Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 16:14

"And they said, Some [say] John the Baptist; some, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets." — Matthew 16:14 (ASV)

These were all conjectures and far from the mark, yet there was some likeness to truth in them all. Herod’s notion that Jesus was John the Baptist, newly risen from the dead, seemed a probable one to many, since our Lord had courage and fidelity like John. Elijah, too, seemed to live again in our Lord’s words of fire. Jeremiah was revived in His constant sorrow, and the prophets were echoed in His memorable teachings and marvelous life. Since many of these were types of Him, it is small wonder that He should seem to be identical with them.

Yet men make no discovery of the Lord’s true character by their own guesswork. Only those to whom He reveals Himself will ever know Him.

Error has many voices. Truth alone is one and abiding. Men say differing things concerning our Lord, but His Spirit alone bears effectual witness to the one true Christ of God.