Matthew 16:13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

What was His intention in asking first not for their views, but for the views of the crowds? He aimed for them to express the people's perception first, leading to a subsequent inquiry: "But who do you say that I am?" This progression was designed to elevate their understanding, preventing them from perceiving Him as the populace did. Similarly, He did not pose this question at the outset of His teachings; it followed His numerous miracles, discussions on profound truths, and repeated affirmations of His divinity and oneness with the Father. Instead of asking, "What do the scribes and Pharisees believe about Me?"—though they frequently engaged with Him—He sought the honest opinion of the masses: "What do the people think of Me?" While the views of the people were less accurate, they were sincere, unlike the scribes and Pharisees whose opinions were clouded by deep malice. To emphasize His desire for acknowledgment of His Incarnation, He referred to Himself as the Son of Man, which also hints at His divine nature, as He often does in other instances.

Yet His mystical Body is being torn asunder by ferocious predators of destruction, including heretics and those who distort true faith. From above, the Heavenly Teacher imparted His Divine Teachings to His sacred Church, elucidated the will of the Heavenly Father, and demonstrated the path to salvation. However, those who aim to divide the Church of Christ, contrary to the Word of God, introduce falsehoods, eclipsing the heavenly truth with their erroneous doctrines. I do not need to enumerate such dividers of the Body of Christ, for the faithful know them well. During His time on earth, our Savior inquired of His disciples, "What do people say about Me? Who do people say that I am, the Son of Man?" and received the response that many held misguided views about Him (Matthew 16:14). Only His disciples acknowledged Him as the Christ, the Son of God (Matthew 16:16). O Savior Christ, our Divine Jesus, what shall we Christians say when You question us, "Whom do men say that You are, the Son of Man?" You alone are aware that the redeemed of Your kingdom, bought with Your blood, harbor mistaken beliefs about You. Some view Your divine teachings as mere fiction, while Your wondrous miracles are dismissed as clever tricks. Whom do men say that You are, the Son of Man? Others, enveloped in superstition, seek salvation outside of the dogmas of the Holy Faith and the Sacraments of Your Incarnation, placing their reliance on external appearances and visible rituals. Whom do men say that You are, the Son of Man? Yet another, rebelling against the teachings of Your holy Church, abandons all its traditions and, in ignorance of the power of Your divine word, follows only human customs (Mark 7:8). O Savior Christ! Do You not mourn the discord we hear within Your holy Church? But you, who have embraced the true confession of faith, must guard against such conflicts; do not trust anyone who engages in discussions about the divine mysteries, regardless of whether he claims to be a prophet from the cradle, an angel from Heaven, or a martyr enduring profound suffering in Your name. If he contradicts the Word of God and the Holy Church, he proves himself a clear apostate and an outcast. Such a one does not belong among the chosen children of the Son of God; he is a stranger, an abomination, an enemy to God and His Son Jesus Christ, and he cannot call God Father who does not recognize the Church as Mother. Amen.

Jesus posed a question to His disciples: Who do people say that the Son of Man is? The New Synodal Russian translation renders it as: Jesus asked His disciples: Who do men say that I am, the Son of Man? Quern dicunt homines esse Filium hominis translates to: Who do people say is the Son of Man? In the Greek, it is expressed as: Τίνα με λέγουσιν οί άνθρωποί είναι, τόν υίόν τού ένθρώπου, meaning: Who do men say I, the Son of Man, am? Notice that He did not inquire, "By whom do men call Me," but referred to Himself as the "Son of Man" to avoid any implication of self-absorption.

Moreover, it is important to note that where the Old Testament mentions "Son of Man," the Hebrew text translates to "son of Adam." For instance, in the psalm, it states: As long as the sons of men are heavy in heart (Psalm 4:3) according to the New Synodal Russian translation: Sons of men, how long shall my glory be in contempt? In Hebrew, it reads: sons of Adam. This leads to a profound inquiry: By whom do men classify the Son of Man? The distinction lies in that those who refer to the Son of Man are indeed men; however, those who grasp His divinity are identified as gods.

He referred to Himself as "the Son of Man," appearing to them as a human being. His inquiry was not born of ignorance, but rather served a purposeful wisdom; He intended for Peter to reveal the truth that had been disclosed to him and to dismiss the false views others held about Him. Christ was aware of what God the Father had imparted to Peter. It is noteworthy that He did not pose this question at the outset of His ministry, but rather after performing numerous significant miracles, after delivering profound teachings, and after providing ample evidence of His divinity and oneness with the Father.

