ends with Jesus sending the multitude of his followers away and He and his disciples sail to Magdala on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. In the Pharisees and Sadducees come to him, presumably in the same location. Theologian John Gill suggests that "these were Galilean Sadducees and Pharisees, of whom mention is made in the Misna". refers again to travel to "the other side", and verses are set "in the region of Caesarea Philippi". This location is the furthest point north referred to in Matthew's Gospel, and marks the turning point from which Jesus and his disciples will travel south to Jerusalem.
Pharisees and Sadducees (16:1–12)
Verse 1
The opposition to Jesus' teaching this time came from a coalition of Pharisees and Sadducees, whose theological views and policies were markedly different from each other, but who were forced to co-operate as members of Sanhedrin, the Jewish supreme court. Biblical commentatorArthur Carr suggests that the formation of this coalition "can only be accounted for by the uniting influence of a strong common hostility against Jesus".
This pericope is considered the climax of the first part of the Gospel of Matthew, when Peter received a revelation from God to state the Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God.
Verse 13
"Region" : The King James Version refers to the "coasts" of Caesarea Philippi, although Caesarea Philippi is not in the vicinity of a sea, in the sense of "borders" or "regions". The regions of Caesarea Philippi are called "the northern coasts of the land of Israel", marking "the most northerly point" reached by Jesus Christ in his ministry.
The Textus Receptus has τινα με λεγουσιν, tina me legousin, but the με is omitted by Westcott-Hort. Hence translations vary as to whether Jesus' question is set out in the first person or third person:
Verse 16
This answer from Peter combined a traditional Jewish title of "Messiah" meaning "anointed", with a Greek title "Son of... God" for a ruler or divine leader, which is also another Hebrew royal title.
Verse 18
"Shall...prevail against": or "be victorious" from Greek word κατισχύσουσιν,
Verse 19
"Will be bound... will be loosed": or "will have been bound... will have been loosed".
Death and Glory (16:21–28)
Still at the location near Caesarea Philippi, the account follows the Peter's confession with a decisive new phase of Jesus' ministry, with Jerusalem as the next geographical focus.
