Matthew 16

Matthew 16:1

TEmpting,] not with an upright intention to be instructed and conformed but with a temerary essay to try Christs power, whose ordinary miracles they did vilifie and cavill at, and for to have a pretence for their incredulity if hee denied their request as hee had formerly done. Matthew 12:39. as if it had beene for want of power.

Matthew 16:3

Ye can,] though the conjecture of the future temper of the aire be of it selfe very uncertaine, yet men by long custome have observed certaine naturall signes, which doe seldome faile. Why doe not you then use the same industry to gather the signes of the Messias his comming, which signes are given by the Prophets by the succession and termination of times, and in Saint Iohn Baptists preaching by the properties and circumstances of my person, and of my workes and doctrines? if so bee you doe sincerely desire to bee cleered of it? But all that you doe is nothing but meere hypocrisie.

Matthew 16:5

They had,]. They found they had forgotten.

Matthew 16:7

They reasoned,] as wondering at it. Or they argued, as laying the blame upon one another by a double errour. First, because they thought Christ had forbidden them to make use of the same bread as the Pharisees did. Secondly, because that they mistrusted they should want food, because they had not then provided any.

Matthew 16:13

Philippi,] this 〈◊〉 set downe to make a distinctio: between two Cities oone name: whereof one hath bin built by Hero the Great, and the other by Philip the Tetrarch his on, neere unto Lebanon.

Matthew 16:14

Iohn,] risen againe from the dead.

Matthew 16:17

For slesh,] that is to say, no humane light, understanding, or vertue, which is in thee or any man else. Thus often times is called all that is in man, and that proceedeth from him, through his own pure naturall beginnings, which without the work of regeneration and o Gods Spirit, are in regard of spirituall things like unto a body without light, understanding, and motion.

Matthew 16:18

I say also,] in exchange of that thou hast confessed me I tell thee, that as I have given thee this sirname of Peter, Iohn 1. 42. for a signe of the stedfastnesse of faith which I will grant thee, Luke 22:32. and of the office of Apostle, accompanied with the infallible light and guide of the holy Ghost, I will cause the doctrine of this selfesame faith to be the foundation of my Church: authenticall truth, worthy to be beleeved without any further proofe, as immediately inspired by God, and the rule oevery ones doctrine. Now as Pet〈…〉 hd spoken in the name of all the Apostles for a signe and proofe of their unity of faith. So Christs answer belongeth to them all, in regrd of their common doctrine and equall Apostleship. See Romans 15:20. 1 Cor. 3 10. Ephel. 2. 20. Revelation 21:14 The gates,] that is to say, according to the phrase of Scripture, the Devils Citty, opposite to the City of God spoken of before, and 〈◊〉the gates thereof, spoken of hereafter, and thereby is meant his kingdome, his endeavours, his deceipts, his plots, and the devices of his whole faction.

Matthew 16:19

I will give unto thee,] I will make thee the steward of my Gospell and of the spirituall goods of my house; an office signified by carrying the keyes, Isay 22. 22. Revelation 3:7. So is the doctrine of faith called he key of the kingdome of heaven, uke 11. 52. and the Ministers of the Gospell the Stewards Luke 12:42. 1 Corinthians 4:1. Titus 1:7. 1 Peter 4:10 Bnde,] a similitude taken from masters of great houses, who had authority over their lves, to punish them with imprisonment, stockes, or any other way to shew the authority of the ministery of the word, Matthew 18:1-35. 〈◊〉. Iohn 20. 23. over the members of the Church, for to exercise a reasonable discipline over them, to tye and captivate their consciences, by censures and denunciations of Gods judgements, and exclude them from the externall communion of the Church by excommunication for their errours: or to restore them, and set them free upon their conversion and repentance, and all this ministerially and declaratively, by power of, and according to the rule of their commission, not absolutely and out of a full liberty and power. Others understand the word binding for to declare a thing to be unlawfull: and by the word loosing, to suffer a thing that is lawfull, the conscience being bound by the forbidding, and loosened by the permission.

Matthew 16:20

Charged he,] it should seeme he did it because hee would remaine unknowne for that little space of time, untill his death and to make as it were a pause in manifesting himselfe to the world, to give way to the execution of Gods councell concerning his rejection, and suffering by the Iewes.

Matthew 16:22

To rebuke him] driven thereunto by his love to Christ, more carnall than spirituall: and thorow his naturall ervencie, which savoured of rashnesse and presumption: and the false hope ee conceaved of Christs worldly kingdom; and being fearfull of the Crosse.

Matthew 16:23

Satan] a proverbiall kind of speech used when one would reject an evill and pernicious councellour, who either wittingly or ignorantly made himselfe and instrument of the Devil. See 2 Samuel 19:22 An offence] a disturber and hinderance as fat as in thee lieth of my vocation Thou savourest not,] thy judgement and affections are yet but carnall: both groveling as yet upon the earth, and not enlightned by the Spirit of God in divine, and heavenly things.

Matthew 16:24

Deny] that is to say let him lay aside all manner of presuming upon his owne understanding and for sake all his owne desires and affections, and having no regard at all of himselfe, subject 〈◊〉 wholly to Gods will; and prepare and dispose himself to all manner of sufferings for my sake. And so he reproveth Peter for his two vices, namely his presumption, and feare of afflictions.

Matthew 16:26

For what] this is a reason added to t exhortation of ver. 24.

Matthew 16:27

Shall come] that is to say, hee shall appeare in his essentiall glory of everlasting Sonne of God, which he hath from his Father by eternall generation; and in the Majesty of King of the Church and Iudge of the world bestowed upon him by his Father as he is Mediatour: and in the exaltation of his humane nature into celestiall glory.

Matthew 16:28

Comming] that is to say go-up into heaven, and by his glorious going up take possession of his Kingome, and from thence manifest it, and exercise it here in the world by his word and spirit.