Matthew 16:13-19
Chapter 16
13
Then Jesus went to Caesarea Philippi. He asked his disciples:
“Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
Peter’s Confession
14
They said:
“For some of them you are John the Baptist; for others Elijah, or Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.”
15
Jesus asked them:
“But who do you say I am?”
16
Peter responded:
“You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17
Jesus replied:
“It is fortunate for you, Simon Barjona, because it is not flesh and blood that has revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven.
18
And now I say to you: You are Peter, and on this Rock, I will build my Church; and never will the powers of death overcome it.
19
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you unbind on earth shall be unbound in heaven.”
Commentaries
Peter’s Confession.
This passage is dense and richly detailed. It describes an event as understood and experienced by the community. Jesus asks what people think about him. The question that was open during Jesus’ time remains just as open today. The answer can come from the perspective of the people, based on their human appreciation of this historical figure, or from God’s point of view, through revelation. Simon states that Jesus is the expected Messiah, and Jesus confirms this by saying that his confession comes from a revelation from the Father. That is why Peter (the new name Jesus gives to Simon) will be a key “rock” of Jesus’ community.