Commentary on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2.pdf

<strong>Commentary</strong> on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2
revealed it to thee, but my Father
who is in heaven. 18. But I say
to thee, That thou art Peter, and
on this rock will I build my
church; and the gates of hell
shall not prevail against it.
19. And I will give to thee the
keys of the kingdom of heaven;
and whatsoever thou shalt bind
on earth shall be bound in
heaven; and whatseover thou
shalt loose on earth shall be
loosed in heaven.
Matthew 16:13. And when Jesus came to the coasts of Cesarea Philippi. Mark says that this
conversation took place during the journey. Luke says that it took place while he was praying, and
while there were none in company with him but his disciples. Matthew is not so exact in mentioning
the time. All the three unquestionably relate the same narrative; and it is possible that Christ may
have stopped at a certain place during that journey to pray, and that afterwards he may have put
the question to his disciples. There were two towns called Cesarea, of which the former was more
celebrated, and had been anciently called The Tower of Strato; while the latter, which is mentioned
here, was situated at the foot of Mount Lebanon, not far from the river Jordan. It is for the sake of
distinguishing between these two towns that Philippi is added to the name; for though it is
conjectured by some to have been built on the same spot where the town of Dan formerly stood,
yet, as it had lately been rebuilt by Philip the Tetrarch, it was called Philippi 437
Who do men say that I am? This might be supposed to mean, What was the current rumor about
the Redeemer, who became the Son of man? But the question is quite different, What do men think
about Jesus the Son of Mary? He calls himself, according to custom, the Son of man, as much as
to say, Now that clothed in flesh I inhabit the earth like other men, what is the opinion entertained
respecting me? The design of Christ was, to confirm his disciples fully in the true faith, that they
might not be tossed about amidst various reports, as we shall presently see.
14. Some [say,] John the Baptist. This inquiry does not relate to the open enemies of Christ,
nor to ungodly scoffers, but to the sounder and better part of the people, who might be called the
choice and flower of the Church. Those only are mentioned by the disciples who spoke of Christ
with respect; and yet, though they aimed at the truth, not one of them reaches that point, but all go
437 “On la nommoit Cesaree de Philippe;” — “it was named Cesarea of Philip.”
200
John Calvin