Introduction
In Matthew 16:13-20, Peter confesses that the Lord Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. This passage reveals that the Lord Jesus asks His disciples two crucial questions—one in verse 13 and another in verse 15. He poses these questions to prompt them to reflect on who He truly is in their hearts. Similarly, the Lord wants us, as Christians, to consider the same question: Who truly is the Lord Jesus to us? This question serves as a test of faith, not only for the disciples of that time but for all believers today.
As the Bible tells us, we are not merely servants but brothers and sisters in the Lord, and we have the same Father, the only One Father. Let’s not forget who we are! Remember who we are in the eyes of the Lord! Additionally, we must not take the name of the Lord in vain (Exodus 20:7, Deuteronomy 5:11). This refers to the third commandment, where “vain” means empty, worthless, or without purpose. Therefore, we should not misuse the name of the Lord, as is common in the world around us.
"Thou are the Christ, the Son of the Living God."
13 Now, when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, Who do people say that the Son of Man to be?
14 And they said, Some indeed John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; but others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.
This verse shows that the Holy Spirit has not been given yet, but people can still recognize the power, authority, and holiness of the Lord Jesus; however, they cannot recognize the Lord Jesus as the Son of God (the Bible tells us that “no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit”: 1 Corinthians 12:3). The time is close, and the Holy Spirit will be magnified soon because the hearts of people start to seek the truth.
15 He says to them, But who do you say Me to be?
16 Now Simon Peter answering said, Thou are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
The true light about Christ has been revealed starting with one disciple, and that light will be shared to others. Because of his heart, the truth was revealed to Peter. And that is what the Father is looking for: a clean heart that is willing to obey and glorify God, which is a gift. By the mercy of the Father, the knowledge and understanding about Christ have been given at this time to only one of the disciples; because of his heart, the truth has been revealed to Peter.
17 Then, Jesus answering said to him, Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed it to you, but My Father in the heavens.
This verse is for us to link Peter with the prophet Jonah. As Jonah, in the belly of the fish, has experienced rebirth to save his life, Peter has also experienced a new birth at this time. Peter has been reborn by the living Word of the Lord. This new birth is the starting point to reveal the kingdom of heaven to humans when the Father revealed the Son Jesus through the human mind. It is a sign to show believers that the Father’s mercy came down and humans will be blessed with the Holy Spirit. This blessing is proof and confirmation of how much the Father loves humans. Simon Bar-Jonah refers to those who know and recognize their sins by the spirit of the person, not by the flesh. Simon Bar-Jonah refers to the spiritual world; as Jonah was in the dark, but his spirit saw the light, Peter did the same. Peter was darkened in the mind, but by the Lord’s mercy, he received the true light. To understand by the spirit, you do not see what you are doing, but you know in the heart what you are doing; use the heart to justify, not the eye.
18 Moreover, I also say to you, that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.
This verse refers to the believer’s faith.
“You are Peter, and upon this rock,” indicates that Peter is the first one to whom the Father revealed who the Lord Jesus is, and on this rock of knowledge, the church will be built. After the Lord Jesus fulfilled the Father’s will, this knowledge will continue to build more people’s faith in the Son of God, the Holy One. At this time, Peter’s faith has been established; he can die for what he believes.
“Upon this rock” refers to the truth that Peter received. The rock is the truth about the Lord Jesus that He is “the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”
“I will build My church” means that the Lord Jesus will build His church on the truth that Peter received, which is the rock, the foundation of the church.
“And the gates of Hades will not prevail against it” means that the gates of hell have no power to stop the Lord Jesus from building His church. The Lord Jesus opened the gate of the heavens (See Matthew 3:16) and put the seal of His blood on the gates of hell when He was there (at the gates) during the three days (See 1 Peter 3:18-20). The Lord put the seal on the gates, which is the blood of the Lord Jesus, and it is a forbidden seal; no evil can touch this seal or remove it (See Exodus 12:13). All His children have the salvation seal of the Lamb on them. The gates of Hades will never open for those who have the salvation seal of the Lamb on them. The salvation seal is put on a believer’s heart when the person believes and gives his heart to the Lord Jesus and then goes and baptizes in the water (complete baptism, heart, and water, meaning soul and body). The believer’s responsibility is to keep this seal by staying in faith, studying the Word of God, and keeping the Word in the heart until the end of life on this earth. If you have the Word in your heart, you have a shield of protection.
19 I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of the heavens; and whatever you might bind on the earth will be bound in the heavens; and whatever you might loose on the earth will be loosed in the heavens.
“I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of the heavens” shows that the Lord Jesus gives the keys to the church of God. The key is this: the Bible is the key to the kingdom of God.
“Whatever you might bind on the earth will be bound in the heavens.” The church of this earth makes rules (agreements) for themselves, but there is a Holy Church in the heavens (elect angels) that is gathering in the Holy Temple by the will of the Father. Those who are gathering in the Holy Temple receive orders straight from the Father. Those will be binding some work that “has been” done on earth, and it will be bound in heaven as well. It “has been” because it is not finished work yet; it is still going on. The work up in the Holy Temple will never end until the Lord returns. However, only the Bible can bind things on earth and be bound in heaven. The rules of the Bible bind people on earth and heaven. We have One Lord and God and worship only One God; the church on earth and the church in the heavens have the same God and abide by the Word that is written in the Bible. The Bible contains all the rules for our lives, and it is the rule for the life on earth and the life in the heavens; this is the Holy Word.
