M A T T H E W  16 V13-19

 

Jesus said, I will build my Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.

These are well known verses for the Gospel reading on Sunday next, when we celebrate the worship in memory of the Apostles Paul and Peter.

Jesus went with His Apostles to Caesarea Philippi, a city 25 miles from Galilee. He asked His Apostles, who do people say I am. They answered Him saying. some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the other prophets.

He then asked, but who do you say I am? Peter replied, you are the Christ. The Son of the living God.  Jesus answered him, Blessed are you Simon Bar-Jonah, flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. I told you, you are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of heaven, and whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven; and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.

Tge responses to the question of Jesus are in line with the popular messianic expectations held in Israel from a string of Old Testament Prophets about the great man to come.

Peter had spoken for the group. Christ meant, Messianic or Anointed One, Son of the living God, who is alive.  Blessed in this sense, meant acknowledging Peter’s condition from God’s revelation.  Bar Jonah means son of Jonah.

This passage has been the cause of disunity between the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant Denominations.  The words of Jesus to Peter-thou art Peter and on this rock, I will build my Church, are interpreted differently.  Does it mean that Peter himself is the foundation, on which the Church will be built? This has been seen as improbable.  Above all reason, it can be given why the Lord should not have said, I will build my Church on you, if such had been His meaning instead of on this rock.

The true meaning of rock in this passage, is to be the truth of the Lord’s Messianic and divinity which Peter confessed.  It is as if the Lord had said, you are rightly called by the name you have confessed, that mighty proof as on a rock I will build my Church,

The real meaning of the promise made to Peter appears to be, he was going to have the privilege of first opening the door to salvation to both Jews and Gentiles

Peter preached to the Jews at Pentecost, and visited Cornelius, a Gentile at his home and opened the door of faith.  He said, God has made choices among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the words of the Gospel,

There is the statement that Peter was given power, to decide on sinners whether to forbid or permit;  his is surely for Jesus alone has authority from God.  The Apostles had been given authority to teach the way  to salvation and  were specially inspired to lay down rules for the guidance of the Church in disputed questions.  

Whatever sense Jesus uses the words, they do not have reference tothe Church in Rome.  It should be remembered that the leader of the Church at this time was James, and the Bible states that the disciple Jesus loved was the Apostle John. (John 13 v23)

Finally,  we read the  glorious promises to which our Lord made to His Church. He says the gates of hell shall not prevail against it,  The meaning of this is that the power  of Satan shall never destroy the people of Christ.  He that brought sin and death into the first creation, by tempting Eve, shall never again bring ruin on the new creation by overthrowing believers.

The mystical body of Christ shall never perish or decay,   In spite of falls, failures and short-comings; on spite of the world, the devil, the flesh,- no member of the Church will be cast away.

 

We praise God for His Holy Gospel. May He be Glorified