Matthew 16

This chapter falls in the middle section of the Gospel of Matthew and follows directly after the feeding of the four thousand in the preceding chapter. Because Jesus' teaching turns toward the cross and the resurrection beginning with "From that time forth" in verse 21, the chapter is often regarded as a turning point in the Gospel.

Outline

• Verses 1–4 When the Pharisees and Sadducees ask for a sign from heaven, Jesus says that no sign will be given except "the sign of the prophet Jonas."
• Verses 5–12 When the disciples worry that they have forgotten to bring bread, Jesus reminds them of the feeding of the five thousand and of the four thousand. He teaches that the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees is their doctrine.
• Verses 13–20 At Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asks his disciples who they say he is. When Peter confesses, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God," Jesus speaks of the rock and the keys of the kingdom of heaven.
• Verses 21–23 Jesus foretells for the first time his suffering, death, and resurrection on the third day. He rebukes Peter, who tries to dissuade him.
• Verses 24–28 Jesus teaches on discipleship, calling his followers to deny themselves and take up the cross, and speaks of the coming of the Son of man.

Key Verses

• Matthew 16:16 "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." This is the first time the disciples clearly confess who Jesus is.
• Matthew 16:18 "Upon this rock I will build my church." This is the first occurrence of the word "church" in the Gospels.
• Matthew 16:24 "Let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." This saying is widely quoted as a summary of the life of a disciple.

People and Places

• Peter: In the text he is called "Simon Bar-jona," that is, Simon son of Jonah.
• John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah: Figures with whom people identified Jesus.
• Caesarea Philippi: A city at the foot of Mount Hermon, near the headwaters of the Jordan River. It is distinct from Caesarea on the Mediterranean coast.

Interpretive Considerations

• The rock and the keys (verses 18–19): The Catholic Church understands the rock to be Peter himself. It holds that the authority to bind and loose passes to his successors, the popes, and regards this passage as the basis for papal primacy (supreme authority). In Protestantism, many interpreters read the rock as Peter's confession of faith or as the Christ whom he confessed. Some Protestants acknowledge Peter as the representative of the apostles, but they hold that the text says nothing about succession. The Reformed tradition, including the Presbyterian churches, understands the keys of the kingdom as authority entrusted to the church and exercised through the preaching of the Word and church discipline. In Matthew 18:18, the authority to bind and loose is given to the disciples collectively.
• Verse 28: Interpretations differ concerning those who "shall not taste of death" before they see the Son of man coming. Proposed fulfillments include the Transfiguration, which immediately follows; the resurrection and Pentecost; the destruction of Jerusalem; and the Second Coming.
• Parallel passages: Peter's confession and the first passion prediction also appear in Mark 8 and Luke 9. The sayings about the rock and the keys appear only in Matthew.

In the Korean Church

The confession of faith in verse 16 and the teaching on discipleship in verses 24–26 are frequently cited in preaching. Verse 24 in particular is a favorite text for sermons during Lent and Holy Week and in discipleship training.