The Gospel According to Saint Matthew
Matthew 16
Chapter XVI · Vol. IV, pp. 80–82
1 The Pharisees require a sign. 5 Jesus warneth his disciples of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. 13 The people's opinion of Christ, 16 and Peter's confession of him. 21 Jesus foreshoweth his own death, 23 reproving Peter for dissuading him from it: 24 and admonisheth those that will follow him, to bear the cross.
1 The Phariseesa also with the Sadducees came, and btempting, desired him that he would show them a sign from heaven.1
a ch.22.23,34. Ac.5.17,34;23.6-8. Jn.7.48.
b Mar.8.11-21. Lu.12.54-57;11.16,53,54. ch.12.38;19.3;22.18. Jn.4.48. 1 Co.1.22. Ex.xix. xx. De.4.5.
1 As at the giving of the law.
2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather; for the sky is red.
3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to-day; for the sky is red and lowering.2 O ye hypocrites! ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs3 of the times?4
2 So nicely did they observe the sky, that the lowering being added to the redness, totally changed their prognostication; therefore, with what corresponding accuracy should they attend to the most minute of the prophetical 'signs of the times.'—C.
3 The evidences that the Messiah is come, Ge.49.10. De.18.15. Is.7.14; xi. xxxv. liii. Mi.v. Da.9.24,25. Hag.2.7. Mal.iii. iv., with ch.11.5;4.23.
4 These existing were:—1, The departure of the sceptre from Judah; Judea having now lost all independent national character, and being reduced to a Roman province. 2, The appearance of John, and his voice of testimony in the wilderness. 3, Christ's own doctrine and mighty works.—C.
4 Ac wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. dAnd he left them, and departed.
5 And ewhen his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.
e ch.15.39. Mar.8.14.
6 Then Jesus said unto them, gTake heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.
8 Which when Jesus iperceived, he said unto them, hO ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no 5bread?
h Ps.94.8,11. Lu.24.25. ch.15.16-18.
i ch.9.4;12.15,25. Mar.8.16,17. Je.17.10. Jn.2.24,25. He.4.12,13. Re.2.23.
5 ch.6.30;8.26;17.17;14.31. Ja.1.6. Am not I as able and ready to supply you as ever?
9 Doj ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
j ch.14.17-21. Mar.6.34-44. Lu.9.12-17. Jn.6.2-13.
10 Neitherk the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
k ch.15.34-38. Mar.8.1-9.
11 Howl is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?
12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the ndoctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
n 1 Co.5.6,7. Ga.5.9, with ch.15.1-9; xxiii.; 22.23. Ac.23.8.
13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Cesarea Philippi,6 he asked his disciples, saying, oWhom do men say that I, the Son of man am?
6 This city was anciently called Paneas because it contained a sanctuary and temple dedicated to Pan. It was probably the site of the Canaanite Baal-gad, Jos.11.17. Herod the Great rebuilt the city, and erected a temple, which he dedicated to Cæsar. At a later period the city was included in the territory of Philip, 'tetrarch of Iturea' (Lu.3.1), who enlarged it, and gave it the name Cesarea, in honour of Tiberias Cæsar, adding Philippi ('of Philip') to distinguish it from another city of the same name on the coast. The Greek name is now forgotten, and the ancient appellation has been revived under the Arabic form Banias. Its site is magnificent; on a wooded terrace on the south declivity of the ridge of Hermon, overlooking the fertile plain of Dan, and having beside it, gushing from a cliff, the upper fountain of the Jordan.—P.
o Mar.8.27. Lu.9.18-22. Ps.8.4,5. Da.7.13,14. Is.7.14;9.6;11.1. Je.23.5,6;33.15,16. Mi.5.2. Jn.1.14. Ro.1.3,4;9.5;8.3. 1 Ti.3.16. Ga.4.4. He.2.14,16-18.
