Matthew 16:17

“And Jesus answered and said unto him, etc.] Not waiting for any other declaration from them; but taking this to be the sense of them all, he said, blessed art thou Simon Bar Jona, or son of Jona, or Jonas, as in (<430142>John 1:42, 21:15). His father’s name was Jonah, whence he was so called: so we read f926 of R. Bo bar Jonah, and of a Rabbi of this very name f927, anwy rb ˆw[mç r, Rabbi Simeon bar Jona; for Simon and Simeon are one, and the same name. Some read it Bar Joanna, the same with John; but the common reading is best; Bar Jona signifies “the son of a dove”, and Bar Joanna signifies “the son of one that is gracious”. Our Lord, by this appellation, puts Peter in mind of his birth…”

“And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou--Though it is not to be doubted that Peter, in this noble testimony to Christ, only expressed the conviction of all the Twelve, yet since he alone seems to have had clear enough apprehensions to put that conviction in proper and suitable words, and courage enough to speak them out, and readiness enough to do this at the right time--so he only, of all the Twelve, seems to have met the present want, and communicated to the saddened soul of the Redeemer at the critical moment that balm which was needed to cheer and refresh it. Nor is Jesus above giving indication of the deep satisfaction which this speech yielded Him, and hastening to…”

“See also Mark 8:27-29, and Luke 9:18-20. Cesarea Philippi - There were two cities in Judea called Caesarea. One was situated on the borders of the Mediterranean (See the notes at Acts 8:40), and the other was the one mentioned here. This city was greatly enlarged and ornamented by Philip the tetrarch, son of Herod, and called Caesarea in honor of the Roman emperor, Tiberius Caesar. To distinguish it from the other Caesarea the name of Philip was added to it, and it was called Caesarea Philippi, or Caesarea of Philippi. It was situated in the boundaries of the tribe of Naphtali, at the foot of Mount Hermon. It is now called Panias or Banias, and contains (circa 1880’s) about 200 houses, and…”

“Flesh and blood - That is, thy own reason, or any natural power whatsoever. Matthew 16:18”

“16:17 God revealed to Peter his plan of salvation in Jesus, the Messiah. This moment of revelation was a high point in the unfolding of God’s will for humanity (cp. Gal 1:16; 3:23; Eph 3:5).”

“Blessed: Mat 5:3-11, Mat 13:16, Mat 13:17; Luk 10:23, Luk 10:24, Luk 22:32; Pe1 1:3-5, Pe1 5:1 Simon: Joh 1:42, Joh 21:15-17 for: Gal 1:11, Gal 1:12, Gal 1:16 but: Mat 11:25-27; Isa 54:13; Luk 10:21, Luk 10:22; Joh 6:45, Joh 17:6-8; Co1 2:9-12; Gal 1:16; Eph 1:17, Eph 1:18, Eph 2:8, Eph 3:5, Eph 3:18, Eph 3:19; Col 1:26, Col 1:27; Jo1 4:15, Jo1 5:20 Matthew 16:18”