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Explanation for:
Matthew
16
:
17
And Jesus answering, said to him: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven.
10
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{"arr":[{"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":"Jesus responded, saying to him, \\"Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah, because it was not by human means that this was revealed to you, but by my Father who is in heaven.\\" For the apostle’s affirmation of His identity, he receives a commendation. Peter declared, \\"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,\\" and in return, he hears, \\"Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonas.\\" Why is this the case? Because it was not through human insight that it was disclosed to you, but through divine revelation. What cannot be known through human understanding is unveiled through the grace of the Holy Spirit. Hence, from this confession arises the designation of the apostle, for he is blessed with a revelation from the Holy Spirit: he is referred to as the son of His grace. It is accurate to note that \\"Bar Jonah,\\" in our language, translates to \\"son of the Dove\\"; however, some interpret that Simon, also known as Peter, was the son of John, based on another inquiry posed by the Lord to Peter, \\"Son of John, do you love Me?\\" He replied, \\"Lord, you know.\\" These interpreters suggest that this passage has been altered due to a scribal error, arguing that instead of \\"the son of John\\" (Barjoanna), it was mistakenly written as \\"the son of Jonah\\" (Barjona), with one syllable omitted. The name \\"Johanna\\" signifies \\"the grace of the Lord.\\" Nevertheless, both names can be understood in a profound manner, as the dove symbolizes the Holy Spirit, and God's grace represents a spiritual endowment (the gift of the Spirit). Moreover, Christ’s declaration, \\"For flesh and blood has not revealed it to you,\\" aligns closely with the Apostle's statement: \\"Immediately I did not put my trust in flesh and blood,\\" signifying here that by \\"flesh and blood,\\" he references the Jews. This further illustrates that Christ, the Son of God, did not make Himself known to him through the teachings of the Pharisees, but through divine grace."},{"author-name":"Ephraem the Syrian","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88b589fc3e99eb7bb1839_Ephraem%20the%20Syrian.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Simon, the chief apostle, declared, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” To which the Lord responded, “Blessed are you, Simon. And the gates of hell shall not prevail against you” (cf. Matt. 16:15-18), signifying that faith is imperishable. For who can dismantle what God has established, and who can revive what the Lord has laid low? The Assyrian sought to annihilate the temple erected by the Lord, yet ultimately he brought down his own throne. Likewise, Nicanor faced a similar fate (2 Mac. 8:34-36). Ahab attempted to restore the fallen city of Jericho, but his reign was similarly overturned.\\n\\nIn establishing His church, the Lord created a structure with a foundation strong enough to support all that is built upon it. When the single language was fractured into many, the Lord halted the construction of the tower to prevent mankind from ascending to heaven (Gen. 11: 4-8). This division led them to seek refuge not in the tower but in the truth; for even the overwhelming waves of the floods could not have harmed them if they had sought sanctuary in elevated places. Yet, unrighteousness led to their downfall, while repentance liberated them; indeed, it is truth that saves. Thus, their scattering hindered both the completion of the earthly tower and the eternal edifice, and the evasion of toil.\\n\\nAfterward, the Saviour Himself provided humanity a tower that ascends to heaven, and a tree whose fruit is the remedy of life. “You are a stone” (cf. Matt. 16:18)—the stone that the Lord established, causing Satan to trip. When Peter implored the Lord, “Let it not be so, Lord!” (cf. Matt. 16:22), Satan attempted to set that stone against the Lord so that He would stumble. We may not have assumed Satan was thinking this way had not the One who knows all revealed, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me!” (Matthew 16:23). The Lord then cast aside this stone from Himself so that the followers of Satan would stumble over it, resulting in them ‘falling backward and prostrating themselves on the ground’ (cf. Jn. 18:6)."},{"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 Jesus sought the views of the crowd, all responded to His inquiry; yet when it came to their own understanding, Peter could not hold back, proclaiming, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God’ (Matt. 16:16). What was the response of Christ? ‘Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah, for flesh and blood have not revealed this to you’ (Matt. 16:17). Certainly, if Peter had acknowledged Him merely as a son in a general sense, or not as one begotten of the Father, it wouldn’t have been recognized as a divine revelation. Had he regarded Him simply as a son among many, his statement would not have warranted the blessing he received. Previously, those on the boat, after the tempest, declared, ‘Truly, You are the Son of God’ (Matt. 14:33), yet they did not receive the title of blessed, despite their affirmation of truth. They acknowledged Him not as Peter did but recognized Him as a son superior to others, not of the very essence of the Father. Likewise, Nathanael exclaimed, ‘Rabbi, You are the Son of God, You are the King of Israel’ (John 1:49), yet he was also not blessed and was even admonished by the Lord for only recognizing a fraction of the truth. Consequently, Christ remarked: ‘You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree; you will see greater things than these’ (John 1:50). Why, then, is Peter considered blessed? It is because he confessed Christ as the true Son. For this reason, Christ refrained from calling others blessed and, addressing Peter, indicated who had made Him known to Peter. To prevent Peter's confession from being mistaken by many as mere affection or flattery, or as a reflection of his special bond with Christ due to his profound love, the intention was to clarify that Peter’s declaration was taught by the Father, signifying that these words convey not human sentiment but divine truth. But why does Christ not reveal Himself outright, stating, ‘I am the Christ’? Instead, He accomplishes this through His question, prompting His disciples to make their own declaration. This method was more appropriate and essential for instilling their belief in His words. Do you perceive how the Father reveals the Son? How does the Son reveal the Father? ‘No one knows the Father,’ it is said, ‘except the Son, and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him’ (Matt. 11:27; Luke 10:22). Thus, the only way to know the Son is through the Father, and the only way to know the Father is through the Son, demonstrating their equality and consubstantiality. What, then, does Christ declare? ‘You are Simon the son of Jonah; you shall be called Cephas’ (John 1:42). Just as you have proclaimed My Father, I likewise refer to Him who has fathered you. Implicitly, it is conveyed that as you are the son of Jonah, so too am I the Son of My Father. Otherwise, it would be unnecessary to state, ‘You are the son of Jonah.’ However, when Peter affirmed Him as the Son of God, Christ, to illustrate that He is as truly the Son of God as Peter is the son of Jonah, or of the same essence as the One who begot him, added: ‘And I say to you, You are Peter, and upon this rock—meaning the faith you profess—I will build My Church’ (Matt. 16:18)."},{"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":"Pay attention to the words of the Lord as He speaks to His disciples, asking, \\"Who do people say that I, the Son of Man, am?\\" It is significant that He chose to identify Himself as the Son of Man rather than the Son of God. After hearing that some thought He was John the Baptist or Elijah, He posed the question, \\"But who do you say that I am?\\" Peter, the cornerstone of the apostles, replied, \\"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.\\" In response, the Lord declared, \\"Blessed are you, Simon Peter, son of Jonah, for it was not human insight that revealed this to you, but My Father in heaven.\\" When Peter recognized the Son of Man, he simultaneously acknowledged the Son of God. What else did He say to him? \\"You are Peter, and on this rock, I will build My Church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it\\" (Matt. 16:13-18). Thus, if you, transcending mere human understanding, confess the Son of Man born of Mary as the Son of God, He will show His favor toward you, just as He did with holy Peter. He will establish the entire body of your faith upon this rock of belief, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. He also broke the chains when He descended, through His Holy Body, in order to save those who believe in Him with unwavering faith."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"He commends Peter for gaining insight through God's grace; however, he also emphasizes that the beliefs held by others are misguided. He addressed him as ‘Son of Jonah,’ implying that just as Peter is the son of Jonah, he is likewise the Son of His Father in heaven, the only begotten. This understanding is referred to as revelation, as it involves unveiling the hidden and mysterious truths given by the Father."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"Even prior to the calming of the tempest, the disciples recognized Him as the Son of God, declaring, ‘Truly you are the Son of God’ (Matthew 14:33), yet they were not deemed blessed. Additionally, others acknowledged His divinity, but none received the title of blessed. How should one interpret this? Those who proclaimed Him the Son of God and accepted Him as God did so not in His intrinsic nature, but rather through a form of adoption and exceptional virtue, akin to how all the saints are regarded as sons of God. Only Peter grasped the truth that Christ is the Son of God by nature and in the fullest sense. Consequently, Christ aimed to reveal to His disciples that only Peter understood Him accurately and made his confession without mistake, hence He referred to him as blessed, having received a divine revelation about Him. He stated that flesh and blood, meaning human insight, did not lead you to this sacred acknowledgment of me, but rather my Father—who alone deserves such recognition. The Hebrew term bar translates to son. By affirming Peter’s insight and demonstrating that he had been enlightened by God, observe the remarkable blessings bestowed upon him."},{"author-name":"Symeon of Thessalonica","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c897e26d8de9e2f4f210fd_Symeon%20of%20Thessalonica.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":15,"exegesis-text":"What constitutes sacred prayer? This holy invocation of our Savior—\\"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me\\"—serves as both a prayer and a vow. This prayer embodies: - a declaration of faith; - a means of communion with the Holy Spirit; - a channel for Divine gifts; - the cleansing of the heart; - the expulsion of demons; - the indwelling presence of Christ; - a source of spiritual and Divine thoughts; - liberation from sin; - healing for both souls and bodies; - a mediator of Divine enlightenment; - the attraction of Divine mercy; - a dispenser of revelations and Divine mysteries to the humble; - a source of salvation, encompassing the saving name of our God. There exists only one name that we may invoke—the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, \\"for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved\\" (Acts 4:12), as proclaimed by the Apostle. Thus, it is a prayer, as we seek Divine favor; a vow, as through calling upon Christ we dedicate ourselves to Him; a confession, for in proclaiming it, Peter was declared blessed; the giving of the Spirit, since \\"no man can call Jesus Lord, but by the Holy Ghost\\" (1 Cor. 12:3); and a conduit for Divine gifts, because to Peter, Christ promised, \\"I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven\\" (Matt. 16:17-19)."