“Bind” refers to agreements or rules. Making an agreement in the name of the Lord, it will be bound on earth and heaven as well; that agreement must always go with the Bible. If it is against the Bible, that agreement is not from the Lord. Every rule set up to control the people in the church must be based on the Bible’s rules and orders. But people come in the name of the Lord, but not with the Lord. Watch out; many churches create rules by using the name of the Lord but not with the Lord. Examples of binding would be things we have seen, such as the prayer chain. The prayer chain keeps people praying one after another and enforces unity in the church; the Bible has unity. Also, the fast for offering praise to the Lord gathers people together to make a fast for one purpose; unity is also the key here. When there is such agreement in a church on earth, then the angels in the Holy Church will follow and bring this offering directly to the Father. Each promise (agreement) has its own smell and look, which the Father enjoys, and the Father will bind it in the heavens. The Father will not just look over it but feel it, and the Father will bind it in the heavens for that action; it comes up to the Father as an offering.
“Loosed” in this context means it is loosed from human rules. For example, in some places, women cannot wear certain colors. The Lord never set such rules about colors. The dressing is covering the body; the color has no meaning. This is a freedom the Lord gives to people. Loosen this on earth and it will be loosed in heaven as well.
20 Then instructed He the disciples that they should say to no one that He is the Christ.
The apostles were not allowed to tell who the Lord Jesus was, so the things that were to happen to Him would happen. If the word spreads about this revelation, this could alter some of the events that were to happen to the Lord Jesus, such as the mocking and spitting on His face, which was the portion the Lord had to receive.
In Exodus 12, we learn about the Passover, the Passover lamb, and the significance of the Passover in the context of the Old Testament law. For Christians, the Passover Lamb is the Lord Jesus Himself. When we become Christians and are baptized in water, it is as if we are placing the blood of the Lord Jesus on the doorposts and lintels of our hearts, which is the temple of the Lord. The blood shed by the Lord Jesus on the cross serves as a sign and seal of protection for our hearts. This concept is emphasized in Exodus 12:13, which speaks to the importance of the blood of the Passover lamb: “And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and there shall no plague be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.”
Furthermore, we commented in Matthew 16:17 that the name Simon Bar-Jonah refers to those who know and recognize their sins by the spirit of the person, not by the flesh. Each one of us should examine our spiritual journey and consider whether we are living in a state of darkness, needing a new birth. This rebirth may involve the birth of water baptism or the birth of Holy Spirit baptism, whichever we are lacking, to complete our salvation seal.
Further Comments on the Water Baptism and Holy Spirit Baptism
We would like to offer additional insights on the significance of water baptism and Holy Spirit baptism for believers, in light of the comments made regarding the Matthew 16:13-20 passage of Scripture.
Regardless of what comes first, the baptism of the Holy Spirit or water baptism, all believers must be baptized in the water to complete the transformation of a person in the body and the spirit. The sign of the Holy Spirit’s baptism must show according to the Bible, and we know in our spirit about this act (See Acts 2:2-4). The gift of speaking in tongues is the confirmation of the human spirit joining the salvation seal. Speaking out loud one word or a few words in a tongue is the sign of the Holy Spirit baptism (See Comments John 1:33). To speak more is a gift that comes after, and everyone can get this gift of speaking in tongues by praying and asking for the gift from the Lord. This gift of tongues is given to everyone; just listen to the very small voice inside your heart. Many are being baptized in the water but ignore the small voice of the Lord, not that the Holy Spirit doesn’t come to them. He comes to each heart with a small little voice, but many have refused to listen, which is why not many people speak in tongues. However, a true believer must believe in the water baptism and the Holy Spirit baptism (See Comments John 3:5 and Comments John 1:33).
Based on these comments, after a believer receives the Holy Spirit, the evil one cannot make the believer reject the Lord, but they can still trick the believer. They can make you believe that the Lord left you, and then you yourself reject the Lord or become angry with the Lord; then you can grieve the Holy Spirit (See Ephesians 4:30). But remember, the Bible is clear in telling us that the Lord will never leave us nor forsake us (See: Deuteronomy 31:6-8, Hebrews 13:5-6, Psalm 55:22). By the will of the Lord, the gates of hell will never open for a person that has the faith (salvation) seal. Therefore, keep in mind that the Lord always gives a way out for everybody, and He will judge by the heart of the person.
As a note, the criminal on the cross did not receive the seal of the baptism in water but received the seal of the Lord Jesus’ word on the spirit. The Lord baptized him by His word (See Luke 23:43).
We encourage all readers to explore our articles titled “Water Baptism for a Christian” and “Holy Spirit Baptism for a Christian” for a deeper understanding of the believer’s salvation.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we need to ask ourselves: Is the Lord Jesus truly the God of our lives, as He claims to be in the Gospels? Are we maintaining our faith? Are we keeping the Word of God in our hearts? Do we recognize Him as merely a prophet of the Bible, or do we see Him as insignificant? Or do we believe that He is One with the Father and the Holy Spirit, just as He claims and as He demonstrated through His works on earth, His sacrificial death on the cross, and His resurrection from the dead?
Let us boldly proclaim to the world that the Lord Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. He came to Earth to bring salvation to the world. He was crucified and died on the cross. He was buried in the tomb, and on the third day, He rose in His body from the dead. He appeared to many in His resurrected body and then ascended into heaven, where He is seated at the right hand of the Father.
Meditation Tasks:
- Meditate on our articles about the baptism in the water and the Holy Spirit: “Water Baptism for a Christian” and “Holy Spirit Baptism for a Christian.”
- Take the necessary steps to fulfil the salvation seal and be assured of complete salvation and eternal life.