Matthew 16:13-17 English Standard Version

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

Jesus asks for an opinion. He gets several and we can read the scriptures to hear some other opinions hurled at Him as accusations. What He wanted to hear from His disciples was what the people were saying about Him behind His back. Another word for that is gossip.

Read the opening passages again carefully and note that Jesus does not say that Peter’s answer is true, only that the Father had revealed that to him. Peter only repeats the Father. We have to believe certain aspects about the character and personality of God the Father in order to state with any certainty that the answer given is the truth. God does not lie.

Did Peter know the answer He gave was a revelation at the time he heard it, or did he come to believe it was true because Jesus validated his answer? I do not know, it is not for me to say, I was not in Peter’s head at the time. Nor has God the Father blessed me with a revelation of what Peter knew at the time. My assertions about those possibilities are nothing more than opinions and speculation. That is not doctrine.

Recently I said I received a Word from the Lord. I entitled a devotional with that word. Did that Word come to me by revelation or was it a matter of self-talk? Everyone is free to have their own opinion. What matters is the subsequent studies and sharing. If God is in it, only the reader can say if God is speaking to them by revelation. I cannot say who will or will not be touched by God in what I share. I can only obey by faith what I believe He asks of me. Opinions are formed as a matter of intellect, education and understanding.

I can only answer for myself what I believe. I do not hold the opinion of others. This is not teaching. Devotionals are subject to validation by reading the scriptures and hearing by faith at the will of the Father to bring revelation from Him, not me.

I read the scriptures and share my opinion, revelation has to come from God the Father.

The truth is always more complicated.

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

These are the tangible graces that can be consumed by others in our lives. In my past a teacher said that the tree does not produce fruit by effort but rather by nature. We have a new nature because of the presence of the Holy Spirit.

It did not occur to me at the time but I ask now, “Does the tree feel the fruit it produces?”

These fruits are produced to be enjoyed by those around us. A tree does not consume its own fruit. I am not even sure that the tree is even aware of the process of fruit production.

Jeremiah 17:8

He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

Nor is the tree responsible for where it is planted.

Our old nature likes to take credit for any effort we have accomplished. That is in the world but when we became Kingdom dwellers, it is not because of anything we have done except perhaps surrendered to our Lord. It is time to stop taking credit and honor God.

I almost said glorify God but the truth of glory is that glory is the essence of Jesus Christ manifested through the vessels wherein He dwells. It is the example of the cup which is not able to pour itself out, it requires the touch of the Master’s hand. Once again, we cannot take credit for that.

Galatians 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

We sacrifice our life so that He can live through us. Glorifying God in that way is possible.