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Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 16:13-19

Caesarea Philippi. I. THE GREAT CONFESSION . 1 . The Lord ' s question. It was asked amid scenes of singular beauty; there was much to delight the eye: the gushing source of Jordan, the terraced heights on which the city was built, the majestic mass of Hermon with its crown of snow. But these fair sights were associated with sad thoughts of idolatry and sin. Dan was near at hand—the seat of the old worship of the golden calf. The city itself was more than half heathen; its... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 16:13-19

Peter's confession. This renewed retirement of our Lord is best accounted for by his need of quiet. What was now to be done? Another Passover was coming round. To proclaim himself at Jerusalem was indeed certain death; and yet was not the hour for taking this step at last come? Filled with inward conflict, our Lord journeys on and on until he finds himself at the very edge of the land of Israel But when his own mind is made up he at once communicates with the disciples, because it was... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 16:13-20

The climax of recognition of Christ ' s true nature declared in the great confession of Peter. ( Mark 8:27-30 ; Luke 9:18-21 .) read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 16:13-20

The true confession. "Who's who?" This is, generally speaking, a question of very little consequence. When the "Son of man" is concerned, it is of infinite moment. Everlasting issues turn upon the manner in which it is answered. From this important text we learn— I. THAT THE FAITH WHICH IS HUMAN IS UNCERTAIN . 1 . It may take colour from the distraction of guilt. 2 . It may be influenced by the spirit of the world. 3 . It may be distorted by the vanity of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 16:18

And I say also ( I also say ) unto thee. As thou hast said unto me, "Thou art the Christ," so I say unto thee, etc. Thou art Peter ( πέτρος , Petrus ) , and upon this rock ( πέτρα , petra ) I will build my Church. In classical Greek, the distinction between πέτρα and πέτρος is well known—the former meaning "a rock," the latter "a piece of rock," or "a stone." But probably no such distinction is intended here, as there would be none in Aramaic. There is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 16:18

The rock on which the Church is built. This famous sentence, which is emblazoned in great letters of gold round the interior of the dome of St. Peter's at Rome, has been a centre of controversy in the Church for generations. It would be beside our present need to discuss the history of that controversy. Leaving out of account the angry arguments of polemical theology, let us see what positive truth our Lord is here teaching us; for too often the jewel of truth is lost by both parties in a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 16:18

The rock truth. "Upon this rock I will build my Church." There has been grave dispute over this passage. Is the rock foundation of the Church Without entering into that discussion, we may simply say that this is true—the confession which Peter made expresses the foundation, the rock truth of Christianity, every doctrine of which rests secure on the Divine-human Sonship of our Lord. Peter is taken as representing this rock truth, because he was the first distinctly to give it expression.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 16:19

I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. The metaphor of a house or castle, with its gates that must be opened with keys, is still maintained; or else the idea is of the exercise of a stewardship in a household. But the latter seems unnecessarily to introduce a new notion, and to mar the concinnity of the passage. In Isaiah 22:22 we read, "The key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; and he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 16:19

The power of the keys. It is necessary to understand the Eastern associations which help to explain our Lord's figure of the "keys." The key in the East was a symbol of authority; it was made long, with a crook at one end, so that it could be worn round the neck as a badge of office. To "confer a key" was a phrase equivalent to bestowing a situation of great trust and distinction. The expressions "binding" and "loosing" are figurative expressions, which were in familiar use in the rabbinical... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 16:13-20

See also Mark 8:27-29, and Luke 9:18-20.Cesarea Philippi - There were two cities in Judea called Caesarea. One was situated on the borders of the Mediterranean (See the notes at Acts 8:40), and the other was the one mentioned here. This city was greatly enlarged and ornamented by Philip the tetrarch, son of Herod, and called Caesarea in honor of the Roman emperor, Tiberius Caesar. To distinguish it from the other Caesarea the name of Philip was added to it, and it was called Caesarea Philippi,... read more

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