},{"author-name":"Tichon of Zadonsk","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989ff6b5b4c943e70095_Tichon%20of%20Zadonsk.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":18,"exegesis-text":"Christ our Redeemer instructs us: ‘No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son, and to whom the Son is willing to reveal’ (Matt. 11:27). To St. Peter, He declares: ‘It is not flesh and blood that has revealed these things to you, but My Father who is in heaven’ (Matt. 16:17). From this, we understand that divine revelation is essential for truly knowing God."},{"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":"Jesus responded, “Blessed are you, Simon son of John, for it was not human understanding that granted you this insight; it was not my earthly appearance that taught you, nor was it human instruction that enlightened you, but rather it was my Father in Heaven who revealed this truth to you. You have perceived the voice of the Father through the actions and words of His Son. Because you have proclaimed my Father, I now acknowledge your father: just as you are the son of Jonah, so I am the Son of my Father, sharing the same essence as He who has begotten you. St. Chrysostom asserts that if Peter had recognized Him as Son in any but the true sense, such understanding would not have been deemed a revelation, nor would his words have merited such acknowledgment. Earlier, those aboard the ship after the tempest declared, ‘Truly you are the Son of God’ (Matt. 14:33), yet they were not called blessed, despite their affirmation. They acknowledged a different Son than Peter. Nathanael exclaimed, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God, you are the King of Israel’ (John 1:49) but he was neither honored as blessed nor commended by the Lord, for he had not yet embraced the full truth. Peter alone was deemed blessed because he recognized Him as the true Son. To clarify that Peter’s declaration was not merely born of affection or flattery, rooted in his love for Jesus Christ, the Lord indicates the source of his inspiration, illustrating that Peter spoke as taught by the heavenly Father. Why did Jesus Christ choose not to directly proclaim, ‘I am the Christ,’ but instead led His disciples to arrive at that confession? It was more fitting and conducive to strengthening their belief in His words at that moment. Do you grasp how the Father reveals the Son and how the Son reveals the Father? No one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to disclose Him (Matt. 11:25, 27; Luke 10:22). Therefore, no knowledge of the Son comes except through the Father, and no understanding of the Father exists apart from the Son, demonstrating their equality and shared essence. \\n\\nIn Peter's succinct declaration lies the essence of the Christian doctrine regarding the ‘union of the two natures, which for our salvation the Son of God has blessedly fulfilled in Himself’ (St. Isidore Pelusiot), articulated for the first time by a human mouth. The Venerable John Damascene notes that \\"Jesus Christ, in His humanity poses the question, while in His divinity secretly guides and inspires Peter's response,\\" commending him for not allowing mere human reasoning to overshadow the divine suggestion he received from the Father. Without such a clear affirmation from humanity concerning the profound mystery of the Incarnation of the Son of God, the foundation of Christ’s Church on earth could not have been established. Thus, in response to this confession, the Lord addresses Simon Peter with great solemnity and regal grace, speaking not only to him but through him to all who acknowledge the truth of God’s Incarnation: \\"When I chose you to be My apostles, I called you Peter\\" (John 1:42). I bestowed upon you the name Peter, which translates in Greek to ‘Petros’ or stone, just as I am the cornerstone (Matt. 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17)."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"\\"Simon, son of Jonah\\" refers to the verses in John 1:42 and John 21:16-17. This name signifies a connection between Peter and Jesus. The implication is that just as Peter is the son of Jonah, so too is Jesus the Son of the Heavenly Father. The title \\"son of Jonah\\" would be unnecessary if not for this deeper meaning. When Peter acknowledged Jesus as the Son of God, Jesus emphasized that he shares this divine relationship as Peter shares his lineage. \\n\\nThe phrase \\"flesh and blood have not revealed it unto you\\" indicates that 'flesh and blood' often represents humanity, particularly its flaws, in contrast to the perfection of God (as referenced in Galatians 1:16). This statement signifies that Peter's recognition did not come from any human being; rather, it was a revelation from the Father in heaven. Had Peter viewed Jesus merely as a son in a common sense or as one among many, his proclamation would not have warranted divine acknowledgment. \\n\\nPeter is blessed because he recognized Jesus as the true Son of God. Therefore, Christ specifically addressed Peter in this way, highlighting the divine origin of his insight. This serves to clarify that while Peter spoke these words, it was the Father who imparted this knowledge to him, underscoring that such confessions stem not from human reasoning but from divine understanding."}]}
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