14 And they said, pSome say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, sBlessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for tflesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, ubut my Father which is in heaven.Cited in HC 122
s ch.13.16,17;5.3-11.
t Ps.56.4. Is.40.5,6. ch.24.22. Ro.3.20.
u ch.11.25,27. Jn.1.18. 1 Co.2.10-16. Ga.1.15,16. Ep.1.17,18;3.18,19;2.8. 1 Jn.4.15;5.20.
18 And I say also unto thee, That vthou art Peter;7 and upon this rock8 I will build my church; and the ygates of hell shall not prevail against it.Cited in WCF 25.5 · HC 54, 123
v Jn.1.42.
7 Peter. In Greek, πέτρος, a stone, or fragment of a rock. See Iliad, 7. l. 270; 16. l. 411; 20. l. 288.—C.
x 1 Co.3.11;10.4. Is.28.16. Ep.2.19-22. Lu.22.31,32. Re.21.14,19. He.12.28. Ps.125.1,2. Is.2.2,3;54.17.
8 Rock. In Greek, πέτρα, a rock. The truth that Peter had declared concerning Christ—who, as God manifest in the flesh, is the only rock of salvation. See 2 Sa.22.32-47;23.3. Ps.28.1;42.9;62.2;78.35.—C.
y Ps.9.13.
19 Andz I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven.Cited in WLC 108 · WCF 23.3, 30.2 · HC 83, 84
20 Thena charged he his disciples, that they should tell no man9 that he was Jesus the Christ.
A.M. cir. 4036. A.D. cir. 32.
a ch.17.9. Lu.9.21,22. Mar.8.30. 1 Co.2.8. See ch.8.4.
9 Why this prohibition? Most probably because the disciples being yet but babes in the gospel (as is evident from ver. 22, 23), were, therefore, unfit to minister that strong meat to others, which they themselves were as yet unable to digest.—C.
21 From that time forth began Jesus bto show unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke1 him, saying, Be it far from thee,2 Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
1 Rebuke. Rather, Affectionately to reprimand him for his melancholy forebodings.—Be it far, &c.; 'Be merciful to thyself.'—C.
2 Gr. Pity thyself. 2 Sa.23.17. 1 Ch.11.19.
23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, cGet thee behind me, Satan:3 thou art an offence4 unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
24 Thend said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.Cited in HC 124
25 Fore whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.Cited in HC 124
26 Forg what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?Cited in HC 124
Notes
Ver. 3. What amazing blindness and obstinacy hinders your discerning, from the ancient prophecies fulfilled in me, and from my numerous miracles, that the Messiah is now come to set up his kingdom among you, and that your ruin is hastening apace for rejecting him!
18, 19. Upon this my person, and the truth which you have confessed concerning it, will I establish my gospel church, in all its ordinances, and believing members, as upon a sure, immovable, and everlasting foundation; and neither the policy nor force of devils or men, nor the power of death, can remove them from it, nor root my interest out of the world. And I will authorize you and your fellow-disciples, and other faithful ministers, in my name, to declare what practices are lawful and what not; and so to charge men with, or acquit them from, guilt in your preaching; and to inflict censures on the scandalous, and absolve the penitent. And whatever is done agreeably to my laws shall be ratified in heaven and confirmed in the last judgment.
20. He prohibited them from declaring that he was the Messiah, lest his enemies should be too early provoked to destroy him; lest his carnal admirers should tumultuously attempt to make him a king; and lest the Jews should beforehand be prejudiced against the testimony of the disciples.
23. In this, actuated by Satan, and serving his interest, you act the part of an adversary to me, from a regard to carnal honour, ease, or pleasure, attempting to rob me and my Father of our intended honour in the salvation of sinners.
24-26. And as I must be perfected by sufferings, every one that heartily resolves to be my disciple must deny his own carnal interests, wisdom, and will, and with faith and patience, and resignation to God's will, readily submit to whatever losses and persecution he may meet with in following my example and obeying my commands; for he that attempts to preserve his temporal enjoyments or life by sinful compliances and apostasy, shall thereby plunge himself into endless destruction; and he that, on account of his faith in or obedience to me, readily parts with his temporal life, shall obtain everlasting life in heaven as his gracious reward; for what could all the riches, honours, and pleasures which this world affords avail a man if, through his inordinate affection to them, he should lose the welfare, peace, and happiness of his immortal soul? or by what could he redeem his soul from the damnation of hell?
