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Why Such MIxed Responses?

Text: Matthew 16 : 13 - 28

Why were the responses to Jesus so varied? A number of factors may be suggested. Let us just highlight three of them.

1. Personal Interest

A person’s interest will to some extent determine how he reads a situation, or respond to a person. If the person’s interest is scant, then he will not bother to find out more about the person, even if that Person is none other than Jesus Himself.

2. Public Opinion and Its Influence

The general opinion of Jesus was good and favourable. However, general opinion did not go far enough. Many tend to be swayed by general opinion, and thus few dared to consider Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God.

3. Spiritual Blindness

Many were spiritually blind. While they saw the need to have the physical eyes restored to normal, few thought about the problem of spiritual blindness. Left untreated, the blindness prevailed and few saw Jesus for who He was – The Christ!

A GREAT BLESSING FROM GOD INDEED!

As Jesus heard the declaration of Peter, He immediately recognized His Father’s Hand at work in this disciple’s heart.

“Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Blessed are you,
Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you,
but My Father who is in heaven.'”
MATTHEW 16:17

1. Understanding of Spiritual Truth involves God

Few understood that spiritual perception involves God the Father! Jesus gave this understanding to His disciples on more than one occasion (Cf. Matthew 11:25).

2. God reveals His secrets to those found faithful

Peter, representing the disciples, had given up much to follow Jesus. The learning process may have been slow initially, but there had been some progress. God appreciates the efforts of the faithful! One of the ways in which He expresses His approval was to reveal Jesus to those who truly cared to know!

REVELATION OF FURTHER VITAL TRUTHS

Jesus was glad that His disciples had come to this understanding of who He was! After commending Peter, He went on to reveal God’s plans for the future!

“And I also say to you that you are Peter,
and on this rock I will build My Church,
and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven,
and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven,
and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.’
Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one
that He was Jesus the Christ.”
MATTHEW 16:18-20

There are many precious truths in this text. For easier comprehension, let us list these great truths.

1. A Personal Word of Commendation

It was Jesus who gave to Simon, the name “Peter” (John 1:42). At first sight, Jesus knew that Peter would come forth as a strong disciple. His declaration of Jesus boldly and strongly, was confirmation that what Jesus said about him was correct. He was indeed Peter, a rock! The first statement, a personal word of commendation must be distinguished from the next word that Jesus was about to make.

2. The Formation of the Church – a Future Entity

Hitherto, Jesus had not taught His disciples about the entity that He was going to build through His disciples. If His disciples had finally come to this level of spiritual maturity, then they were ready to learn deeper spiritual truths! He was going to build a Church – an entirely new entity! This “church” would be stronger than the concept of the temple or the synagogue system. The very gates of Hades would be opened up to attack the Church, but they would not prevail against it!

The foundation of the Church would be solid rock! Hence the structure would be strong and sturdy! Some have mistaken the mention of the word “rock” as a reference to Peter! We need to remember that Jesus was a Master at word play! (The Greek text has Jesus using two different words translated in English as “rock”. The difference in the two words employed would leave no doubt that Jesus was not making Peter the foundation of the Church).

3. Authority in the Church

As the Temple and the synagogues were structured on the basis of “authority”, so the new entity would have special authority given to it!

a) “Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven”

The idea of the word “keys” signified “authority”. Peter, initially, and subsequently the other disciples would be given special authority indeed.

b) Loosing and Binding

Again, the language is that of one exercising authority. The disciples would have to learn how to wield this authority that would be entrusted to them.

These were new concepts! The disciples knew that Jesus was preparing them for new lessons to be learned from this point onwards!