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Explanation for:
Matthew
16
:
15
Jesus saith to them: But whom do you say that I am?
11
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Hilarius of Poitiers","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88cb92f12b3278598f946_Hilarius%20of%20Poitiers.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"When they shared with Him the various views that people held about Him, He inquired what they believed Him to be. Peter responded, \\"You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.\\" Yet Peter understood the depth of the question. The Lord inquired, \\"Who do people say that I, the Son of Man, am?\\" His physical form clearly demonstrated His identity as the Son of Man. However, when Jesus further queried, \\"And what do you say that you honor me for?\\" He suggested that this question transcends mere physical perception, for He was indeed the Son of Man. What discernment did He hope to provoke regarding His true identity? He was prompting them to explore the profound mystery that requires faith to comprehend for all believers."},{"author-name":"Marcus the Ascetic","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c894db4cf63c9754af102d_Marcus%20the%20Ascetic.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Hear what the Lord communicates to His followers: \\"Whom do people say that I, the Son of Man, am?\\" It is significant that He referred to Himself not as the Son of God, but as the Son of Man. Upon learning that some viewed Him as John the Baptist and others as Elijah, He posed the question to them, \\"But who do you say that I am?\\" Peter, the cornerstone of the apostles, responded, declaring, \\"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.\\" In response, the Lord proclaimed, \\"Blessed are you, Simon Peter, son of Jonah, for flesh and blood have not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.\\" In acknowledging the Son of Man, Peter recognized the Son of God. What else did He convey to Peter? \\"You are Peter, and on this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not overcome it\\" (Matt. 16:13-18). Thus, if you, transcending human understanding, acknowledge the Son of Man born of Mary as the Son of God, He will bless you as He did Holy Peter and will establish the entire foundation of your faith upon this rock, ensuring that the gates of hell will not prevail against it. Similarly, by His Holy Body, He released those bonds when He descended, to save all who wholeheartedly believe in Him."},{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"I find it astonishing that some scholars attempt to justify the misconceptions of individuals, providing elaborate theories to explain why certain people perceived John in our Lord Jesus Christ, while others saw Elijah, Jeremiah, or some other prophets. In reality, these individuals may have simply erred regarding Elijah and Jeremiah, similar to how Herod mistakenly thought of John, declaring, “This is John, whom I beheaded; he rose from the dead” (Mark 6:16). — As per the Synodal translation referenced by the translator, John, whom I beheaded; he indeed rose from the dead, showcasing the manifestation of divine power. — Furthermore, when He asked, “Who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter responded, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” — Thoughtful reader, it is clear from what follows and the context of the conversation that the Apostles are no longer referred to merely as men, but as divine beings. When He inquired, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” He continued, “And who do you say that I am?” The first question is directed toward those who view Him in earthly terms, as they are mere mortals. However, addressing you, who are like gods, for whom do you perceive Me? Peter, speaking for all the apostles, acknowledges, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” He names Him the living God, contrasting Him with those deities that are merely perceived as divine but are, in truth, lifeless, alluding to Saturn, Jupiter, Venus, Minerva (or Ceres), Libera, Hercules, and other various idols."},{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"When the disciples expressed their thoughts, saying that some regarded Him as John the Baptist, others as Elijah, and still others as Jeremiah or one of the prophets, they conveyed the misguided perceptions of the crowds. He responded by asking, \\"But who do you say that I am?\\" With this follow-up question, He encourages them to reevaluate their understanding of Him and to recognize that the initial views fall far short of His true greatness. This prompts Him to seek a deeper insight from them, challenging them not to view Him merely as an extraordinary man, despite the miracles they had witnessed, similar to those who speculated about Him after His resurrection, like Herod. Rejecting such limited notions, He inquires, \\"Who do you say I am? You who have been with Me all this time, who have seen My miracles and have performed many wonders through Me?\\""},{"author-name":"John Damascene","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88f1652142a026a0c6d53_John%20Damascene.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":8,"exegesis-text":"To dispel any misconceptions about Himself and to provide a genuine acknowledgment to those lacking understanding, what action does He, in Whose hand all things are achievable, take? As a human, He asks a question, yet as the Divine, He discreetly advises His disciples, inquiring, ‘But whom do you say that I am?’"},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"He desired to receive the ultimate acknowledgment of His Divinity directly from the mouths of His selected apostles, recognizing that this declaration was eager to flow from their hearts if He would simply inquire. He asked them, \\"And who do you say that I am?\\""},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The apostles, who were always in the presence of Jesus, witnessed His state of poverty, His humility, and even His moments of humiliation. They observed that during His relentless journeys, He often had no place to rest His head. Consequently, they understood that He was not the Messiah anticipated by the Jews. If they had assessed Jesus solely as a human being, they would have failed to identify Him as the true Messiah, the Christ, the Son of the living God, due to His earthly existence. However, they did recognize Him, for they perceived in His deeds the divine works of God Himself. It was God, who manifested His presence through these works, that instructed the apostles of Jesus’ true identity as the Messiah. This is why Jesus proclaimed to Peter: Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah, for it was not mortal understanding that revealed this to you, but My Father in heaven."},{"author-name":"Lopuchin A.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c891400ee1341634d2276d_Lopuchin%20A.P..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"All hope was placed upon the disciples. The Saviour posed a deeply significant question, asking them, \\"And who do you say that I am?\\" This inquiry was pivotal, as the answer would determine the trajectory of Christ's subsequent mission."},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The Lord inquired, \\"You who have journeyed alongside me, witnessed my wonders, and performed numerous signs through my power, who do you believe I am?\\""},{"author-name":"Bogolepow D.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The Evangelists Matthew and Mark concur that this significant event occurred in the vicinity of Caesarea Philippi, in an area historically known as Gablonitis, near the springs of the Jordan River, at the base of Lebanon. Furthermore, Luke notes that prior to inviting the disciples to make a public and earnest declaration of their faith, Jesus prayed. Matthew provides a much more detailed account than Mark and Luke, particularly highlighting the words of Christ directed solely at Peter, where He communicated His reward for Peter's profound confession. \\n\\nWith the intention of guiding the disciples towards a meaningful testimony of their belief, Jesus first posed the question, \\"Whom do men say that I am, the Son of man?\\" He inquired about how He, who came in the humble guise of a servant and referred to Himself as the Son of man, was viewed by the people. The disciples responded by recounting the various opinions that were held about Jesus among the populace. This response revealed that the crowd had not yet formed a conclusive opinion about Him. Nevertheless, every viewpoint circulating among the masses was ultimately erroneous and belittling to Christ. Thus, it was even more crucial to invite the disciples to rectify and articulate the essence of their faith through a clear and earnest confession. Consequently, the Lord queried them, \\"But whom do you say that I am?\\""},{"author-name":"Alexander Gorsky","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8884037c1e1c51e1332e2_Alexander%20Gorsky.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"\\"Whom do you say that I am?\\" the Lord inquired of them. Peter was the first to respond, declaring, \\"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.\\" This proclamation not only highlighted the fundamental distinction in understanding Jesus' ministry—recognizing Him not merely as a forerunner but as the Messiah Himself—but also conveyed an acknowledgment of His divine origins that transcended the conventional Jewish notions of the Messiah's identity. The phrase \\"the Son of the living God\\" signifies the Son of God, who, as He stated, could only be truly known by God the Father, and now was understood through the faith of a devoted disciple."}]}
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