3AMS

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 16:17)

My Father.

See John 6:45; 1 Cor. 2:10. For Jesus’ use of the term “Father” to refer to God see on Matt. 6:9.

Simon Bar-jona.

That is, “Simon, son of Jonah [or John]” (see on John 21:15; cf. on Mark 3:16). This was Peter’s full name, according to Jewish custom.

Flesh and blood.

That is, human beings. This was a common Jewish idiom designating mankind in whole or in part (cf. Gal. 1:16, 17).

Blessed.

See on ch. 5:3. Jesus solemnly accepts Peter’s confession of faith. Inasmuch as Peter was spokesman for all the disciples (see on v. 16), the blessing now addressed to him belongs to them also, to the extent that their faith measured up to his.