Two Stories - One Message
Matthew is still following Mark in our reading today, but, as we have seen before, with changes and additions. We skipped two stories between the Canaanite woman of last week and this story of Peter’s confession for this week. The first is the second feeding account (now of 4,000) after a crowd gathered around Jesus to be healed. The second account is related to our text for today and serves as a bridge between the two stories. This second story is the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to Jesus requesting a sign from heaven in order to test him. Jesus refuses because, he tells them, they should have seen who he was. After we learn that the Sadducees and Pharisees do not recognize Jesus*, Jesus asks two questions about the Son of Man. These two questions and the answers are a turning point in Matthew’s gospel. From this point on Jesus is heading toward his passion. The answers we get from the disciples are to shape how we read the rest of the gospel.
In reply to the first question, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” Matthew adds Jeremiah to the disciples’ response. It seems that Jeremiah had some special significance to Matthew’s community. Was it because he is mentioned as appearing to the High Priest Onias in 2 Maccabees giving assurance of victory? We can only speculate on why, but this is not the only change that Matthew has made to Mark’s account. After the second question, “But who do you say that I am?” we hear Peter’s confession, “you are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Mark and Luke do not have “Son of the Living God,” Matthew has added it. There is a play on words here – Son of Man, Son of the living God, and Jesus' response to Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah.” (Peter’s father was named John. Is Jesus calling him a reluctant disciple as Jonah was?)
After Peter’s confession, Matthew gives us an account that is unique to him. Calling Peter the rock upon which he will found the church, Jesus says that he will give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven. We do know how this text is interpreted by the Roman Catholic Church. We do not know what Matthew really means. Was his community one that was founded by Peter? Noting that it was not Peter who came up with his confession but God’s Spirit, we wonder if Matthew is reminding all that it is God who calls the church together and that God chooses even those who are weak, afraid, and make mistakes; that it is upon the faith given by God that builds the church.
Now, sons and daughters of God, it is your turn to confess Jesus as the Son of the living God. Confess it boldly and clearly. Confess your faith won by the death and resurrection of the Son of Man by word and deed so that all the world may know the gift of God. There is no excuse, if Peter – son of Jonah – was able to do it so can you. That is your calling and your gift. Give Jesus to the world.
*Matthew does eliminate Mark’s account of healing the blind man at Bethsaida (Mark 8:22-26). Is it because he does not want Jesus to show a sign from heaven or that it took Jesus two tries to heal the man?