The Gates of Hell

Matthew 16:13–20 (ESV)

Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

People have begun asking who Jesus is and understandably they are coming up with a variety of answers.

Some say he’s John the Baptist. Thinking John the Baptist had been raised from the dead.

Others thought some kind of reincarnation of Elijah or Jeremiah.

But Peter gave the right answer.

Jesus is the Christ. The Messiah. The promised coming one. That made more sense. But Peter goes a step farther. Because up to this point I don’t think anyone would have guessed that the messiah was going to be God in the flesh.

They assumed He would be someone like David. Who would set them free from oppression like Moses had in Egypt.

No one would have guessed that God himself would have taken on flesh and dwelt among them.

But Peter got it. He called Him the Christ the Son of the Living God.

Jesus of course replies 7 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

That phrase Simon Bar-Jonah is Just a transliteration of the greek that means son of John. Peter was a son of John while Jesus was the Son of God.

Jesus is reiterating the difference between the two of them. Peter is the son of a man. Jesus is the Son of the Living God.

How did Peter come to this conclusion? Jesus tells us, “flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.”

Was Peter smarter than the rest? No he stuck his foot in his mouth more than any disciple. Was he more Holy than the rest? No in about five verse Jesus is going to call Peter Satan.

It had nothing to do with Peter. It was because the Father who is in heaven revealed it to him.

This is of course how everyone comes to understand who Jesus is. It’s not based on our merit. We understand who Jesus is because the Father through the Spirit reveals Him to us.

John 6:63 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

What is the reward then for Peter’s statement. Jesus says, “ you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church,

What is this that Christ will build His church on? The confession of Jesus as God. It is the central truth that all other truth is placed around. Jesus Christ is God.

Hebrews 1:3 (ESV)

3 Jesus is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

If you want to understand who the Father is than look to the Son.

And it’s on that understanding that Jesus will build his church.

Now this is the first use of the word church in the new testament and in the greek that word is ekklesia which just means gathering or people.

So Jesus is saying that he is creating a new gather a new group of people and this people will be centered around one central teaching. Jesus is God.

There’s much more that could be said about that but I want us to look at the next phrase.

and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

That’s a confusing phrase isn’t it.

What are gates used for in a war? Offense or defense?

Gates are a defensive tool. They keep the enemy out. But Jesus says these gates won’t prevail against the church. Prevail seems to be an offensive word.

I think Jesus is getting at two things. We live in a sin cursed world. And it can be easy to live in fear that we are going to lose this battle. That sin and hell are going to prevail and the church will succumb to what feels like the enviability of failure.

But the church is built on and centered around this foundational belief. Jesus is God. And if God is for us who can be against us.

We are fighting a battle that has already been won. So fix your eyes on Jesus and know that the battle is already over.

I remember my freshman year of high school we had a really good basketball team. I was a freshman and sat at the end of the bench. But one night we were just killing this team. So at the end of the game my coach put me. In the game was over. The battle had been won so he through me in to get some playing time and help run out the clock.

Now what are you supposed to do when the game is over and you get the ball? Just dribble out the clock, shake hands and be on your way.

But I remember getting the ball at the top of the key and did I dribble out the clock? Of course not. This was my time to shine. So I took that ball and launched it. Nothing but net. My coach is of course screaming at me. But he screamed at everybody so i didn’t care too much.

Why did I take that shot? I wanted a piece of the glory. The battle was over. What was the worst that could happen. I miss the shot? Who cares. We already won. I just wanted a chance to do something.

Guys, the game is over. The battle is won. There’s nothing to fear. So take your shot. Enjoy the fight. You already won.

I think of David and Goliath. The Israelites are shaking in their boots to afraid to fight Goliath. But David steps up and wins the battle and what do those scared Israelites do? The charge. They want a piece of the bounty. The battle was over now it was there time to shine.

I remember earlier in my freshman year coach put me into a big game. He wanted to see if I had what it took. I’m pretty sure I peed my pants. He said I looked like a deer in the headlights. He might have actually been being nice for once.

I wasn’t ready for the spot light. I wasn’t ready for the big time. I wanted to play garbage time. I wanted to play after the game was already secured.

Guys, we don’t have to play in the spot light or the big time. Jesus did that. He already won the fight. We just get to have fun picking up the pieces.

So lets battle against sin and darkness but lets not forget. The wars over we already won.

So Sin won’t prevail. But remember gates are a defensive tool. So why does Jesus use that term.

Well sin and death have many captives held behind the gates of hell. And it’s the churches job to bust down the gates and save as many as we can. But that may seem like a daunting task.

But Jesus promises us that the gates of hell will not prevail agaisnt the battering ram of the gospel.

We will succeed. Not in every case of course. But we must through the power of the Spirit proclaim Jesus as Savior and Lord to anyone who will listen.

Let’s not run from the darkness. Let’s boldly break down the gates of hell and bring back anyone who will come

Pat Odle spoke a few months ago and he said this phrase and it’s stuck with me ever sense.

He said, “Christians often spend more time praying for saints to be freed from the hospital than sinners to be freed from hell.”

So what I’d like to do tonight is spend just a few minutes talking about the saints in the hospital but then I’d like to hear from as many of you as possible. Who are you going after? Who are you praying for? Who are you trying to set free from hell?