27, 28. For I, who am now attended with all the mean circumstances and sinless infirmities of human nature, will, in the last day, gloriously appear, and adjudge men to eternal life or death, according as their works shall manifest them righteous or wicked; as an earnest of which some of you present shall, before you die, see me appear gloriously transfigured, and powerfully erecting my gospel church in the abolition of ceremonial ordinances, and awfully destroying the city, temple, and nation of the Jews, for their obstinacy and unbelief.
Ver. 4. No sign. That is, such as they demanded; and which, after attributing his heavenly miracles to diabolical agency, they would, with equal infidel effrontery, have certainly rejected.—C.
Note. Rational evidence every man has a right to demand; but he who rejects one rational evidence has no right to require more. C.
Ver. 18. Gates of hell. That councils were often held, and laws administered, in the gates of cities, is unquestionable. The phrase 'gates of hell' has therefore been generally interpreted of the malice and plots of Satan and his agents against our Lord and his church. It seems, however, more natural to understand by it literally the gates of death—of the grave—which, though they should apparently conquer and inclose our Lord first, and afterwards all his members, would yet be utterly unable to prevail against his resurrection, and afterwards that of his mystical body—the church, Ep. 1. 22. C.
Ver. 19. I will give unto thee the keys. This was a personal promise to Peter, and not extending to the other apostles. He received keys, and not simply a key; because there were two gates to be opened—the Jewish and the Gentile. And the word of our Lord was literally fulfilled when Peter applied the key to the Jewish gate, Ac. 2. 14-41; and afterwards when he applied it to the Gentile gate, Ac. 10. 1-18; 11. 1-18; which opening being once completed, Peter's personal commission to that work necessarily ceased; see Re. 3. 7. The remaining part of the commission was common to Peter and the other apostles. See ch. 18. 18, where the address is not to Peter alone, but to all the apostles. C.
Ver. 28. The difficulty in this verse will be greatly removed by considering that our Lord does not say 'they will see the Son of man come,' but 'coming in his kingdom;' that is, deigning to 'reward every man according to his works;' which work commenced at the siege and destruction of Jerusalem, his first signal act of visible retribution, when some of his disciples were still alive to witness. C.
Reflections.—Wicked men of every sort heartily unite against Jesus, his interests, and people. And men who contemn sufficient evidence of divine truth generally insist upon more. The wisest with respect to temporal concerns are often quite blind and stupid with respect to what is plain, but spiritual. And it is just that Christ should quickly abandon men who remain obstinate in their unbelief. It is very absurd for the children of God to indulge carnal fears about the necessaries of this life, when his remarkable former interpositions have outdone every expectation or wish. Alas! what diversified and ignorant conceptions of Christ prevail with many church members! But happy are they who are divinely enlightened, united to, and built on him as their sure foundation. No plots, no attempts of hell or earth, can ruin them. All the powers, all the ordinances or officers, which he has granted to his church, concur to their establishment and happiness. His sufferings secured it, and his glories secure it. God lifts up his people and casts them down again. And never are they more ready to stumble than after they have been highly honoured by God. Left but a moment to themselves, they bend under the power of the devil. Maxims of carnal policy, and desires of temporal ease and honour, strongly tempt them to shun hardships in religion. But self-denial and obediential submission to crosses are principal articles in the following of Christ. If we hope to live and reign with him in his kingdom of glory, we must be ready to endure tribulation and death for his sake. To ruin our soul in denying our Redeemer is infinitely criminal and foolish; nor can created enjoyments ever balance or retrieve our loss. Let me then never barter my soul for a few trifles! for if it be once lost, it is lost—it is ruined—for ever! And even the glories of a Saviour will but secure and aggravate my eternal misery.