彼得認耶穌為基督
馬太福音十六章13至21節
13耶穌到了凱撒利亞腓立比的境內，就問門徒說：“人說我人子是誰（註：有古卷無“我”字）？”
14他們說：“有人說是施洗的約翰，有人說是以利亞，又有人說是耶利米或是先知裡的一位。”
15耶穌說：“你們說我是誰？”
16西門彼得回答說：“你是基督，是永生神的兒子。”
17耶穌對他說：“西門巴約拿，你是有福的！因為這不是屬血肉的指示你的，乃是我在天上的父指示的。
18我還告訴你：你是彼得，我要把我的教會建造在這磐石上，陰間的權柄不能勝過他（註：“權柄”原文作“門”）。
19我要把天國的鑰匙給你，凡你在地上所捆綁的，在天上也要捆綁；凡你在地上所釋放的，在天上也要釋放。”
20當下，耶穌囑咐門徒，不可對人說他是基督。
21從此，耶穌才指示門徒，他必須上耶路撒冷去，受長老、祭司長、文士許多的苦，並且被殺，第三日復活。
信息分享
第一個答案反映了一般人的看法：耶穌是一位復活了的偉大先知。於是基督再問另一個問題、一個更為個人化的問題：「你們的意見如何？你們說我是誰？」
彼得往往充任十二門徒的發言人。他立即回答基督的問題，並作出一個偉大的宣告：「你是基督，是彌賽亞；是永生神的兒子。」這是彼得從兄弟安得烈口中，得知耶穌身份的第一句話：「我們遇見彌賽亞（即基督）了。」（約一41）如今他再次公開宣告出來。基督稱讚彼得，並說這真理必定是聖靈在他心裡動工向他啟示的。基督接下來說的兩句話，不同的團體有許多不同的解釋。
首先，基督在其上建立教會的磐石並不是指彼得，而是指彼得所宣告的真理。教會是建造在基督神兒子這根基之上；雖然彼得和其他使徒也在這根基上建造，但他們不是真理的教會建立其上的磐石。惟有基督才是那磐石。
其次，彼得在他後來的講道中指出，救恩的大門是向所有人開啟的。今天，任何人宣講基督赦罪的福音，便是做著同樣的工作。我們若已認識福音，我們便有責任將這福音傳給別人。我們必須為主和他人的緣故，盡這傳福音的責任。
PETER’S CONFESSION
Matthew 16: 13-21
13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”
14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
20 Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.
21 From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.
Message
Their first replies echoed what the general population was saying - that Jesus was a great prophet returned from the dead. Then Christ asked another question, this time more personal, “What is your own opinion? Who do you really think I am?”
Peter was often the spokesman for the twelve. He took up Christ’s question and made a great statement, “You are the Christ, the Messiah. You are the Son of the living God.” One of the first statements Peter had heard about Christ came from his brother, Andrew, “we have found the Messiah (the Christ).” Now he declares it again openly. Christ complimented Peter and said that this truth must have been revealed to Peter by the Spirit of God working in his heart. Then Christ added two statements which have been interpreted in so many ways by various groups.
Firstly, the Rock on which Christ has built the church is not Peter but rather on the truth which Peter had stated. The church is built on Christ the Son of God. Peter and other apostles built on that foundation but they are not the rock on which the true church stands. Christ alone is that Rock.
Secondly, by his later preaching, Peter showed that the door to salvation was open to all. Anyone preaching the Gospel of forgiveness through Christ is doing exactly the same today. If we know the Gospel ourselves, it is our responsibility to share that news with others. Let us make sure we are doing our part for Christ’s sake and theirs today.