MATTHEW 16:13-20
Public opinion are views prevalent among the public. They are collective opinion on specific topics.
We live in an age influenced by all kinds of public opinion polls. Decisions are being driven by the crowd. Surveys can go a long way to decide what happens. Decision-making on a variety of levels are sharpened by views of the people. William Shakespeare called public opinion the “mistress of success” and Blaise Pascal referred to it as “the queen of the world”.
But when it comes to the most important question for all eternity, a public opinion poll cannot give us the right answer. We must answer for ourselves. In Matthew 16, Jesus took His disciples to Caesarea Philippi and asked a question about public opinion: “Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” (v.13). The answers were diverse, and all sounded good – but none was sufficient. This was why Jesus still asked His disciples, “But whom say ye that I am?” (v.15). Peter got the answer right: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (v.16).
Public opinion can help answer certain questions, but not the one question that will determine our eternity: Who do we say that Jesus is? If we agree with Scripture, and place our trust in Christ, we will have eternal life. If we follow public opinion (what people say about Christ), we may lose our way.
The same principle applies in living as Christians – It does not matter what the crowd believes about the Lord or His Word. What matters is this: Do we believe what God says in His Word?
Public opinion is no substitute for the truth of God’s Word.
* Our teachers, our friends, our studies, the opinion of our society can deceive us. But Your Word is entirely true and always true. Help us stick to Your Word always in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
