Matthew 16:17 Commentary and Bible Study

This confession did not take the Lord by surprise. He knew what was in the heart of each one of them. On another occasion when many turned back from following the Lord, Christ asked the disciples, ‘Will ye also go away?’ Again it was Simon Peter who answered for them all, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. ⁶⁹ And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.’ In response to this, ‘Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve.’ He knew the hearts of each of them and the work of God that was done in them. He also knew that one of them was different from all the rest: ‘And one of you is a devil? ⁷¹ He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve’ (John 6:67-71). Unlike many others, they knew him as he truly is, as only those who have received light from heaven can know him. The knowledge which comes into the heart of one who knows Christ as their Lord and Saviour is not the result of anything natural. No one comes to know this as a result of mere human reasoning. Conversion is not something natural but something supernatural, and the disciples (apart from Judas) were converted. They were truly blessed, and Peter, as their spokesman, receives this wonderfully encouraging word from the Lord. ‘Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona’ – son of Jona. Eternal blessing awaited him which nothing in heaven or earth could take away. Such is the security of those who have trusted in Christ, and this was true of all the eleven.