ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Matthew 16

Matt. 16:1 The Pharisees and Sadducees were often bitter opponents (see note on 3:7). Here they join forces against Jesus. They saw him as a threat to their leadership and power.

Matt. 16:4–5 sign of Jonah. See note on 12:39. other side. See note on 8:28.

Matt. 16:6–12 In contrast to 13:33, here leaven is a negative metaphor. It indicates how corruption can ruin what is good.

Matt. 16:13 Caesarea Philippi is some 25 miles (40 km) north of the Sea of Galilee. It had been a center of the worship of (1) Baal, then (2) the Greek god Pan, and then (3) Caesar. At this time it was an important Greco-Roman city. It had a primarily pagan Syrian and Greek population. Regarding Son of Man, see note on 8:20.

Matt. 16:14 John the Baptist . . . Elijah . . . Jeremiah . . . one of the prophets. The responses are in line with the popular messianic expectations (see Deut. 18:15–18; Mal. 4:5).

Matt. 16:16 Simon Peter replied. Peter acts as spokesman for the Twelve (compare 15:15). Christ means “Messiah” or “Anointed One.” Son of the living God. Jesus is the Son of the God who is alive, unlike the pagan gods of Caesarea Philippi (see note on 16:13). Jesus is the fulfillment of the OT promise of a divine son as anointed king (2 Sam. 7:14; Ps. 2:7).

Matt. 16:17 Simon Bar-Jonah is an Aramaic name meaning “Simon son of Jonah.” Simon has a natural father, Jonah, but his ability to confess Jesus (v. 16) came not from any flesh and blood source but from my Father who is in heaven.

Matt. 16:18 you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church. This is one of the most controversial and debated passages in all of Scripture. The key question concerns Peter’s relationship to “this rock.” For several reasons, it is best to think that “this rock” refers to Peter himself. Jesus’ entire pronouncement is directed toward Peter, and the connecting word “and” most naturally identifies the rock with Peter himself. But if “this rock” refers to Peter, the question remains as to what that means. Protestants generally have thought that “rock” refers to Peter in his role of confessing Jesus as the Messiah. The other disciples would share in that role as they made similar confessions (see Eph. 2:20, where the church is built on all the apostles). In other words, Jesus’ statement did not mean that Peter would have greater authority than the other apostles (see Gal. 2:11–14), or that he would be infallible in his teaching (see Matt. 16:23). It did not imply a special office for Peter or his successors. Peter is still “sent” by other apostles to Samaria (Acts 8:14), and he has to give an account of his actions to the Jerusalem church (Acts 11:1–18). Peter is presented as having only one voice among many voices at the Jerusalem council, and in fact, James has the decisive final word (Acts 15:7–21). The word “church” occurs only here and in Matt. 18:17 in the Gospels; Jesus points ahead to the time when he will build his church. gates of hell (sometimes translated “gates of hades”; see also: “gates of Sheol” [Isa. 38:10]; “gates of death” [Job 38:17; Ps. 9:13]). Hades, or Sheol, is the realm of the dead. Death will not overpower the church.

Matt. 16:19 keys of the kingdom of heaven. Peter (along with all who are called to preach the gospel) is given the authority to provide entrance into the kingdom through their proclamation (unlike the scribes and Pharisees in 23:13). In Acts, Peter is the first apostle to preach the message of the kingdom to the Jews at Pentecost (Acts 2), to the Samaritans (Acts 8), and to the Gentiles (Acts 10). whatever you bind . . . whatever you loose. Peter also has authority to exercise discipline concerning right and wrong behavior for those in the kingdom. This authority is extended to the church as a whole in Matt. 18:18; compare John 20:23.

Matt. 16:20 Jesus warned his disciples against telling anyone that he was the Christ, since the concept of Christ/Messiah was widely misunderstood by the crowds—and often by the disciples themselves. See note on 8:4; see 9:30; 12:16; 17:9.

Matt. 16:21–17:27 The Suffering of the Messiah Revealed. Jesus reveals the nature of his messiahship. He is a suffering Messiah. His disciples must suffer with him (16:21–28). Still, the transfiguration (17:1–13) shows who Jesus really is: the Son of God. And believers, who are themselves sons of the kingdom, have the same privileges as Jesus (17:14–27).

Matt. 16:21 From that time. This marks the conclusion of Jesus’ Galilean ministry and the beginning of his journey to Jerusalem to face the cross. It is the first of four times (v. 21; 17:22–23; 20:17–19; 26:2) that Jesus predicts his arrest and crucifixion.

Matt. 16:22 In the Jewish master-disciple relationship, it would have been unthinkable for a disciple to correct his master, let alone rebuke him. This shall never happen to you. The OT teaches, however, that the Messiah must suffer (e.g., Psalm 22; Isaiah 53; Zech. 12:10).

Matt. 16:23 Satan tries to hinder Jesus’ mission through Peter and his human-centered ideas about the Messiah’s mission (see note on v. 22).

Matt. 16:24 take up his cross. See note on 10:38.

Matt. 16:26 forfeits his soul. A reference to spiritual death and separation from God.

Matt. 16:27 Son of Man is going to come. See note on 8:20.

Matt. 16:28 see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom. This is probably a prediction of the transfiguration, which immediately follows (see also Mark 9:2–10; Luke 9:28–36; 2 Pet. 1:16–18).