I. According to the reply of Peter to Christ's general question, the impression which Christ made upon the various classes with whom He came in contact was, with rare exceptions, that He was a Personage far surpassing, in greatness, and truth, and grace, all whom they had ever seen or known. His contemporaries, dull, and selfish, and worldly as many of them were, felt instinctively that He was one for whom they could find no just comparison. (1) His miracles declared His power, and fanned the widespread enthusiasm into an intense flame. (2) His teaching was new, original, and authoritative. With astonishment and delight the multitudes confessed, "He teaches with authority, and not as the scribes." (3) On down-trodden, guilty outcasts Christ looked with Divine compassion, and declared that He had come to seek and to save that which was lost. He drew them to Him, and spake words to them the like of which they had never heard before. Thus He became the centre of almost universal wonder, and trust, and worship.
II. The popular conception concerning Christ was a very exalted one; nevertheless, He put it aside as incomplete, as short of the truth. "The people say of Me that I am John the Baptist, or Elias, or one of the prophets; but whom say ye that I am?" "Thou art Christ, Son of the living God." To that belief in Him Christ gave His sanction and approval. To that He set His seal that it was true. This is an important consideration. There are those who think of Him as the Prophet, the tender, loving Brother, the purest and loftiest Soul that has ever lived in our world but no more. Christ everywhere claimed to be more than simply a good man. A hearty belief in Christ as the Son of God is, in my judgment, a matter of supreme importance to any one who aims at the full mastery of his sins, and who aspires to complete vigour and fulness of religious life and character.
III. The great confession, "Thou art the Son of God," came from the lips of a disciple. It is ever so. The knowledge of Christ His saving might, His inspiring energy, the riches of His love can only be possessed by him who has entered into close and loving fellowship.
T. Hammond, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xv., p. 33.
References: Matthew 16:13. H. W. Beecher, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xi., p. 132.Matthew 16:13-16. J. C. Jones, Studies in St. Matthew,p. 235.Matthew 16:13-19. Preacher's Monthly,vol. i., p. 457; J. Hiles Hitchens, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xix., p. 30; Expositor,2nd series, vol. vi., p. 430. Matthew 16:13-20. A. B. Bruce, The Training of the Twelve,p. 164.Matthew 16:13-23. Parker, Inner Life of Christ,vol. iii., p. 2.Matthew 16:15. Preacher's Monthly,vol. ii., p. 112; H. Wace, Expositor,2nd series, vol. ii., p. 200.