Sermon Tone Analysis

I. Jesus’ Identity (16:13-17)

(13) The question of importance.

- The uniqueness of the area Jesus asks this question

show map: William Barclay notes that Caesarea Philippi lies about twenty-five miles north-east of the Sea of Galilee.

It was outside the domain of Herod Antipas, who was the ruler of Galilee, and within the area of Philip the Tetrarch.

The population was mainly non-Jewish, and there Jesus would have peace to teach the Twelve.

* Matthew Green hits the significance of this place leading to Jesus conversation: “It was an amazing place.

The name was derived from the fact that a grotto under the mountain there was reputed to be the birthplace of the god Pan, the most famous fertility symbol in ancient paganism.

He was the legendary god of nature, and his worship was important in this town which bore his name.

That same mountain saw the source of the River Jordan, while all around the land was filled with the temples of classical pagan religion.

Towering above them, resplendent in its white marble and massive dimensions, was the new temple to the emperor from which the city derived its changed name.

This was the place Jesus chose to see if any of his disciples really understood him.”

* Matthew Green hits the significance of this place leading to Jesus conversation: “It was an amazing place.

The name was derived from the fact that a grotto under the mountain there was reputed to be the birthplace of the god Pan, the most famous fertility symbol in ancient paganism.

He was the legendary god of nature, and his worship was important in this town which bore his name.

That same mountain saw the source of the River Jordan, while all around the land was filled with the temples of classical pagan religion.

Towering above them, resplendent in its white marble and massive dimensions, was the new temple to the emperor from which the city derived its changed name.

This was the place Jesus chose to see if any of his disciples really understood him.”

- In a place of divinity; the source of a life giving river; and a place of all sorts of worship; Jesus asks the important question.

Green, M. (2001).

The message of Matthew: the kingdom of heaven (p.

177).

Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

Jesus starts with the title that He fulfills, the son of man.

When we look at the this title from Scripture we understand that Jesus has used it of Himself on previous occasions in the Gospel of Matthew.

Green, M. (2001).

The message of Matthew: the kingdom of heaven (p.

177).

Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

While it certainly had messianic implications, it was still rather ambiguous which was why it was used in asking the question.

Back in chapter 8, Leon Morris said this about the term “it was a rare term and one without nationalistic associations.

(no political complications) Secondly, because it had overtones of divinity.. Thirdly, because of its societary implications.

The Son of man implies the redeemed people of God.

Fourthly, because it had undertones of humanity.”

Jesus asks a question about what people are saying outside of their close knit circle about His true identity.

(14) Jesus hears the spectrum of all things

- Some confuse Jesus with John the Baptist.

As we saw earlier, Herod Antipas thought that the stories of Jesus were really about John the baptist.

In that case, Jesus’ power was attributed to the risen John the Baptist.

Why would anyone confuse John, who did no miracles with Jesus?

Most likely because of the character of the man being bold and unafraid held sway over Herod.

- Others confuse Jesus with a prophet.

Some looked at Elijah in mythical proportions and assumed that Jesus was Elijah that has come back again.

The Biblical precedent comes from “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD.”

As John Nolland articulates “This expectation, combined with the memory of the impact of Elijah with its focus on the prospect of judgment and miracles of nature and healing, makes sense of an identification of Jesus as Elijah.”

The other prophet mentioned as being the identity of Jesus is Jeremiah.

R.T. France in his commentary notes “Jeremiah was a plausible identification, especially in that he, like Jesus, was a prophet of judgment, declaring God’s impending destruction of his own nation, and therefore opposed and persecuted by its leaders.”

The general nature of prophets and some amazing things that were accomplished in their ministry by God has lead even some to see Jesus as a new prophet for this generation.

France, R. T. (1985).

Matthew: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 1, p. 255).

Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

- Does this Inform us about the world we live in?

1st Syncretism is a danger that comes from taking Jesus’ attributes and crediting them to another.

There is no one like Jesus Christ, He is preeminent in all the world.

A culture that seeks to place relative truth as the supreme value will have a hard time with absolutes.

