Definition: When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Matthew 16:13. It’s a really important and slightly surprising one! Here's what it means in simple terms: The Core Idea: Jesus is asking his disciples about how people think about him. He’s trying to understand their perspective on who he is. Let’s unpack it: “When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi…” – This refers to a specific place in Galilee, near the town of Philippi. It was a gathering of people. “…he asked his disciples…” – This means Jesus was talking to a group of his close friends – his followers – who were with him at that time. “Saying, ‘Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?’” – This is the key part! Jesus is posing a question: “What do people say about you?” So, what’s he asking? He's trying to understand if people believe he's special or unique. The Significance & What It Means: This verse is significant because it shows Jesus was aware of his own identity and the attention he received. It suggests: He wasn’t always understood: People had different ideas about what he was, sometimes criticizing him. He wanted to know their opinion: He wasn't just interested in his status; he wanted to understand how others perceived him. In essence, it’s a moment of quiet reflection where Jesus is trying to gauge how people viewed him. Do you want me to delve deeper into any aspect of this verse? For example, would you like to know: Why he might have asked this question? (It’s a bit mysterious!) What the context of the story suggests about his teachings?