Matthew 16:17

And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed [it] unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

And {G2532} Jesus {G2424} answered {G611} and said {G2036} unto him {G846}, Blessed {G3107} art thou {G1488}, Simon {G4613} Barjona {G920}: for {G3754} flesh {G4561} and {G2532} blood {G129} hath {G601} not {G3756} revealed {G601} it unto thee {G4671}, but {G235} my {G3450} Father {G3962} which {G3588} is in {G1722} heaven {G3772}.

"Shim`on Bar-Yochanan," Yeshua said to him, "how blessed you are! For no human being revealed this to you, no, it was my Father in heaven.

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.

And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven.

Commentary

Matthew 16:17 is a pivotal verse in the New Testament, revealing the divine source of Peter's profound confession of Jesus' identity. It immediately follows Simon Peter's declaration that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Context

This verse is part of a significant dialogue between Jesus and His disciples in the region of Caesarea Philippi. Jesus had just asked His disciples, "Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?" (Matthew 16:13). After hearing various popular opinions, He then directly posed the question, "But whom say ye that I am?" (Matthew 16:15). It was at this point that Simon Peter, often the most outspoken, articulated the foundational truth of Christian faith. Jesus' response in verse 17 validates Peter's confession not as a product of human cleverness or earthly wisdom, but as a direct revelation from God the Father.

Key Themes

  • Divine Revelation: The central theme is that true spiritual understanding, especially concerning the person of Jesus Christ, does not come from human intellect or worldly knowledge ("flesh and blood"). Instead, it is a gift directly from God the Father in heaven. This emphasizes the supernatural origin of saving faith and spiritual insight.
  • The Blessedness of Spiritual Insight: Jesus pronounces Peter "blessed." This blessedness stems from receiving divine truth, which is far more valuable than any earthly blessing or human achievement. It highlights the joy and privilege of being taught by God Himself.
  • The Identity of Jesus Christ: Peter's confession, affirmed by Jesus, underscores the core Christian belief in Jesus as the Messiah (Christ) and the divine Son of God. This truth is not merely a theological concept but the very foundation upon which the church is built, as further explained in the subsequent verse regarding the 'rock' upon which the church is built.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "Simon Barjona" means "Simon, son of Jonah." This patronymic serves to emphasize Peter's human lineage, contrasting it sharply with the divine source of his revelation. The term "flesh and blood" (sarx kai haima in Greek) is an idiomatic expression commonly used in both Hebrew and Greek to refer to human nature, human beings, or human wisdom and understanding, in contrast to divine or spiritual realities. Jesus' statement highlights that Peter's insight transcended ordinary human perception and was divinely imparted.

Related Scriptures

  • For Peter's full confession: Matthew 16:16
  • On the source of divine revelation: 1 Corinthians 2:10 reminds us that "God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit." Similarly, John 6:45 states, "And they shall be all taught of God."
  • Regarding blessedness for those who hear and keep God's word: Luke 11:28.

Practical Application

Matthew 16:17 encourages believers to seek understanding and truth not merely through human intellect, education, or worldly sources, but through divine revelation. It reminds us that spiritual realities, particularly the identity of Jesus Christ and the mysteries of God's kingdom, are truly understood only when God Himself opens our eyes. This calls for humility, prayer, and dependence on the Holy Spirit to illuminate Scripture and guide us into all truth. It underscores that genuine faith is ultimately a gift from God, transforming our understanding and relationship with Him, and is a source of true blessedness.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • John 6:45

    It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

  • Ephesians 1:17

    That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

  • Ephesians 1:18

    The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

  • Matthew 11:25

    ¶ At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

  • Matthew 11:27

    All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and [he] to whomsoever the Son will reveal [him].

  • 1 John 5:20

    And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, [even] in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

  • Galatians 1:16

    To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
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