彼得认耶稣为基督
马太福音十六章13至21节
13耶稣到了凯撒利亚腓立比的境内，就问门徒说：“人说我人子是谁（注：有古卷无“我”字）？”
14他们说：“有人说是施洗的约翰，有人说是以利亚，又有人说是耶利米或是先知里的一位。”
15耶稣说：“你们说我是谁？”
16西门彼得回答说：“你是基督，是永生神的儿子。”
17耶稣对他说：“西门巴约拿，你是有福的！因为这不是属血肉的指示你的，乃是我在天上的父指示的。
18我还告诉你：你是彼得，我要把我的教会建造在这磐石上，阴间的权柄不能胜过他（注：“权柄”原文作“门”）。
19我要把天国的钥匙给你，凡你在地上所捆绑的，在天上也要捆绑；凡你在地上所释放的，在天上也要释放。”
20当下，耶稣嘱咐门徒，不可对人说他是基督。
21从此，耶稣才指示门徒，他必须上耶路撒冷去，受长老、祭司长、文士许多的苦，并且被杀，第三日复活。
信息分享
第一个答案反映了一般人的看法：耶稣是一位复活了的伟大先知。于是基督再问另一个问题、一个更为个人化的问题：「你们的意见如何？你们说我是谁？」
彼得往往充任十二门徒的发言人。他立即回答基督的问题，并作出一个伟大的宣告：「你是基督，是弥赛亚；是永生神的儿子。」这是彼得从兄弟安得烈口中，得知耶稣身份的第一句话：「我们遇见弥赛亚（即基督）了。」（约一41）如今他再次公开宣告出来。基督称赞彼得，并说这真理必定是圣灵在他心里动工向他启示的。基督接下来说的两句话，不同的团体有许多不同的解释。
首先，基督在其上建立教会的磐石并不是指彼得，而是指彼得所宣告的真理。教会是建造在基督神儿子这根基之上；虽然彼得和其他使徒也在这根基上建造，但他们不是真理的教会建立其上的磐石。惟有基督才是那磐石。
其次，彼得在他后来的讲道中指出，救恩的大门是向所有人开启的。今天，任何人宣讲基督赦罪的福音，便是做着同样的工作。我们若已认识福音，我们便有责任将这福音传给别人。我们必须为主和他人的缘故，尽这传福音的责任。
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.