Matthew 16: 16 17 – Jesus The Messiah

Target year level: Year Six

Scripture text

Introduction

Matthew 16:16-17 is situated in a section of Matthew’s Gospel that deals with the Church and the formation of the disciples for their mission and role within the community of the followers of Jesus (Mt.13:53-18:35).

Scripture scholars think that the Gospel of Matthew was written in the last part of the first century CE, sometime after 70 CE. Matthew’s intended audience was Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians who were familiar with Jewish culture, religious belief and religious practice. Matthew’s text has many Jewish references that take for granted an audience familiar with Judaism.

For further background on the Gospel of Matthew, see the New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE), Introduction to Matthew.

World behind the text

Many scholars believe Matthew’s Gospel was written at Antioch, a Greek speaking city with a number of Jewish synagogues. Antioch became the capital of the Roman province in Syria in 64 BCE and in the first century CE was the third largest city in the Roman Empire. Christianity had become well established in Antioch by 80 CE. A number of other possible locations with a similar demographic to Antioch are also suggested as possible sites for the writing of Matthew’s Gospel.

Matthew 16:16-17 needs to be read and understood in relation to questions and disputes in Matthew’s community about the precise relationship between the Christian churches and Judaism. Within Christian churches, there were disputes over the extent to which the observance of Jewish Law and cultural practice was required of Jewish and Gentile Christians. This and other matters were a source of ongoing tension between Early Christian house churches and the local Jewish Synagogue.

Within Christian churches there were disputes over the extent to which the observance of Jewish Law was required of Jews who had become Christians and of Christian Gentiles who were never members of the Jewish community.

For further information see Early Christian churches and Judaism.

Matthew wants to establish a strong identity for the communities of the followers of Jesus for whom he writes his Gospel. It is important for Matthew’s communities of Christians to distinguish themselves from Judaism and recognise their identity as an ecclesia or Church, the assembly of Christians. Originally the Greek word, Ecclesia,referred to the principal assembly of the people of ancient Athens and was notable for its openness to all classes.

For further information, see the teacher background information, Who Wrote the Gospels and When?

World of the text

Peter’s Declaration about Jesus (Mt.16:13-20) is the surrounding text for Peter’s Profession of Faith (16:16-17). Both the Declaration and the Profession of Faith reinforce a strong Matthean theme throughout the Gospel that the Christian church is an entity distinct from Judaism, from which it came. Peter’s profession of faith, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (16:16) is the profession of faith of the Christian community and is what makes the Church distinctive.

In some Bible translations, the word, ‘Messiah’ (16:16), is rendered as ‘Christ’, that is, ‘the one who saves’, or ‘saviour’. In Matthew 16:17, Jesus affirms Peter’s declaration of faith and declares that Peter - and by implication, his profession of faith - are the ‘rock’ on which the church is built. Mark 8:27-33 is the source for Matthew’s text. Matthew, however, edits Mark to include Mt.16:17, Jesus’ blessing of Peter, and Mt.16:18-19, Commissioning of Peter. This addition to Mark highlights Matthew’s ecclesial concerns throughout his Gospel which is often known by the title, Book of the Church.

World in front of the text

Matthew wrote his Gospel for communities of Christians struggling for their identity as followers of Jesus. These early Christians were subject to a number of cultural and religious influences from Judaism and other religions in the Greco-Roman world of the first century CE. As Christians in the contemporary world we have a similar struggle. We are subject to many influences which may or may not be compatible with our Christian identity, beliefs and commitment as Christians. Peter’s Profession of Faith came in the midst of his own struggle to be faithful to Jesus and both Matthew’s Christian communities and our contemporary Christian communities continue the struggle to be faithful to our identity as followers of Christ.