Who is Jesus to You? (Matthew 16:13-20)

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” (Mt 16:15)

• If Jesus asked you directly, “Who do you say I am?”, how would you answer in your own words—not with a memorized statement or verse, but from your current experience and relationship with Him?
• Has your understanding of Jesus been shaped more by culture, family, tradition, or popular opinion than by personal revelation from God?
  

1. Why did Jesus ask the disciples what others say about Him before asking what they say (Mt 16:14-15)?
• How much does popular public opinion and consensus affect you? How do you navigate that?
2. What does it mean to confess that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God (Mt 16:16)? 
• Is Peter’s confession a living confession in your conversations, decisions, and relationships?
3. 
   How did Peter know who Jesus is (Mt 16:17)? 
• How does anyone come to truly know who Jesus is?
• What has God revealed to you about Jesus that wasn't from “flesh and blood”? What are some revelation facts? How did it affect your faith?
• How can you move from knowing facts about Jesus to a deeper, knowledge of Him?
4. What does "on this rock I will build my church" mean (Mt 16:18)? 
• What is "this rock"?
• What practical difference does it to you that Jesus promises “I will build my church”? How should this shape you? The local church?
• If the "gates of hell" cannot defeat Christ's church, does it change how you face hard times, fear, discouragement, opposition?
• Are you living consciously under the reality that Jesus is building His church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it?
5. What are the “keys of the kingdom” and how should you use it (Mt 16:19; 4:17; Mk 1:15)? Do you use the keys—in prayer, sharing the gospel, confronting sin, extending forgiveness?
• Do you have the authority to “bind” and “loose” (Mt 16:19b)? 
6. Why does Jesus immediately command the disciples not to tell anyone that He is the Messiah (Mt 16:20)? What does this timing and secrecy reveal about His mission?
• In what areas might you be tempted to keep quiet about who Jesus is (as the disciples were instructed for a time)? When is silence wise, and when is it a failure to confess Him?

I. Popular Opnion and Personal Conviction (Mt 16:13-16).

II. Faith and Revelation (Mt 16:17).

III. The Church and Authority (Mt 16:18-20).

The revelation of who Jesus is is only given by the Holy Spirit.

Mt 16:16–17 (OC p1065). Christ is not a commonsense fact, i.e., we do not understand Him by means of our common sense. At this stage the disciples only knew Jesus by means of their common sense—by their eyes and ears and commonsense; they had never discerned Who He was. Christ is a revelation fact. When Peter confessed (Mt 16:16), Jesus knew from Whom he had received the revelation, not from his common sense, but from God. Is Christ a revelation to me, or simply a historical character?

The Bible is the universe of revelation facts; the natural world is the universe of commonsense facts. Our means of communication with the 2 universes is totally different. We know the natural universe by our senses; our intellect has to be curious. Scientific knowledge, which is systematised common sense, is based on intense intellectual curiosity. Curiosity in the natural world is right, not wrong. If we are not intellectually curious we shall never know anything, God never encourages laziness.

When we come to the universe of the Bible, the revelation facts about God, intellectual curiosity is not of the slightest use. Our senses are no good here, we cannot find out God by searching. We may have inferences from our common-sense thinking which we call God, but these are mere abstractions. We can only get at the facts that are revealed in the Bible by faith. Faith is not credulity; faith is my personal spirit obeying God. The Bible does not deal in commonsense facts; the natural universe deals in commonsense facts, which we get by our senses. The Bible deals with revelation facts, facts we cannot get at by our common sense, facts we may make light of by our common sense. For instance, Christ is a revelation fact, sin is another, the devil is another, the Holy Spirit is another. These are NOT common-sense fact. If a man were merely a common-sense individual, he could do very well without God.

To get scientific knowledge we must use our common sense; but if we are going to know the facts with which Christ deals, the facts of the Kingdom of God, we must have them revealed to us. “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again,” before you can come into contact with the domain in which I live. The domain in which Christ lives is the domain of Bible facts. How are we to get the revelation of Christ? Very simply, if we want it. Christ said that the Holy Spirit would glorify Him, and we can receive Holy Spirit for the asking (Lk 11:13). Then we too shall be in the same category as Peter, and Christ will say to us, “Blessed art thou, . . . for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father which is in heaven.” Jesus Christ is a Revelation, and we can get the revelation of Him by receiving the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ continually said things (such as Luke 11:13) the meaning of which cannot be got at by common sense. Have we ever received Holy Spirit? If we refuse any one way of getting at the truth because we do not like that way, we are dishonest. 

Matthew 16:13-20 focus on 

1. Jesus’ identity, 
2. Peter’s confession, 
3. divine revelation, 
4. the foundation of the church, and 
5. the authority given to the disciples. 

