This practice of making a suitable Christ (or no Christ at all) took place even before Jesus went to the cross. The factions in Israel claimed faith in one God and His prophet Moses, but they had different ideas about both, and about the promised Messiah or Christ.
- King Herod and those like him, the Herodians, wanted no Christ. Their soldiers killed rivals to King Herod, even children (Matthew 2:13-16; 22:16).
- Leading Sadducees gained earthly power by cooperating with Rome. Their Christ should not upset Roman authorities (John 11:48-49). They wanted to know nothing about a resurrected Christ (Matthew 22:23;27:62-64; Acts 23:8).
- The Pharisees wanted a Christ willing to honor their strict interpretations and traditions (Mark 7:1-13; Luke 6:1-11), a Christ who never threatened their social status (John 11:43-47; 12:19).
- If the Samaritans expected a Christ, they wanted him to support their mixed faith and their temple on Mount Gerizim (John 4:9, 20, 25; Luke 9:52-53).
- Crowds who saw Jesus’ miracles wanted to make Him king, but on their terms and for their purposes (John 6:15; 18:36).
These examples explain why, in Matthew 16:20, Jesus needed time to define the true meaning and role of the Christ.