Matthew Henry Commentary Matthew 16

The Pharisees and Sadducees were opposed to each other in principles and in conduct; yet they joined against Christ. But they desired a sign of their own choosing: they despised those signs which relieved the necessity of the sick and sorrowful, and called for something else which would gratify the curiosity of the proud. It is great hypocrisy, when we slight the signs of God's ordaining, to seek for signs of our own devising.

Christ speaks of spiritual things using a comparison, and the disciples misunderstand him, taking his words to refer to carnal things. He was displeased that they should think him as concerned about bread as they were, and that they should be so unfamiliar with his way of preaching. Then they understood what he meant. Christ teaches by the Spirit of wisdom in the heart, opening the understanding to the Spirit of revelation in the word.

Peter, speaking for himself and his brothers, said that they were assured that our Lord was the promised Messiah, the Son of the living God. This showed that they believed Jesus to be more than human. Our Lord declared Peter to be blessed, because the teaching of God distinguished him from his unbelieving countrymen. Christ added that he had named him Peter, referring to his stability or firmness in professing the truth.

The word translated "rock" is not the same word as Peter, but it has a similar meaning. Nothing can be more wrong than to suppose that Christ meant that the person of Peter was the rock. Without doubt, Christ himself is the Rock, the tried foundation of the church; and woe to anyone who attempts to lay any other! Peter's confession is this rock regarding doctrine.

If Jesus is not the Christ, those who acknowledge him are not of the church, but are deceivers and deceived. Our Lord next declared the authority with which Peter would be invested. He spoke in the name of his brothers, and this applied to them as well as to him. They did not have certain knowledge of people's characters and were liable to mistakes and sins in their own conduct; but they were kept from error in stating the way of acceptance and salvation, the rule of obedience, the believer's character and experience, and the final doom of unbelievers and hypocrites.

In such matters their decision was right, and it was confirmed in heaven. But all pretensions of any person, either to absolve or retain people's sins, are blasphemous and absurd. No one can forgive sins but God alone. And this binding and loosing, in the common language of the Jews, signified to forbid and to allow, or to teach what is lawful or unlawful.

Christ reveals his mind to his people gradually. From that time, when the apostles had made the full confession of Christ, that he was the Son of God, he began to show them his sufferings. He spoke this to set right the mistakes of his disciples about the outward pomp and power of his kingdom.

Those who follow Christ must not expect great or high things in this world. Peter wanted Christ to dread suffering as much as he did; but we make a mistake if we measure Christ's love and patience by our own. We do not read of anything said or done by any of his disciples, at any time, that Christ resented so much as this.

Whoever takes us from what is good, and tries to make us fear to do too much for God, speaks Satan's language. Whatever appears to be a temptation to sin must be resisted with abhorrence and not negotiated with. Those who decline suffering for Christ set their minds more on human matters than on divine matters.

A true disciple of Christ is one who follows him in duty, and will follow him to glory. He is one who walks in the same way Christ walked, is led by his Spirit, and treads in his steps, wherever he goes. Let him deny himself. If self-denial is a hard lesson, it is no more than what our Master learned and practiced to redeem us and to teach us. Let him take up his cross. The cross here stands for every trouble that befalls us. We are apt to think we could bear another's cross better than our own; but what is appointed for us is best, and we ought to make the best of it.

We must not by our rashness and folly pull crosses down upon our own heads, but must take them up when they are in our way. If anyone wishes to have the name and credit of a disciple, let him follow Christ in the work and duty of a disciple. If all worldly things are worthless when compared with the life of the body, how much more powerful is the same argument concerning the soul and its state of never-ending happiness or misery!

Thousands lose their souls for the most trifling gain or the most worthless indulgence, indeed, often from mere sloth and negligence. Whatever is the object for which people forsake Christ, that is the price at which Satan buys their souls. Yet one soul is worth more than all the world. This is Christ's judgment on the matter; he knew the price of souls, for he redeemed them; nor would he underrate the world, for he made it.

The dying transgressor cannot purchase one hour's respite to seek mercy for his perishing soul. Let us then learn to value our souls rightly, and Christ as the only Savior of them.