What Is The Most Controlversial Chapter In The Bible?

Our present study takes in only Matthew 16:13-20. However, it is necessary to include the whole chapter, in order to get the proper view of the section about which there is so much debate. The chapter may be divided in the following way: (1) The Pharisees and Sadducees test Jesus Christ (vv. 1-4). (2) Blindness to Divine testimony is revealed (vv. 5-12). (3) Spiritual illumination is revealed in Peter’s conversion (vv. 13-17). (4) Progressive revelation is made known (vv. 18-20). (5) Christ foretold His death and resurrection (v. 21). (6) Christ not only announced His cross, but it was followed by His announcement of our cross (vv. 22-26). (7) Christ made known His coming and kingdom (vv. 27, 28).

There are four forms of unbelief in Matthew 16. The first form demands a sign from heaven (vv. 1-4). Here we see the hatred of the natural heart. Christ refused to degrade Divine power to the low level of human curiosity. Thus, He would not use His omnipotence for the purpose of making natural eyes stare with senseless amazement. The second form of unbelief revealed the blindness to Divine testimony (vv. 5-12). Here we see the stupidity of the human heart. Someone has said, “God would not harness the fiery steeds of omnipotence to roll the sun through space in order to make dull eyes stare with idiotic amazement.” The third form of unbelief manifested itself in popular indifference respecting the Messiah Himself (vv. 13, 14). The fourth form shows the unbelief of Peter to believe all the prophets have said concerning Jesus Christ (vv. 21-23). The difference between Peter and the Pharisees is easily detected. Saints take rebuke, but Pharisees do not because they cannot understand spiritual things.

The Gospels have much to say about Peter. It has been said he was hasty, was headlong, spoke unadvisedly, and waded water too deep for him. However, he always turned to His Master and Lord like a little child. It is interesting to note that Christ spoke more often to Peter than any of the other disciples. His speaking was sometimes in blame and sometimes in praise. Next to Judas, Christ spoke harder words to Peter than to any of the other disciples.

Peter was full of inconsistencies. He was the first to confess Christ, and he was the first to deny Him in the presence of Christ’s enemies. He was the first to reach the burial tomb of Christ, and he was the first to suggest a return to his former occupation. He was right in his attitude concerning the Person of Christ, but he was wrong in his attitude regarding the work of Christ (Matt. 16:16, 22, 23).

The secret of Peter’s life is found in his first meeting with Christ. Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “We have found the Messiah (which translated means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him, and said, You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas (which translated means Peter)” (John 1:41, 42 NASB). There would have been no purpose in this unless it indicated a change in character. However, even though there was a change in Peter, the old principle of sin remained in him. This is why Peter vacillated so much. The flesh in Peter was flesh in its finest form. He assumed that he was able and willing to die for the Lord Jesus Christ. That was a manifestation of self-confidence. On the other hand, the flesh in Judas was flesh in the most evil form.

Christ addressed Peter as “Simon” in Luke 22:31—“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat”; and as “Peter” in verse 34—“…I say to you, Peter, the cock will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me” (NASB). The title “Simon” reminded him of the weakness of the flesh, and the title “Peter” (a stone) of what he was by Divine grace.

Too much of “Simon” was being manifested in the life of Peter. Therefore, God purposed his sifting by Satan. Satan had observed Peter’s inconsistencies. Christ said, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers. And he said to Him, Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death! And He said, I say to you, Peter, the cock will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me” (Luke 22:31-34 NASB).

Satan’s desire was to do Peter harm, but Christ’s desire by means of Satan’s sifting was Peter’s spiritual profit. What a contrast! Satan has the will to destroy believers, but he does not have the power. All he can do is what God allows him to do. (Read Job 1 and 2.) The sifting of wheat does not destroy the kernel of life. Even though there was some chaff in Peter, it would be manifested that he was not all chaff.

