Matthew 16:13-15: In the Shadow of Idols

“Who do people say the Son of Man is?” Jesus to his disciples, Matthew 16:13

Some say he was an outlaw that he roamed across the land, with a band of unschooled ruffians and few old fishermen.   No one knew just where he came from or exactly what he'd done.  But they said it must be something bad that kept him on the run…Some say he was the Son of God, a man above all men, that he came to be a servant and to set us free from sin.  (Larry Norman, “The Outlaw”) 

Having arrived at “the other side” (v. 5) of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus and the disciples turned straight north along the Jordan River until he came into the district of Caesarea Philippi (v. 13).   This city had been revived by Philip the Tetrarch and named for the Roman emperor Caesar Augustus.  Philip added his own name to distinguish the city from the coastal city of Caesarea mentioned in Acts 10:1.

Caesarea Philippi was a place of pagan worship, including a Canaanite temple for Baal and a Greek temple for Pan.   Ironically, Jesus took his disciples to a place that would be as unfriendly to his claims of Messiah, just as Mecca would be today. Caesarea also represents the furthest point north of Jesus’ travels.   And by turning north from Galilee and then to turn again south immediately afterward, it appears as if Jesus went purposely out of his way to have Caesarea Philippi be the setting for this dialogue.

Jesus gathered and asked his disciples, perhaps in the shade of one of the temples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” (v. 13).  It is noteworthy that Jesus addresses himself as the Son of Man.   This is a direct reference to Daniel 7:13-14, “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven, there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days…And to him was given dominion …and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.” Jews understood the title Son of Man to be a specific reference to the promised Hebrew Messiah. 

The response that Jesus received from his disciples varied greatly.   They said, “Some say John the Baptist,” (v. 14); this is what Herod thought (see 14:1-2).  “…others say Elijah”:  Those days were thick with anticipation of the arrival of the day of the LORD.  Therefore there was an expectation of Elijah also returning based on Malachi 4:5: “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes.”  Likewise, some wondered if John the Baptist was Elijah (See John 1:21.).

“And others” thought Jesus was “Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”    Jeremiah preached of judgment on Israel for her unfaithfulness (see Jeremiah chapters 2-6; Lamentations chapters 1-2).  Jesus likewise had very strong words for the unbelieving cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum (see 11:20-24).  Jesus had just finished a scathing rebuke of the Pharisees and Sadducees (v. 6) and referring to them as an evil and adulterous generation (v. 4).  So its not surprising some people believed Jesus to be Jeremiah.

Now, Jesus the master teacher, takes the questioning from the general to the personal.  Instead of asking the disciples, “Who do others say I am?” Jesus now asks, “Who do you say I am?”  (v. 15, emphasis mine).  

I have used this style of questioning during evangelism, particularly with those from cultural Christian backgrounds.  For example, I remember being on a beach full of Russian-speaking tourists.   I initiated a conversation with a Russian man.  I asked him who the people of his country thought Jesus was.   His answer was fairly predictable: (i.e., “God’s Son”).   Then it was a small jump to ask him, “Who do you think Jesus was?”   I honestly don’t remember how he answered the question but I do know that afterward we had a great talk about who Christ is and how salvation is by faith according to the Scriptures.   

Who do you say Christ is? One cannot merely adopt what others say; it is a decision every man must make for himself.  Was Jesus just a prophet? A good moral teacher?  Or is he your personal Lord and Savior?