lectionary.com

Pentecost Season · Year A

Proper 16

August 23, 2026

Delivery of the Keys to Saint Peter, Pietro Perugino
Delivery of the Keys to Saint Peter, Pietro Perugino, 1481–1482Sistine Chapel, Vatican City
On the Sistine Chapel wall, painted before Michelangelo was born. Perugino sets the handover in a vast empty piazza with a domed temple behind, and the keys pass across a gap of several feet.It is the Caesarea Philippi exchange: the confession, then the keys, with everything else cleared away.Pietro PeruginoAn Umbrian painter of serene, spacious compositions, who ran workshops in two cities at once and taught Raphael.Sistine Chapel, Vatican CityThe pope's chapel, where conclaves are held, decorated by Perugino, Botticelli and Ghirlandaio before Michelangelo was ever asked.Sistine Chapel, Vatican City
Revised Common Lectionary
GospelMatt. 16:13-20Mt 16:13-20
EpistleRom. 12:1-8Rom 12:1-8
Old TestamentExod. 1:8-2:10Ex 1:8-2:10Alt. OTIsa. 51:1-6Is 51:1-6
PsalterPs. 124Ps 124Alt. PsalmPs. 138Ps 138

Overview & Insights

"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (Matthew 16:16)

At Caesarea Philippi Jesus asks who people say he is, and Peter confesses him as the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus declares Peter blessed, names him the rock on which the church is built, and gives him the keys of the kingdom.

From Sermons.com: Join Today to access the most scholarly & well written preaching resources anywhere.

Take it further: Matthew 16:13-20

Commentary

Commentary on Matthew 16:13-20Commentary on Mt 16:13-20 Working Preacher

The Lutheran home commentary on this Year A Gospel by a named seminary scholar.

Matthew 16 - The Confession of PeterMt 16 - The Confession of Peter Enduring Word · David Guzik

A verse-by-verse evangelical study of Peter's confession and the promise of the church.

Matthew 16:13-20 CommentaryMt 16:13-20 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

A Reformed preaching commentary on the first naming of Christ and the church.

Matthew 16:13 CommentariesMt 16:13 Commentaries BibleHub

Classic commentaries gathered verse by verse on the question at Caesarea Philippi.

Matthew 16:13 Verse-by-Verse CommentaryMt 16:13 Verse-by-Verse Commentary StudyLight

A large library of expositors stacked verse by verse for a further preaching voice.

Matthew 16 CommentaryMt 16 Commentary Precept Austin

An inductive study page collecting word studies and cross references on the chapter.

Background & Word Study

Matthew 16 (Matthew Henry Complete)Mt 16 (Mt Henry Complete) Bible Study Tools

Matthew Henry's full exposition of the chapter for a classic devotional reading.

Matthew 16:13 InterlinearMt 16:13 Interlinear BibleHub

The Greek of the passage word by word with parsing and Strong's numbers, including petra and ekklesia.

Gospel of Matthew OverviewGospel of Mt Overview BibleProject

An animated overview of Matthew that frames the disciples' recognition of Jesus as Messiah.

The Church Fathers

Matthew 16 (Catena)Mt 16 (Catena) Catena

Patristic comments verse by verse on the confession and the keys of the kingdom.

Podcast

#918: 13th Sunday after Pentecost (Ord. 21A) – Aug. 27, 2023 Working Preacher (Sermon Brainwave)

Luther Seminary’s homiletics roundtable on this Sunday’s appointed texts, including Matthew 16:13-20.

Art & Music

Art in the Christian Tradition Vanderbilt

A curated index of images for this reading across the history of Christian art.

Study Hub

The Text This Week: Proper 16A Textweek

The Textweek hub aggregating commentary, art, and sermon links across every reading for the day.

Prep at sermons.com

Ready to write?

  • Full sermons on Matthew 16:13-20
  • Illustrations cleared for use in worship
  • Commentary, quotes, and Bible dictionary
Open it at sermons.com →

Trusted by pastors since 1995.

Free every Tuesday

Illustrations & Sermon Prep in your inbox

The coming Sunday’s readings, a cleared-for-use illustration, and a sermon-prep head start. One email, free.