Key areas to explore include 

1. public opinion, 
2. personal confession, and 
3. Christ's promise for the community of believers.

Jesus often shocked listeners with radical demands, harsh rebukes of religious authorities, and unsettling metaphors that alienated crowds rather than pandering to popular opinion.

Radical Family and Loyalty Demands. Lk 14:26: "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple." (Using hyperbole to show that allegiance to God must surpass even the closest human bonds). Mt 10:34: "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword." (Signifying that following his teaching would fracture households and divide families).

Rebukes and Insults. Mt 23:33: "You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?" (Directly insulting the religious elite, the scribes and Pharisees). Mk 7:27: "It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs." (A striking cultural slight used during an initial exchange with a Gentile woman in Tyre). Mk 8:33: "Get behind me, Satan!" (Rebuke directed squarely at his close disciple, Peter).

Shocking Metaphors and Exclusivity. Jn 6:53: "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you." (A graphic statement about spiritual consumption that caused many early followers to abandon him). Mt 8:22: "Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead." (An abrupt response to a follower asking to delay discipleship until after his father's funeral).

Jesus is recorded as asking 307 questions across the 4 gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John). In contrast, people asked him roughly 183 questions, and scholars note he answered only about three of those direct inquiries straightforwardly.

Gospel Breakdown and Context

Total Questions: 307 recorded questions asked by Jesus.
Questions Asked of Him: About 183 questions directed to Jesus by others.
Direct Answers Given: Only 3 direct answers to the questions he received.
Teaching Style: Jesus frequently responded to questions with his own counter-questions, parables, or reflections to provoke deeper thought.

The three questions Jesus directly answered are summarized by scholars as how to love, how to pray, and who he is.

1. "Which is the greatest commandment?" (How to love)
2. "Lord, teach us to pray" (How to pray)
3. "Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?" (Who he is) 

8 specific questions where Jesus provided a direct, clear resolution rather than a deflection. While they do not strictly meet the criteria of a simple, un-evasive response, scholars argue they represent moments where Jesus chose to plainly clarify his instructions, predictions, and intentions: 

1. "How many times must I forgive?"

• The Context: Peter asked if forgiving a brother seven times was sufficient (Matthew 18:21-22).
• The Answer: Jesus gave a direct numeric correction, stating "Not seven times, but seventy-seven times" (or 70 times 7). [1, 2]

2. "When is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?"

• The Context: The Pharisees tested him on the legal terms of divorce (Matthew 19:3-9).
• The Answer: Jesus explicitly outlined marital unity and stated that divorce is not permissible except for sexual immorality. [1, 2]

3. "What must I do to have eternal life?"

• The Context: The rich young ruler asked what good deed would guarantee his salvation (Matthew 19:16-22).
• The Answer: Jesus listed the commandments directly, then told him to sell his possessions and follow him. [1, 2, 3, 4]

4. "Why were we unable to heal this person?"

• The Context: The disciples were frustrated that they could not cast a demon out of a suffering boy (Matthew 17:14-21).
• The Answer: Jesus directly diagnosed their spiritual issue: "Because you have so little faith," adding that certain kinds require prayer and fasting. [1, 2]

5. "Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal?"

• The Context: On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples asked for specific dining logistics (Mark 14:12-16).
• The Answer: Jesus provided highly specific, literal instructions on finding a man carrying a jar of water to secure an upper room.

6. "Who is the one who will betray you?"

• The Context: At the Last Supper, John leaned over and quietly asked Jesus for the identity of the traitor (John 13:21-30).
• The Answer: Jesus gave an explicit behavioral answer: "It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it".

7. "Are you the King of the Jews?"

• The Context: Pontius Pilate asked Jesus directly about his political identity during his trial (John 18:33-38).
• The Answer: After an initial dialogue, Jesus answered plainly by clarifying the nature of his authority: "My kingdom is not of this world". [1, 2]

8. "Which is the greatest commandment?"

• The Context: A scribe asked him to rank the laws of the Torah (Mark 12:28-34).
• The Answer: Jesus answered instantly and clearly, establishing the supreme framework of love for God and neighbor. (Note: This question is so straightforward that it overlaps as both one of the foundational 3 and one of the 8 expanded direct answers).

Among the 307 questions Jesus asked and the 183 questions asked of him, several stand out for their dramatic impact, philosophical depth, and rhetorical sharpness.

Memorable Questions Asked by Jesus (Among the 307)

Jesus rarely asked questions to gain information; instead, he used them to expose motives, challenge assumptions, or demand personal commitment.

