus is the Christ, but moments later shows his misunderstanding, when he rebukes Jesus as Jesus explains his mission to die in Jerusalem.

The yeast of the Pharisees

Confession of Peter

Verses 13-28 describe one of the key discussions between Jesus and the other disciples. Jesus and the disciples had come to Caesarea Philippi, when Jesus asked them who they thought he was. The apostle Peter confessed that he was the Christ and the Son of the Living God. This statement is generally known as the Confession of Peter and is also found in Mark 8 and Luke 9. Jesus then acknowledges that on "this rock" he would build his church. There is some controversy among Christians as to the meaning of Jesus' response to Peter. Within Protestantism there is general agreement that Jesus would build his church on the foundation of faith that "Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God". Roman Catholicism however, teaches that Jesus is saying that he will build his church on the apostle Peter himself.

Keys to the Kingdom

In verse 19, Jesus gives Peter the "keys of the Kingdom of Heaven"

19 I will give to you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven; and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven." ^edit

There are a great variety of views about the meaning of this verse.

The Roman Catholic view is that by giving Peter the keys, Jesus is giving Peter special, and unique authority over the church, and to dispense forgivenss. Tradition holds that Peter travelled to Rome and was the first bishop of Rome, and so today's Pope holds those same keys to the Kingdom of Heaven accordin to Catholic doctrine.

Another view, common in Protestantism, is that when Jesus gave Peter the keys, it meant that it would be Peter who would, in a sense, unlock the door of the Kingdom of Heaven (or the spread of the gosple) to non-Jews (Gentiles). This view holds that the words of Jesus were fulfilled in Peter in the book of Acts. In Acts 1:8 Jesus reveals that his disciples will be his witnesses to Judea (that is, the Jews), Samaria (that is, the Samaritans) and to the ends of the earth (that is, Gentiles, or non-Jews). In Acts, we see Peter being present when the Holy Spirit comes to the Jews at Pentecost (in Acts 2), to the Samaritans (in Acts 8) and to Cornelius and the Gentiles (in Acts 10).