Matthew 16:15-16

Matthew 16:15-16

[15] He saith  unto them,  But  whom  say  [16] And  Simon  Peter  answered  and said,  Thou  the Christ,  the Son  of the living  God. 

What does Matthew 16:15-16 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The "you" in Matthew 16:15 is in the emphatic first position in the Greek text, and it is plural. Peter responded, therefore, partly as spokesman for the disciples, again (cf. Matthew 15:15). Peter said he believed Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah that the Old Testament prophesied, the hope of Israel (cf. Matthew 1:1). Matthew"s only use of Peter"s full name here, Simon Peter, highlights the significance of the disciple"s declaration.
He further defined Jesus as the Son of the living God. This is a more definite identification of Jesus as deity than "God"s Son" or "a son of God" ( Matthew 14:33). That title leaves a question open about the sense in which Jesus was God"s Son. The Jews often described their God as the living God, the contrast being with dead idols. By referring to God this way Peter left no doubt about the God who was the Father of Jesus. He was the true God. Since Jesus was the Son of God, He was the Messiah, the King over the long anticipated earthly kingdom (cf. 2 Samuel 7:14; Isaiah 9:6; Jeremiah 23:5-6; Micah 5:2). Peter expressed belief that Jesus was both Messiah and God.
"In the region of Caesarea Philippi, a center for the worship of Pan (as it had been previously of the Canaanite Baal), the title would have a special resonance as marking out the true God from all other gods." [1]
This was probably not the first time that the idea that Jesus was the Messiah had entered Peter"s mind. The disciples followed Jesus hoping that He was the Messiah ( John 1:41; John 1:45; John 1:49). However, as we have seen, the disciples gained a growing awareness and conviction that Jesus really was the Messiah (cf. Matthew 14:33). Their appreciation of the implications of His messiahship would continue to grow as long as they lived, though Jesus" resurrection resulted in their taking a giant step forward in this understanding. Peter"s great confession here was an important benchmark in their understanding and faith.
"Matthew shows that whereas the public in Israel does not receive Jesus and wrongly conceives of him as being a prophet, Peter, as spokesman for the disciples, confesses Jesus aright to be the Son of God and so reveals that the disciples" evaluative point of view concerning Jesus" identity is in alignment with that of God [2]." [3]