What does "flesh and blood did not reveal" teach about divine insight? Setting the Scene Matthew 16:17 — “Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven.’” Peter has just confessed, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus immediately clarifies how Peter came to that insight. Human intellect or tradition did not supply it; divine revelation did. Understanding “Flesh and Blood” • Scripture uses the phrase to describe ordinary human nature (1 Corinthians 15:50; Galatians 1:16). • It represents every purely human source: reason, experience, education, culture, or heritage. • By denying “flesh and blood,” Jesus excludes any possibility that Peter arrived at truth by himself. Divine Insight Defined • A disclosure that originates in God alone. • Supernatural understanding of who Christ is and what He does. • Illumination that transforms belief into conviction (2 Corinthians 4:6). • Accessible only through God’s gracious initiative. How God Reveals • By the Father: the ultimate Source of truth (Matthew 16:17). • Through the Son: Jesus embodies revelation (John 1:18). • By the Spirit: – 1 Corinthians 2:10-12 — “God has revealed it to us by the Spirit…so that we may understand what God has freely given us.” – Ephesians 1:17-18 — “The God of our Lord Jesus Christ…may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.” • Through Scripture: God-breathed and sufficient (2 Timothy 3:16-17). • In sovereign timing: Peter’s moment came at Caesarea Philippi; Paul’s on the Damascus road (Galatians 1:15-16). What “Flesh and Blood Did Not Reveal” Teaches about Divine Insight • Salvation knowledge is God-initiated, not self-generated. • Human capacity, however sincere, remains inadequate for grasping spiritual truth (1 Corinthians 2:14). • Spiritual understanding is a gift to be received, not a discovery to be achieved. • Dependence on God replaces confidence in intellect, tradition, or emotion. • Humility before God’s Word becomes essential, since revelation is His to give. • The Church is built on divinely revealed truth, ensuring its foundation is unshakable (Matthew 16:18). Practical Response • Treasure the Word, expecting the Spirit to illuminate it daily. • Approach Scripture with humility, confessing inability apart from God. • Thank God for opening eyes to Christ, recognizing that insight is grace-driven. • Reject pride in personal understanding; give glory to the Father who reveals. • Share truth boldly, trusting the same Father to open hearts (John 6:44-45). |
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