Peter recognized Jesus as the Messiah because God the Father revealed it to him, not because any human source produced the insight.
In Matthew 16, when Jesus asked the disciples who He was, Peter answered, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus immediately told Peter that flesh and blood had not revealed this to him, but His Father in heaven had. Les Feldick notes that Peter's confession was genuine but did not yet include the cross or resurrection — his recognition of Jesus as the Messiah came by divine revelation.
Matthew 16:16 — Peter's confession identifies Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God — the direct answer to Jesus' question.
Matthew 16:17 — Jesus explains the source of Peter's recognition: the Father in heaven's revelation, not flesh and blood.
In Matthew 16, Jesus asked His disciples, "Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?" They answered that some said John the Baptist, some Elias, others Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. Jesus then asked them directly, "But whom say ye that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven." The Scripture makes clear that the source of Peter's recognition was not human reasoning or tradition, but divine revelation from the Father.
Les Feldick emphasizes that when Peter confessed Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God, he was not speaking from his own intelligence or natural ability. Jesus' words to Peter — "flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven" — show that God the Father opened Peter's understanding. Les also points out that Peter's confession was limited. Peter did not mention the cross or resurrection because he did not yet know about them. Jesus was satisfied with Peter's answer because, at that point in time, the full understanding of His death and resurrection had not yet been revealed. Les draws a broader principle from this event: people cannot comprehend spiritual truths unless God opens their understanding. This does not remove human free will, but it means that saving recognition of who Jesus is comes from God's initiative, not from human nature, which Scripture says loves darkness rather than light.
When Peter said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God," he was identifying Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God. Les Feldick notes that Peter did not add anything about the cross or the resurrection because he did not know about them yet. Jesus accepted the answer and called Peter blessed, even though Peter's understanding was still incomplete.
Jesus said that "flesh and blood" — meaning human reason, tradition, or other people — had not revealed Jesus' identity to Peter. Instead, the Father in heaven had revealed it. Les Feldick explains that people cannot comprehend spiritual truths unless God opens their understanding. This does not remove free will; it means the recognition itself is a divine work.
Les Feldick points to the broader biblical testimony that every child of Adam detests the light and that people love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil. Human nature does not naturally produce saving faith in the Messiah. So Peter's confession came from outside himself — from the Father's revelation — not from natural human inclination.
Humanity's Love for Darkness
Les teaches that every child of Adam detests the light and that people love darkness rather than light, which helps explain why Peter could not have reached this confession through natural human inclination.
Peter's Confession and the Father's Revelation
Les walks through Peter's answer, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God," and emphasizes that Jesus attributed this recognition not to flesh and blood but to the Father in heaven.
Why Did Jesus Never Heal the Lame Man at the Temple?
He was the Messiah. He was the Promised One according to the covenants, which of course Jesus had tried to get across to the nation of Israel for three years, and only to the nation of Israel, because they were the ones that had to believe first. It had to go to the Jew first, and then to the Gentile, but Israel wouldn't believe.
The Missing Cross and Resurrection
Les points out that when Peter made his confession, he did not mention the cross or resurrection; he only knew Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Acts 4 Explained: No Other Name — Only Jesus Saves
Believe it. Accept Him as your King and as your Messiah, and God would yet send Him. Then verse 26, Unto you first. See how plain that is? That's not gobbledygook. That's plain. Peter says to Israel, Unto you first, God, having raised up His Son Jesus, send Him to bless you in turning away. Now, I told you I'd point this out when we got here. How many of them? Every one. See, that was the secret.
Why Peter Said "Whom You Crucified" — Acts 3 & 4 Explained
He is the President, and when you mention his name, then his position flashes in your mind. All right, now this is what Peter is driving at, that when they heard the name Jesus of Nazareth, or Jesus the Christ, what did Peter want to immediately associate that with? Who he was, his office, and what was he? The Messiah, the King, the Savior, the Redeemer of Israel, and that's all he's implying.
Miracles and Signs as Proof
Les explains that Christ's miracles and signs were meant to prove to Israel that He was the Christ, the promised Messiah, and that the disciples' confession fit that purpose.
God Opens Understanding
Les draws from Jesus' words to Peter to teach that no one can comprehend spiritual truths unless God opens his understanding, while noting this does not remove free will.
Matthew 16:15: He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
Jesus directly asks the disciples for their own answer, leading to Peter's confession.
Matthew 16:16: And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Peter's confession identifies Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God.
Matthew 16:17: And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Jesus explicitly names the Father as the source of Peter's recognition.
John 3:19: And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Shows the natural human hostility to light that makes divine revelation necessary.
God the Father revealed it to him. Jesus told Peter, "Flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven." Les Feldick sees this as the pattern for all spiritual understanding.
No. Les Feldick points out that Peter's confession only said Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God, with no mention of the cross or resurrection. Those truths came later.
Not in the way that removes human free will. Les says God opens a person's understanding so he can comprehend spiritual truth, but that does not force a decision.
Watch the Teaching: Why Did Israel Reject God? Romans 10:18-21 Explained