Last week, a group I regularly meet with discussed Peter’s confession of Christ in Matthew 16:13-23.
In this passage, Jesus is alone with His disciples in a location most Jews of their day would never visit since it was a city full of pagan worship. (Matthew 16:13)
While there, Jesus asks his disciples these two questions:
- “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” (Matthew 16:13)
- “But what about you…who do you say I am?” (Matthew 16:15)
The disciple’s response to the first question was, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” (Matthew 16:14)
Peter responded to the second question: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16)
After affirming Peter’s statement, Jesus warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ. (Matthew 16:20)
Why did Jesus issue this warning?
Continue reading “From Peter’s Confession to Palm Branches”