Matthew 16:13 Meaning and Explanation
“When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →At the edge of pagan territory, Jesus asks the question every heart must answer: who do people say that He is?
The Context of Matthew 16:13
Caesarea Philippi sat in the far north, at the foot of Mount Hermon near a spring that fed the Jordan. It was a city full of pagan shrines, including a grotto sacred to the god Pan, and a temple raised to honor Caesar. Surrounded by all these rival claims to glory, Jesus asks His disciples what people are saying about Him.
What Does Matthew 16:13 Mean?
Jesus chooses His moment and His ground. He waits until they are away from the crowds, in a region famous for its idols and its temple to Caesar, and there He raises the question. He starts gently, asking not yet what they think but what they are hearing: 'Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?' The answers come back varied, some saying John the Baptist, some Elijah, some Jeremiah, the popular guesses of the day, each one true to a great prophet yet falling short of the truth.
The question hangs in the air because it is leading somewhere. In the next verses Jesus turns it on the disciples themselves, and Peter answers, 'Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.' That confession is the center of everything. Surrounded by the proud names of gods and emperors, the real King of all the earth stands quietly among His friends and asks to be known. The same question reaches us, inviting each of us to answer it for ourselves.
Matthew 16:13 in the Original Language
ho huios tou anthropou (ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου), 'the Son of man' -- Jesus' favored title for Himself, drawn from Daniel's vision of one given everlasting dominion.
How to Apply Matthew 16:13 Today
Jesus still asks us who we say He is, and the question cannot be answered by repeating what others believe. He invites each of us to know Him for ourselves, and to find, as Peter did, that He is the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 16:13
What does Matthew 16:13 mean?
At the edge of pagan territory, Jesus asks the question every heart must answer: who do people say that He is?
What is the context of Matthew 16:13?
Caesarea Philippi sat in the far north, at the foot of Mount Hermon near a spring that fed the Jordan. It was a city full of pagan shrines, including a grotto sacred to the god Pan, and a temple raised to honor Caesar. Surrounded by all these rival claims to glory, Jesus asks His disciples what people are saying about Him.
How can I apply Matthew 16:13 today?
Jesus still asks us who we say He is, and the question cannot be answered by repeating what others believe. He invites each of us to know Him for ourselves, and to find, as Peter did, that He is the Christ, the Son of the living God.