• The Ultimate Identity Question: "But who do you say that I am?" (Mt 16:15) — Asked to his disciples, forcing them to move past public rumors and make a personal declaration.
• The Existential Challenge: "What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?" (Mk 8:36) — A foundational critique of human ambition and materialism.
• The Expose of Motive: "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" (Matthew 7:3) — A vivid, humorous, and piercing critique of hypocrisy.
• The Question of Faith: "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" (Matthew 14:31) — Spoken directly to Peter as he began to sink into the stormy water.
• The Paradoxical Counter-Question: "John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?" (Matthew 21:25) — A trap that completely paralyzed the religious leaders who were trying to corner him.
• The Cry of Agony: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46) — Cried out from the cross, quoting Psalm 22 in a moment of ultimate cosmic suffering.

Memorable Questions Asked of Jesus (Among the 183)

The questions brought to Jesus came from desperate seekers, close followers, and hostile critics trying to trap him in a legal or political snare.

• The Entrapment Question: "Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?" (Mt 22:17) — A dangerous political trap where a "yes" would anger the Jewish public and a "no" would invite Roman execution.
• The Skeptical Inquiry: "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" (Jn 1:46) — Asked by Nathanael, reflecting the local cultural prejudices of the day.
• The Legalistic Limit: "And who is my neighbor?" (Lk 10:29) — Asked by an expert in the law looking for a loophole to limit his obligation to love others, prompting Jesus to tell the Parable of the Good Samaritan.
• The Crisis of Faith: "Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?" (Mt 11:3) — Sent by John the Baptist from prison, seeking reassurance during his darkest hour.
• The Ultimate Cynicism: "What is truth?" (Jn 18:38) — Dismissively asked by Pontius Pilate during Jesus’s trial, showcasing Roman political pragmatism.
• The Desperate Cry: "Lord, don't you care if we drown?" (Mk 4:38) — Shouted by his terrified disciples during a violent storm while Jesus was sleeping in the boat.

When analyzing the 307 questions asked by Jesus, scholars note that his style shifts dramatically based on his environment and audience. While his pre-crucifixion questions were often sharp, public, and structurally combative to expose hypocrisy, his rarest categories of questions were intensely intimate, disarming, and conversational.

The absolute rarest categories of questions he utilized include post-resurrection inquiries, literal vulnerability requests, and profound emotional interventions.

1. The Post-Resurrection Inquiries (The Rarest Setting)

After his resurrection, Jesus completely stopped using public, debate-style questions. He no longer targeted the Pharisees or crowds. Instead, his post-resurrection questions were entirely focused on healing, identity, and personal restoration:

• The Grief Intervention: "Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" (Jn 20:15) — Spoken to Mary Magdalene at the tomb. Instead of a grand declaration of his triumph, his very first post-resurrection words were a gentle check-in on human sorrow.
• The Disarming Invitation: "Children, do you have any fish?" (Jn 21:5) or "Do you have something here to eat?" (Lk 24:41) — Spoken to the disciples on the shore and in the upper room. A cosmic savior asking for ordinary, mundane food serves as a rare, deeply grounding proof of his physical reality.
• The Mirror of Grace: "Simon son of John, do you love me?" (Jn 21:15-17) — Asked to Peter on the beach. Jesus famously asked this exactly three times. This rare repetition perfectly mirrored and undid Peter’s three-fold denial before the crucifixion, forcing a painful but necessary emotional reset.
• The Sharp Correction on Sovereignty: "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?" (Jn 21:22) — Spoken to Peter when he deflected from his own calling to ask about John's future fate.

2. Questions of Apparent Ignorance (Seeking Real Human Input)

Jesus normally asked questions where the answer was universally obvious or rhetorical. Rarest of all were moments where he asked a question to which he genuinely appeared to expect an unscripted, human response:

• The Crowd Identification: "Who touched my clothes?" (Mk 5:30) — Asked in the middle of a dense, pressing crowd after a hemorrhaging woman touched his cloak for healing.
• The Diagnostic Inquiry: "How long has he been like this?" (Mk 9:21) — Asked to the father of a boy possessed by an evil spirit, mimicking a standard medical history intake.
• The Logistical Inventory: "How many loaves do you have?" (Mk 6:38; Mk 8:5) — Asked directly to his disciples before multiplying food for crowds. He forced his followers to explicitly catalog their own lack before stepping in.

3. Deep Desires and Emotional Permission

Another highly unusual type of question Jesus utilized involved asking people to voice their rawest desires, giving them explicit agency:

• The Invitation to Heal: "Do you want to get well?" (Jn 5:6) — Asked to a paralyzed man who had been lying by a pool for 38 years. This seemingly obvious question targets the psychological and social identity shifts that come with profound life restoration.
• The Blank Check: "What do you want me to do for you?" (Mk 10:51) — Asked to the blind beggar Bartimaeus. Instead of assuming what the man wanted, Jesus opened the floor for the man to confidently demand his own miracle aloud.