Matthew 16:13-20

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 16:15

He saith unto them, but whom say ye that I am? Without taking any further notice, or making any reflections on the different sentiments of men concerning him, he put this question to his disciples, and which is what he had chiefly in view, that he might have their sense of him; and which he puts in a different form, and leaves out the phrase, the son of man, because they knew he was more than a man: nor was his mean appearance an offence to them; they had believed in him, became his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 16:16

And Simon Peter answered and said ,.... Either of his own accord, and for himself, being a warm, zealous, and forward man; one that dearly loved Christ, truly believed in him, and was ready to make a confession of him; or, as the mouth of the rest, in their name, and with their consent; or, at least, as full well knowing the sentiments of their minds. Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God: a short, but a very full confession of faith, containing the following articles: as that there is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 16:17

And Jesus answered and said unto him ,.... Not waiting for any other declaration from them; but taking this to be the sense of them all, he said, blessed art thou Simon Bar Jona , or son of Jona, or Jonas, as in John 1:42 . His father's name was Jonah, whence he was so called: so we read F9 Juchasin, fol. 85. 1. of R. Bo bar Jonah, and of a Rabbi of this very name F11 Ib. fol. 105. 1. , ר שמעון בר יונא , Rabbi Simeon bar Jona; for Simon and Simeon are one, and the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 16:18

And I say also unto thee ,.... Either besides what he had already said concerning his happiness; or, as the father had revealed something great and valuable, so likewise would he; or inasmuch as he had freely said and declared who, and what he was, in like manner he also would say what Peter was, thou art Peter: intimating, that he was rightly called Peter, or Cephas, by him, when he first became a follower of him, Matthew 4:18 , which words signify the same thing, a rock, or stone;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 16:19

And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven ,.... By the kingdom of heaven is meant the Gospel, which comes from heaven, declares the king Messiah to be come, speaks of things concerning his kingdom, is the means of setting it up, and enlarging it, displays the riches of his grace, and gives an account of the kingdom of heaven, and of persons' right unto it, and meetness for it. "The keys" of it are abilities to open and explain the Gospel truths, and a mission and commission... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 16:20

Then charged he his disciples ,.... When Peter had so freely and fully confessed him to be the Messiah, and which was the sense of all the disciples; and when Christ had expressed his approbation of his confession, and had promised such great and excellent things upon it, he gave a strict charge unto his disciples, that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ . The word Jesus is not in some copies; and is left out in the Syriac, Arabic, and Persic versions; nor does it seem... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 16:18

Thou art Peter - This was the same as if he had said, I acknowledge thee for one of my disciples - for this name was given him by our Lord when he first called him to the apostleship. See John 1:42 . Peter, πετρος , signifies a stone, or fragment of a rock; and our Lord, whose constant custom it was to rise to heavenly things through the medium of earthly, takes occasion from the name, the metaphorical meaning of which was strength and stability, to point out the solidity of the... read more

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