GOSPEL READING
THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW
Caesarea Philippi
As we saw in the overview of the chapter, we are now reading the first two scenes (16,13-28) of the four scene passage which continues into chapter 17 (16,13-17,13).
In the overview, we saw that this passage was the turning point in the Gospel. Recall where Jesus has been before this passage and where he is going afterwards.
Christ, Church, Cross and Glory: Mt 16,13-28
The first scene is Peter's statement that Jesus is the Christ followed by Jesus' response to Peter, 16,13-20.
The second, which begins "From that time" in verse 21, focuses on the Cross; first for Jesus, 16,21-23 and then for his followers, 16,24-28.
The two scenes are closely connected. Note where they take place and note too the bracket formed in 16,13 and 16,28.
Have a look now at my response before we continue.
Christ, Peter and the Church: 16,13-20
Compare this passage with its equivalent in the Gospel of Mark (Mk 8,27-30). How are they similar and how do they differ?
Look back to the scene of Jesus walking on the water to recall Matthew's conclusion (14,33) and how it was different to Mark's (Mk 6,52).
Matthew like Mark takes Jesus and his disciples to the district of Caesarea Philippi, 16,13. Look at a map to see where this is. What might be its significance bearing in mind Jesus' final destination, 16,21 (an addition by Matthew).
Note that Matthew has changed Mark's "I am" to "Son of Man" in verse 13 but not in verse 15. See verse 28, mentioned above.
We will come back to Elijah and John the Baptist when we read 17,9-13.
"One of the prophets" recalls Deuteronomy 18,15. Matthew has added Jeremiah in verse 14. There are Jeremiah traits in the way that Jesus is portrayed in the Gospel.
Simon Peter replies in verse 16; why might "Messiah" be better here rather than "Christ"? He adds "Son of the living God", see Ps 42,2 or Hosea 1,10 and also 26,63.
There follows in 16,17-19 Jesus' unique commission to Peter. Peter is blessed, the same type of blessing as the beatitudes. The revelation comes from the Father "in heaven", the same way as this Gospel speaks of the kingdom of heaven.
Peter and rock in verse 18 are a word play. For the word "church" see also 18,17.
Hades could be either hell or the underworld, see Is 38,10.
The keys of the kingdom: see 7,21 and 23,13. See also the story told in Isaiah 22,15-25.
For binding and loosing in verse 19 see also 18,18.
Note how Matthew has edited Mark in verse 20.
We need now a response for the scene itself.
From Cross to Glory: 16,21-28
As we saw above, this section is in two parts which unlike Mark the two are closely connected. Compare 16,24 with Mk 8,34. We have noted already the significance of Matthew's alteration. Note too how Matthew has changed the final verse (16,28, Mk 9,1) to link it to preceeding verses.
We have just read about Peter confessing Jesus as the Christ and then Jesus telling Peter that he is the rock on which the Church will be built.
How then do these verses expand and interpret what has been said concerning, first Jesus, then Peter and arising from that, all followers of Jesus?
Verse 21 is the first of three predictions by Jesus of his fate. Commonly they are called passion predictions but the resurrection is always included. Matthew has taken over all three from Mark.
We will do our comparisons as we reach the other two. For this first one, just compare Matthew with Mark, Mk 8,31.
How is Peter's reaction in verse 22 recorded differently to Mark's account?
For Satan in verse 23, have a look at 4,10.
How does your translation record Peter as an obstacle?
For verse 24, we have noted that Matthew does not include the larger audience of Mark, Mk 8,34. Have a look at 13,36.
For the necessity of taking up the cross, Matthew is repeating 10,38-39.
Verses 25 and 26 then tell us of the attitude of the disciple. It is the paradox for Jesus and his followers that gaining life means losing it. See Ecclesiastes 1,3 and Psalm 49.
Matthew then omits much of Mk 8,38. Consider why he might have done so.
Finally, there is the glory that follows the cross, 16,27-28. Daniel 7,14 is the background here. We can note here Matthew's addition to Mark, Mk 8,38, see Proverbs 24,12. This is in anticipation of 25,31-46.
What is the message that we are left with in 16,28? What about not tasting death? How does this prepare for what follows?
Have a further reflection on Peter in light of this second scene. A look at the Gospel for the 22nd Sunday may be useful.
Time now for a response
The Sunday Gospels
This passage is read over two Sundays: 16,13-20 is the Gospel for the 21st Sunday while 16,21-28 is the Gospel for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time. I asked you to look at both OT readings when we were reading the two scenes.
This may have shown the result of splitting the passage in this way. We are given one message one Sunday followed by a quite different message the following Sunday.
The Old Testament reading for the 21st Sunday is Isaiah 22,19-23. We've seen the whole episode in our reading as Is 22,15-25. This is an obvious choice except that it has been shortened. Consider the effect of this choice for our reading of the Gospel.
For the 22nd Sunday, the Old Testament reading is Jeremiah 20,7-9. It's an interesting choice given the reference to Jeremiah in 16,14. As usual, read the whole passage, 20,7-18. How does this reading help our reflections on this Gospel?
A response from me is now needed.
We can continue into chapter 17 and the following two scenes of this passage.