The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 143

as the forerunner of the Messiah. Buch were the various opinions current among tho veople. None, e.s far e.s the apostles knew, then recognized his Messiahship. It had not boon so e.lwe.ye. From the time when John bare record that he was the Son .of God, when Andrew said," We hnve found the Messias," there had been many who asked, "le not this the Christ?" The belief revived afterwards e.t Jerusalem (John vii. 41; ix. 22; xii. 13); but now in Galilee, his own country, it seems to have become extinct. 'l'he change in popular feeling had been brought about, partly by the Lord's own conduct and teaching (John vi. 66), partly by the influence of the enemies. Had he adapted himself to the spirit of the times, and yielded to the wishes of the people, the way to transient and apparent success lay open to him. Ilis refusal gave strength to the combined opposition of the Pharisees and Sadducees, a.nd enabled them to undermine his popularity. Ile knew it. He asked the question, not for iofur- ma.tion, but to lead on to deep and holy teaching. Observe the truthfulness of the apostles; they report the exact truth; they do not attempt to hide the ebbing tide ,of popular applause. They do not flatter the Lord with false hopes ; they were too tiincere for tba.t; he was too high and holy. 3. The second question. "But whom say ye that I am?" This was the questiou that was in the Lord's heart. The views entertained about Christ in the world, the different phases of opioion concerning the Lord's Person and ;office, e.re subjects of interest to the student of theology; but this is the momentous question which is presented to each individual soul, "What think ye of Christ?" "Whom say ye that I am?" The specuhtive opinions of unbelievers or half-believers are not without their importance; but the great question is, what do they think who have known the Lord, who have heard his holiest teaching, and lived in close communion with him? What do they think who are to be tlie Lord's ambassadors, who e.re to go forth in his Name to preach the gospel of salvation, to carry on the blessed work which be began? They must be men of deep and strong convictions; they must not be carried a.bout by every blast of vain doctrine; they must be established in the truth of the holy gospel which they preach. Double- mioded and lukewarm men are worse than useless in the ministry; it is only the force of strong conviction that cao win souls for Christ. 4. The confession. The questioo was put to a.II the apostles; Peter answers in the name of a.II. He was, as Chrysostom says, the mouth of the apostles, the lea,ler of the apostolic choir. Yet there is some- thing of his individual character, his fervid impetuous personality, in the strong decided snswer. Peter had no doubts, none a.t all. He ma.y have shared (e.11 the apostles shared) in the general mistake e.s to the office and work of the Messiah ; be had looked for a king to reign on the earthly throne of Davit!. But he wa.s at least sure of this- the Lord Jesus was the Messiah. ·whatever might be his surroundings, wbelher poverty and seeming weakness or magnificence e.nd sovereign power; however he might be received, whether scorned and rejected by Pharisees aod Sadducees, or welcomed with the e.cclaimini shout, "Hosanna to the King of Israel l" whatever might happen, Jesus wa.s the Christ, the Messiah, the anointed King. Of this Peter was convinced with e.n absolute undoubting conviction. But this wn.s not all. Peter not only recognized Jesus as the Christ according to the Jewish conceptio:i of tho Messiah; he rises higher. The Lord wa.s not what the Jews, it seems, expected-a Man very highly distinguished for wisdom and holiness, chosen by God to be the :Messiah. He was far more; he was the Son of the living God. The words are full of force e.nd .energy. Men may become the sons of God by adoption e.nd grace; but, we feel instinctively, no mere ma.n could be styled" the Son of the living God." 'l'he Lord is the Son of him who hath life in himself, and by virtue of that eternal generation he ha.th life in himself (John v. 26). He is the only begotten Son, Life of life, as he is Light of light, very God of very God. We know not whether St. Peter himself understood at the time the full meaning, the blessed, holy, awful meaning of bis great confession. It was revealed to him now by the Father. The lloly Spirit led him by degrees to realize the great aod solemn truths which it implied. Nathanael, indeed, ha.d anticipated him; the disciples he.d hailed the Lord as the Son of God ,when he had come moving over the stormy sea to their succour; Peter himself, not long before, had confessed his faith in the same exalted terms (John vi. 69). But on those occasions the Lord seemed not to heed the title which was ascribed to him. Now be formally accepted it. The time wa., come when the apostles should UATTHEW-11, L 1-16 TliE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [oH. XVI, 1-28,