(seems insensitive) Don’t fall prey to anyone that seeks to elevate other aspects of other religions and figures on the same par as Jesus Christ.

2nd While there are some truths about Elijah and his role in God’s will, Elijah would cringe if he knew how some mistook him for Jesus.

In talking about Christianity, don’t let yourself be the bigger story than Jesus.

(i.e.

testimony)

(15) Jesus asks the personal question

Nolland, J. (2005).

The Gospel of Matthew: a commentary on the Greek text (p.

659).

Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press.

- Notice the transition to being more personal.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 update.

(1995).

().

La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

The phrase “He said to them” before asking the question is rather noteworthy.

It isn’t just another way to ask a question but Jesus stating that they need to clarify their judgment of Him.

The word “but” is moving from the survey of popular opinions to what is of utter importance for them.

The word “you” is rather emphatic in the original language to highlight that it was more important for Jesus to know their opinion.

- Their view on Jesus is where the rubber meets the road.

While certainly Jesus introduced the subject by asking about other people’s opinions, now He is looking for their assessment.

They have spent an incredible amount of time through a number of different circumstances, so this question is looking for their hearts ability to perceive things.

At the place of all sorts of worship and the place of water that flows out and brings life, where people have been committing idolatry for years, Jesus asks the important question that has to do with the answer to all the false assumptions that have occured there.

Jesus wants to know if they can see truth that all the other people that were bringing false worship missed.

(16) The most truthful answer to ever be spoken

- Peter steps forward to speak.

Here we have Peter again being the first one to respond to Jesus just as He had done earlier when in the boat watching Jesus walk upon water.

In as sense Peter was indeed acting as a spokesman for the group, but not all would come to a point of saving faith in Jesus.

- Peter mentions that Jesus is the Messiah.

As most of you know, Christ is the transliteration of the Greek word χριστός which means “anointed one” that is also short hand in the New Testament for the Messiah.

Here is some background of this word: “In the LXX χριστός is a translation of the Hebrew noun מָשִׁיחַ.

מָשִׁיחַ is formed from the verb מָשַׁח (‘spread a liquid over, anoint’) and means ‘anointed one’....

It is used in the construct state and followed by yhwh (‘Yahweh’) to mean ‘Yahweh’s anointed one’, always referring to the king of Israel/Judah.312

And it is used with first, second, and third person possessive pronouns, giving effectively ‘[God’s] anointed one’ and referring in all cases but one to the king of Israel/Judah (in Cyrus is ‘his [i.e., God’s] anointed’).

The predominant use is in relation to the royal house, with the term נִמְשַׁח referring to a literal anointing with oil but more importantly marking God’s choice of this person and often involving the aspirations associated with the Davidic dynasty.

Related uses of the verb for the most part only reinforce the connection with the anointing of kings.”

In Peter’s statement there is a confession that Jesus is some type of messianic king and savior but to what extent was still developing for many of the disciples.

- Peter confesses that Jesus is the son of God.

While the phrase “son of God” had messianic implications of a special relationship with God from the Davidic , there is clearly more to it in the disciples’ minds.

The divinity of Jesus is clearly understood in light of “and those who were in the boat worshiped Him (Jesus), saying ‘You are certainly God’s Son!”

Peter couldn’t have ascribed a greater exalted title to Jesus than He had done.

The phrase “living God” is a reminder that God is true, alive and active in contrast to all the Pseudo gods that surrounded them.

Along those lines, Jesus has been demonstrating that He is active through the supernatural things that He has been doing while traveling with the disciples.

(17) A Recognition that this came from God

- Jesus mentions that Peter was blessed.

Peter’s full name is used.

Barjona would be the Hebrew transliteration that means son of Jonah.

Most likely the reason for it is to highlight his origin as being not from royal or divine stock but from human origins of his father.

Jesus is not speaking a blessing upon Peter, but acknowledging God’s special favor in speaking the words of truth about Jesus’ identity.

- Jesus explains that understanding this revelation about Jesus came from God alone.