Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 16:5
Come to the other side - Viz. the coast of Bethsaida, by which our Lord passed, going to Caesarea, for he was now on his journey thither. See Matthew 16:13 , and Mark 8:22 , Mark 8:27 . read more
Matthew 16
Adam Clarke
Adam Clarke
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 16:6
Beware of the leaven - What the leaven of Pharisees and Sadducees was has been already explained, see Matthew 16:1 . Bad doctrines act in the soul as leaven does in meal; they assimulate the whole Spirit to their own nature. A man's particular creed has a greater influence on his tempers and conduct than most are aware of. Pride, hypocrisy, and worldly-mindedness, which constituted the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees, ruin the major part of the world. read more
Adam Clarke
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 16:7
They reasoned - For, as Lightfoot observes, the term leaven was very rarely used among the Jews to signify doctrine, and therefore the disciples did not immediately apprehend his meaning. In what a lamentable state of blindness is the human mind? Bodily wants are perceived with the utmost readiness, and a supply is sought with all speed. But the necessities of the soul are rarely discovered, though they are more pressing than those of the body, and the supply of them of infinitely more... read more
Adam Clarke
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 16:8
When Jesus perceived, he said - Αυτοις , unto them, is wanting in BDKLMS, and twenty others; one of the Syriac, the Armenian, Ethiopia, Vulgate, and most of the Itala; also in Origen, Theophylact, and Lucifer Calaritanus. Mill approves of the omission, and Griesbach has left it out of the text. O ye of little faith - There are degrees in faith, as well as in the other graces of the Spirit. Little faith may be the seed of great faith, and therefore is not to be despised. But many who... read more
Adam Clarke
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 16:9-10
Do ye not yet understand - the five loaves - neither the seven - See the notes on Matthew 14:14 , etc. How astonishing is it that these men should have any fear of lacking bread, after having seen the two miracles which our blessed Lord alludes to above! Though men quickly perceive their bodily wants, and are querulous enough till they get them supplied, yet they as quickly forget the mercy which they had received; and thus God gets few returns of gratitude for his kindnesses. To make men,... read more
Adam Clarke
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 16:11
How is it that ye do not understand - We are not deficient in spiritual knowledge, because we have not had sufficient opportunities of acquainting ourselves with God; but because we did not improve the advantages we had. How deep and ruinous must our ignorance be, if God did not give line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little! They now perceived that he warned them against the superstition of the Pharisees, which produced hypocrisy, pride, envy, etc., and the... read more
Adam Clarke
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 16:13
Caesarea Philippi - A city, in the tribe of Naphtali, near to Mount Libanus, in the province of Iturea. Its ancient name was Dan, Genesis 14:14 ; afterwards it was called Lais, Judges 18:7 . But Philip the tetrarch, having rebuilt and beautified it, gave it the name of Caesarea, in honor of Tiberius Caesar, the reigning emperor: but to distinguish it from another Caesarea, which was on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, and to perpetuate the fame of him who rebuilt it, it was called... read more
Adam Clarke
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 16:16
Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God - Every word here is emphatic - a most concise, and yet comprehensive, confession of faith. The Christ, or Messiah, points out his divinity, and shows his office; the Son - designates his person: on this account it is that both are joined together so frequently in the new covenant. Of the living God Του Θεου, του ζωντος , literally, of God the Living One. The C. Bezae has for Του ζωντος the Living One, Του σωζοντος , the Savior, and the... read more
Adam Clarke
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 16:17
Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona - Or Simon, son of Jonah; so Bar-jonah should be translated, and so it is rendered by our Lord, John 1:42 . Flesh and blood - i.e. Man; - no human being hath revealed this; and though the text is literal enough, yet every body should know that this is a Hebrew periphrasis for man; and the literal translation of it here, and in Galatians 1:16 , has misled thousands, who suppose that flesh and blood signify carnal reason, as it is termed, or the... read more
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Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 16:4
Wicked and adulterous generation - The Jewish people are represented in the Sacred Writings as married to the Most High; but, like a disloyal wife, forsaking their true husband, and uniting themselves to Satan and sin. Seeketh after a sign, σημειον επιζητει , seeketh sign upon sign, or, still another sign. Our blessed Lord had already wrought miracles sufficient to demonstrate both his Divine mission and his divinity; only one was farther necessary to take away the scandal of his cross and... read more