Matthew 16:21

Context of Matthew 16:21

Matthew 16:21 marks a significant turning point in Jesus's ministry. It immediately follows Peter's profound confession of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God. Up to this point, Jesus had often spoken in parables or alluded to His destiny. However, "from that time forth," He began to explicitly reveal to His disciples the difficult path ahead: His suffering, death, and resurrection. This prediction was a radical departure from the popular Jewish expectation of a conquering Messiah, leading directly to Peter's misunderstanding and rebuke in the very next verses, highlighting the disciples' struggle to grasp the true nature of Christ's mission.

Key Themes and Messages

• The Divine Necessity of Suffering: Jesus states He "must go" to Jerusalem and suffer. The Greek word for "must" (dei) signifies a divine imperative or necessity, indicating that these events were not accidental but part of God's sovereign plan for salvation. Christ's suffering was a preordained element of His messianic work.
• Prophecy Fulfilled: The details of Jesus's suffering at the hands of the "elders and chief priests and scribes" and His ultimate death and resurrection were all foretold in the Old Testament, particularly concerning the suffering servant (e.g., Isaiah 53:5). This verse emphasizes the precise fulfillment of ancient prophecies through Christ's passion.
• The Centrality of the Resurrection: Crucially, Jesus doesn't just predict His death but also His resurrection "the third day." This promise transforms the tragedy of His death into a triumphant victory. The resurrection is the cornerstone of the Christian faith, validating Jesus's claims and offering hope for eternal life.
• Redefining Messiahship: This declaration challenged the disciples' and the general public's understanding of the Messiah. Instead of an earthly king who would liberate Israel politically, Jesus revealed a Suffering Servant who would achieve spiritual liberation through sacrifice.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "began Jesus to shew unto his disciples" uses the word "shew" (from Greek deiknuo), which means to reveal, declare, or make known clearly. This indicates that Jesus was not merely hinting or speaking vaguely but explicitly and authoritatively teaching His disciples about His impending destiny. The use of "must" (Greek dei) underscores the divine compulsion behind these events, emphasizing that they were not optional but integral to God's redemptive purpose.

Practical Application

Matthew 16:21 offers several timeless lessons for believers today:

• Embracing God's Plan: Just as Jesus embraced His divinely appointed path of suffering before glory, we are called to trust God's perfect plan, even when it involves difficulty or challenges our expectations.
• Understanding the Gospel: This verse encapsulates the core of the Gospel message: Christ's atoning death for sins and His powerful resurrection for our justification. It reminds us that there is no true Christianity without both the cross and the empty tomb (see also 1 Corinthians 15:4).
• Hope in Resurrection: The promise of resurrection after suffering provides profound hope. It assures us that even in the face of death or profound loss, God has the ultimate victory and offers new life.
• Discipleship's Cost: Jesus's revelation about His own suffering prepares His disciples (and us) for the reality that following Him may involve sacrifice and hardship (as further elaborated in Matthew 16:24).