In Matthew’s gospel,we find that Peter was the first person to declare that Jesus is the Christ(Messiah).Jesus pointed out that it was a revelation from God.Peter has a great role to play as an Apostle of Jesus Christ.
Jesus said,”Blessed are you,Simon Bar-Jonah”Bar-Jonah is surname of Peter.
Bar-Jonah(Aramaic)=Son of Jonah or John.Both Jonah & John are common names in Greek.John means “Jehovah has been gracious”.Jonah means “dove.”There might have been many persons by the names John & Jonah at that time.Simon means “hearing”.There might have been many persons by that name.Look for other persons by Simon in the N.T.(1)Matt.10:4;mark 3:18 (2)Matt.26:6;Mark 14:3 (3)Matt 13:55;Mark 6:3 (4)Matt 27:32;mark 15:21 (5)Luke 7:40,41 (6)John 6:71;12:4;13:2,26 (7)Acts 8:9-13 (8)Acts 9:43;10:6,17,32

Commentary by Alexander
Posted on: 8/2/2008 03:23 am

Matthew used the title “Christ”in 11:2.”Now when John had heard in prison the works of Christ”John the baptist was sent by God to herald the coming of Messiah.(See John 1:29-34).He saw the Spirit descending & remaining on Jesus & he proclaimed that Jesus is the Son of God.(v34).In Matthew 11:2,we found that he was in the prison.He might have thought that Jesus as Messiah would release him from the prison & bring judgment on Herod who had imprisoned him.[Herod had married his brother Phillip’s wife & John told Herod that it was not lawful to have his brother’s wife.(Mark 6:17-18).Now John the baptist has doubts whether Jesus was the Messiah.He sent two of his disciples to inquire about.They asked Jesus,”Art thou that he should come or or do we look for another?(Matt.11:3;Luke 7:20).At the time of the visit of John’s messengers,Jesus cured many of infirmities,afflictions& evil spirits;
and to many blind he gave sight.”(Luke 7:21).Jesus replied by asking them to go & tell John the things which they hear & see.”The blind receive the sight & the lame walk,the lepers are cleansed & the deaf hear;the dead are raised up & the poor have the gospel preached to them.”The proof for Messiah was given by evidence.(Matt.11:4,5;Luke 7:22)Read Acts 10:38.Jesus was anointed to preach the gospel & to heal the sick.Jesus had read the portion Isaiah 61:1,2 when He went to the synagogue in Nazereth & made the point that the prophecy had fulfilled on that day.(Luke 4:17-21).

Commentary by Alexander
Posted on: 8/2/2008 03:05 am

The episode of the great confession of Peter about Jesus was an important event in the ministry of Jesus.Luke gives an abbreviated account & Matthew gives a more detailed account than Mark.Let us look at the words of Peter as found in the Synoptic Gospels.
“Thou art Christ,the Son of the Living God” Matthew 16:16
“Thou art Christ” Mark 8:29
“The Christ of God” Luke 9:20
In the Gospels Matthew presents Jesus as “King”,Mark as “Suffering servant” & Luke as “Man”
Let us a have a look at how Jesus was presented in the beginning of each Gospel.
Matthew 1:1 “Jesus Christ,the son of David,the Son of Abraham”
Mark 1:1″Jesus Christ,the Son of God”
Luke 3:23 “Jesus,the Son of Joseph”
Read I John 5:1 “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God”Are you born of God?
In the genealogy of Jesus found in Matthew,the word “Christ” is found four times.(v 1,16,17,18).Matthew shows that Jesus has come in the royal line of David.Matthew used the title”Christ”in the account of the visit of the wise men to see the child Jesus.(Matthew 2:4).The first question in Matthew is :
Where is He born King of the Jews?

Commentary by Alexander
Posted on: 8/2/2008 02:34 am