Yes—Peter recognized Jesus as the Christ because God the Father in heaven revealed it to him, not through flesh and blood.
When Jesus asked who the disciples believed Him to be, Peter answered, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus responded that "flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven." Les Feldick repeatedly emphasizes that Peter did not figure this out on his own; God opened his understanding of spiritual truth.
Matthew 16:16 — This records Peter's confession that identifies Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Matthew 16:17 — This records Jesus explaining that Peter recognized Him through the Father's revelation, not through flesh and blood.
In Matthew 16, Jesus came near Caesarea Philippi and asked His disciples, "Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?" They answered that some said John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. Then Jesus asked, "But whom say ye that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus responded, "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven." Scripture thus attributes Peter's recognition directly to divine revelation from the Father, not to human reasoning or information from other people.
Les Feldick teaches that Peter's confession did not include the cross or resurrection—he only said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus was fully satisfied with that answer and did not correct it. Les uses the passage to show that spiritual truth cannot be comprehended by the natural mind; God the Father must open the understanding, as He did for Peter and the other ten disciples. He also points out that this does not take away free will, and that in Matthew 16:18, the Rock throughout Scripture is Christ, not Peter.
Peter's confession was "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God"—and that was all. He did not add anything about the cross, death, or resurrection. Les Feldick points out that Jesus was satisfied with this answer; He never said a word against it. This was all Peter and the other disciples were expected to believe and confess at that time.
Jesus' words indicate that Peter's knowledge did not come from any human source. Les Feldick explains that this is the whole concept of Scripture: we cannot comprehend spiritual truths unless God opens our understanding. He also says the disciples did not have the "smarts" to realize Jesus was the Messiah on their own; rather, the Messiah put His finger on them, and the Lord opened their understanding so they recognized the One they had to follow.
At the time, people had varied opinions about Jesus: some said John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. Les Feldick teaches that Peter's recognition was not because Peter was smarter than everyone else—it was because the Father in heaven revealed it to him. God opened Peter's understanding, and Peter, as the spokesman for the Twelve, confessed that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Setting of the Question at Caesarea Philippi
Jesus asks His disciples near the end of His three-year ministry who men say He is, and the disciples report the popular opinions.
Peter's Confession and the Father's Revelation
Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God, without adding the cross or resurrection, and Jesus says the Father in heaven revealed this to him.
God Opens Spiritual Understanding; Christ Is the Rock
Les uses Matthew 16:17 to show that no one comprehends spiritual truth unless God opens the understanding, while also clarifying that Christ, not Peter, is the Rock throughout Scripture.
Peter Spoke for the Twelve; No Cross Yet
Peter answers as the spokesman for the Twelve, but his confession contains no mention of the cross or resurrection because those had not been revealed yet.
Confession Repeated in Multiple Gospel Accounts
Les notes that this same confession appears in Mark, Luke, and John, showing that Peter's identification of Jesus as the Christ was consistent.
God Opened the Disciples' Understanding
Les teaches that Peter and the other ten believers did not figure out the Messiah on their own; the Messiah put His finger on them and God opened their understanding.
Jesus Affirmed Peter's Answer; Martha's Parallel Confession
Jesus never contradicted Peter's answer, and Les compares it to Martha's confession that Jesus is "the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Confession Expected at That Time; Martha Parallel
Peter was always the spokesman, and his confession was all that was expected at that point; Martha made a similar confession, showing the same revealed truth.
Matthew 16:13: 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?
This sets the scene for the question that leads to Peter's confession.
Matthew 16:14: And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
It shows the people's varied and incomplete opinions about Jesus.
Matthew 16:15: He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
This directs the question specifically to the disciples.
Matthew 16:16: And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
This is Peter's direct confession that begins to answer the question.
Matthew 16:17: And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
This is Jesus' explanation that Peter's recognition came from the Father, not from human sources.
Peter knew because God the Father in heaven revealed it to him. Jesus said, "Flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 16:17).
No. Les Feldick points out that Peter's confession was simply "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." He did not mention the cross, death, or resurrection, because that was not yet revealed.
Les Feldick teaches that Christ is the Rock throughout Scripture. While Peter's name means "small stone" or "rock," the context points to Christ as the Rock on which the church is built.
Peter said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus was fully satisfied with that answer and never said a word against it.
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