Focused Passage

Matthew 16:13-20

The Confession of the Christ, the Church Christ Builds, and the Cross-Shaped Way of Discipleship

Matthew moves from sign-seeking unbelief, to warning against corrupt teaching, to the climactic confession of Jesus, to the promise of the church and kingdom authority, to the first explicit passion prediction, to Peter’s satanic opposition to the cross, and finally to Jesus’ call for self-denying discipleship in light of final judgment.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He questioned His disciples: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

15 “But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?”

16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven.

18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.

19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

20 Then He admonished the disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Christ.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 13

Original words

When δὲ G1161 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular came Ἐλθὼν G2064 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular to εἰς G1519 Preposition the τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural region μέρη G3313 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural of Caesarea Καισαρείας G2542 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular Philippi Φιλίππου G5376 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular He questioned ἠρώτα G2065 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular His αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural disciples μαθητὰς G3101 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural - λέγων G3004 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular Who Τίνα G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular - οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural {do} people ἄνθρωποι G444 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural say λέγουσιν G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural the τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular Son Υἱὸν G5207 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular of τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular Man ἀνθρώπου G444 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular is εἶναι G1510 Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Verse 14

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction - Οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural They replied εἶπαν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural Some Οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural [say] μὲν G3303 Conjunction John Ἰωάννην G2491 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular the τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular Baptist Βαπτιστήν G910 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular - δὲ G1161 Conjunction others [say] ἄλλοι G243 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural Elijah Ἠλίαν G2243 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular and still δὲ G1161 Conjunction others ἕτεροι G2087 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural Jeremiah Ἰερεμίαν G2408 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular or G2228 Conjunction one ἕνα G1520 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular of the τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural prophets προφητῶν G4396 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Verse 15

Original words

But [what about] δὲ G1161 Conjunction you Ὑμεῖς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural [Jesus] asked Λέγει G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular - αὐτοῖς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural Who τίνα G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular do you say λέγετε G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural I με G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular am εἶναι G1510 Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Verse 16

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction Simon Σίμων G4613 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular Peter Πέτρος G4074 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular answered Ἀποκριθεὶς G611 Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular - εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular You Σὺ G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Singular are εἶ G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Christ Χριστὸς G5547 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Son Υἱὸς G5207 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular of τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular living ζῶντος G2198 Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Singular God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Verse 17

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular replied Ἀποκριθεὶς G611 Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular . . . εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular Blessed Μακάριος G3107 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular are you εἶ G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular Simon Σίμων G4613 Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular son of Jonah Βαριωνᾶ G920 Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular For [this] ὅτι G3754 Conjunction vvv οὐκ G3756 Adverb was not revealed ἀπεκάλυψέν G601 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular to you σοι G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Singular {by} flesh σὰρξ G4561 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction blood αἷμα G129 Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular but [by] ἀλλ’ G235 Conjunction My μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Father Πατήρ G3962 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition - τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Plural heaven οὐρανοῖς G3772 Noun - Dative Masculine Plural

BSB notes

  • Greek Simon Bar-Jonah
Verse 18

Original words

And δέ G1161 Conjunction I κἀγὼ G2504 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular tell λέγω G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular you σοι G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Singular that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction you σὺ G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Singular are εἶ G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular Peter Πέτρος G4074 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction on ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition this ταύτῃ G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Dative Feminine Singular - τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular rock πέτρᾳ G4073 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular I will build οἰκοδομήσω G3618 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular My μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular church ἐκκλησίαν G1577 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction [the] gates πύλαι G4439 Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural of Hades ᾅδου G86 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular vvv οὐ G3756 Adverb will not prevail against κατισχύσουσιν G2729 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural it αὐτῆς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Feminine 3rd Person Singular
Verse 19

Original words

I will give δώσω G1325 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular you σοι G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Singular the τὰς G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Plural keys κλεῖδας G2807 Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural of the τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular kingdom βασιλείας G932 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular of τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural heaven οὐρανῶν G3772 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural - καὶ G2532 Conjunction Whatever G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular vvv ἐὰν G1437 Conjunction you bind δήσῃς G1210 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Singular on ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular earth γῆς G1093 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular will be ἔσται G1510 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular bound δεδεμένον G1210 Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Neuter Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition - τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Plural heaven οὐρανοῖς G3772 Noun - Dative Masculine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction whatever G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular . . . ἐὰν G1437 Conjunction you loose λύσῃς G3089 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Singular on ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular earth γῆς G1093 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular will be ἔσται G1510 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular loosed λελυμένον G3089 Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Neuter Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition - τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Plural heaven οὐρανοῖς G3772 Noun - Dative Masculine Plural
Verse 20

Original words

Then Τότε G5119 Adverb He admonished διεστείλατο* G1291 Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular the τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Plural disciples μαθηταῖς G3101 Noun - Dative Masculine Plural - ἵνα G2443 Conjunction not to tell anyone εἴπωσιν G2036 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Plural . . . μηδενὶ G3367 Adjective - Dative Masculine Singular that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction He αὐτός G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Singular was ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Christ Χριστός G5547 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.