The effect of Christ’s warning must be observed. Peter’s love for Christ was excited by Christ’s warning. Therefore, he said, “Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death” (Luke 22:33 NASB). However, Christ’s warning did not shake Peter’s self-confidence or his fall. The flesh must be exposed because its untrustworthiness must be brought to light. At the same time, the removal of the chaff causes the faith of the elect to be more evident to the brethren and before the world. The flesh of the Christian must be exposed, because it brings out his infirmities for the purpose of being strengthened spiritually. Before wheat is ready for use, it must be sifted. Therefore, before Christians can be of spiritual help to others, they must be sifted.

No disciple spoke out of turn as much as Peter. Many times he spoke when he should have been listening. Here are a few of his statements when he spoke as Simon: (1) “And Peter took Him [Christ] aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You” (Matt. 16:22 NASB). (2) “Then Peter answered and said to Him [Christ], Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?” (Matt. 19:27 NASB). (3) “And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah” (Matt. 17:4 NASB). (4) “Then Peter came and said to Him, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” (Matt. 18:21 NASB). (5) “Peter said to Him [Christ], Never shall You wash my feet!” (John 13:8 NASB). (6) “But Peter said, By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean” (Acts 10:14 NASB). (7) “Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a certain servant-girl came to him and said, You too were with Jesus the Galilean. But he denied it before them all, saying, I do not know what you are talking about” (Matt. 26:69, 70 NASB).

We do not readily perceive that “leaven” and “human sentiment” are things to expose and condemn (Matt. 16:6, 22, 23). The chapter begins with religious but lost people—the Pharisees and Sadducees. It is interesting to note the people that Christ united. The Sadducees were members of an ancient Palestinian sect that differed from the Pharisees in the interpretation of the Scripture—no resurrection and the coming of a Messiah. Peter’s human sentiment led him to rebuke Christ, but he was unable to finish. The apostle at one moment was inspired to speak the truth, “Thou are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (v. 16 NASB). Shortly after that he was motivated by Satan to speak against God’s eternal purpose. “And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You. But He turned and said to Peter, Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s” (vv. 22, 23 NASB).

Sentimentalism is a manifestation of instability. Peter either did not hear all Christ said or the gloom of trial caused him to overlook the resurrection. Christian progress is hindered by immaturity. That was true of the Corinthians (I Cor. 3:1). Churches are such today that a true believer could attend for fifty years and know very little Biblical doctrine. Such immaturity is manifested by a believer of little faith expressing his own ideas of what he thinks is right to the eternal Son of God. Peter was a “rock” that was out of his proper place. Therefore, he was a rock of stumbling. The Greek word for “stumbling block” (Matt. 16:23) is skandalon, which means a snare, cause of ruin or destruction, or a cause or occasion of sinning. How ignorant was Peter’s statement? It was nothing more than a human viewpoint taking issue with God’s eternal purpose for Christ to die on behalf of the elect. Therefore, in his stupidity, Peter unwittingly opposed his own salvation by opposing Christ.

Peter, who impulsively began to rebuke Jesus Christ, was stopped by the Savior who used the strongest language possible, “Get behind Me, Satan!” (v. 22 NASB). It is worthy of notice that Christ only openly predicted His sufferings and death toward the close of His public ministry. Satan prefers just enough error to destroy the true meaning of any subject. It would be interesting to know how many “church members” could give a Scriptural answer to the question, What is Christ’s cross? Paul said, “But may it never be that I should boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Gal. 6:14 NASB). “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me” ( Gal. 2:20 NASB). The following are the Biblical principles of Christ’s cross—

1. Christ’s cross is the manifestation of the perfect God-Man.
2. His cross is the substitution of the Savior on behalf of the elect.
3. His cross is the satisfaction of the justice of God the Father on behalf of the elect.
4. His cross is the revelation of God to the elect.
5. His cross is the identification of the elect with the Savior.
6. His cross is the consummation of Christ’s work in the elect which includes their bodies.
7. His cross assures the eternal kingdom to the redeemed of Christ at His second coming.

There are many great doctrinal chapters in God’s Holy Word. The importance of Matthew 16:13-20 is that the five major Biblical sciences are unveiled. These sciences are theology—science of the Godhead, anthropology—science of man, soteriology—science of salvation, ecclesiology—science of the assembly, and eschatology—science of last things.