REASON OR REVELATION
“And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 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.” Matthew 16:16, 17
Jesus had just asked His disciples what others were saying about Him; who did those in the community think He was? The disciples answered that the opinion was varied, some thinking that Jesus was John the Baptist, others Elijah, or Jeremiah, or one of the other prophets. Then Jesus asked the disciples the same question: “whom say ye that I am?”(15) Simon answered first by declaring, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” This was one occasion when Simon delivered in a big way. Jesus was more than a prophet; He was the Messiah, Emmanuel, and God in the flesh. In response to Peter’s statement, Jesus pointed out where the disciple had gotten his information, saying, “flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”
Peter had the right answer about Christ, but it was not because he figured it out on his own. God revealed it to him. The residents of Caesarea Philippi reasoned that Jesus might be any number of different characters, but Peter knew exactly who Jesus was because God made it clear to him. This provides for us the basis of where we obtain our opinions, especially concerning God, His work, and His ways. It is either by REASON OR REVELATION. There is a world of difference between reason and revelation. Many misguided souls are basing their views of eternal things on that which seems right or logical to them, rather than on the revelation of God. This is one reason why there are so many diverse positions on matters of great spiritual consequence. Christians are embracing contemporary and popular positions that are clearly in violation of sound doctrine and Biblical principles.
Peter gave the correct response because he confessed what God had shown him. This should bring great encouragement to each of us, knowing that God wants to reveal His truth to us. God does not want us blinded by error, personal opinion, or wrong traditions. He wants to guide us into His perfect truth. If we are going to have the truth revealed to us, we must be willing to submit to the only true source of divine revelation, the pure Word of God.