"You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:13-18). Consequently, if you also, transcending mere human understanding, profess the Son of Man born of Mary as the Son of God, He will also bless you, just as He did Holy Peter. He will establish the entire assembly of your faith upon this foundation of belief, and the gates of hell shall not overcome it. Moreover, He, through His Holy Body, freed those who believe in Him from these bonds when He descended, so that they may be saved in their unwavering faith.

Ultimately, the Jews expected dramatic upheaval upon the Messiah's arrival, with extraordinary signs in the heavens and on earth, but our Lord instructed that the Kingdom of God does not come with visible displays (Luke 17:20) but exists in the unseen power of God's grace within the hearts of humanity.

The Lord's adversaries exploited common misconceptions and biases to discredit Jesus in the eyes of the people. Indeed, during His final visit to Galilee, the enthusiasm with which the people had previously received Him had diminished. With a heavy heart, the Lord departed from Galilee, crossing the Lake of Tiberias and journeying toward the northern regions of the Holy Land to the area of Caesarea Philippi, distinct from another Caesarea at the base of Mount Carmel by the Mediterranean Sea, known as Palestine. But why did our Savior embark on such an extensive journey into Gentile territories? The Church Fathers explain: 'So that far from the Jews, He might reveal to His disciples the fullness of His Divine majesty as the Messiah.' Up until that moment, He had only openly identified Himself as the Messiah to the Samaritan woman and to Nicodemus, the Son of God who descended from heaven. While He had already demonstrated His identity through His miracles and teachings, He had not yet explicitly referred to Himself as such in front of His disciples. However, with His impending departure from them, it became essential to clarify that He was the promised Savior of the world, the Christ, the only Son of God, the Founder and Leader of His Church, in which His disciples were to be the initial members, ambassadors, and pioneers.

Before revealing such a significant truth to the Apostles, the Lord withdrew to a private location and fortified His spirit through prayer to His Father in Heaven, as noted by the Evangelist Luke (Luke 9:18). St. Matthew records: 'ARRIVING IN THE DISTRICTS OF CAESAREA PHILIPPI,' indicating that He had brought His disciples away from the Jews to allow them the freedom to express their thoughts without fear (as St. Chrysostom points out). Jesus then asked them, 'Who do people say that I am?' He sought their understanding of the people's perceptions rather than their own views, as St. Chrysostom explains, to elevate their comprehension through the sequence of His questions. This inquiry was posed only after He had performed numerous miracles, shared profound teachings, and repeatedly affirmed His divinity and unity with the Father. Furthermore, He did not inquire as to how the scribes and Pharisees regarded Him, since He was interested in the sincere opinions of the common people, understanding that while these opinions may have been less accurate, they were genuine, unlike the malicious views of the scribes and Pharisees. By asking ‘SON OF MAN?’ He highlighted the desire for His incarnation to be acknowledged, hinting at His divine nature.

Instead, He was the One destined to endure suffering, be crucified, and ultimately rise from the dead. To prevent the apostles from faltering at the sight of His crucifixion, He aimed to ready their hearts, instilling in them the necessity of these events as part of God's divine plan. Hence, He journeyed far from the crowds and often sought to distance Himself when they gathered around.

As He moved north from Bethsaida of Julia, Jesus engaged His apostles in conversation, asking them, “Who do people say that I am?” (Mark 8:27). His intent was for the apostles to articulate their own perceptions of Him. While He was already aware of the public and apostolic opinions about Him, His inquiry was designed to prompt their own declaration. They had witnessed many signs and heard almost all of His teachings; they had been entrusted with the authority to work miracles in His name. Thus, it was crucial for them to finally recognize the true identity of their Master.

When asking, “For whom do men esteem Me?”, the Lord first sought the views of the crowd rather than those of the apostles. This approach was intended to elevate their understanding, encouraging them not to regard Him as merely the people did. He chose this moment after demonstrating His miracles and sharing profound truths to affirm His divine nature and unity with the Father. By asking about the people’s opinions directly, He aimed to capture their honest, albeit less accurate, perceptions, in contrast to the more malicious intentions often found in the views of the scribes and Pharisees.

In this context, the phrase "Son of man" carries significant meaning, as reflected in Matthew 8:20.