The Rock of the Church

Matthew 16:13-26

Matthew 16:13–26 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ. From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

The Christ, the Son of the Living God (13-17)

Matthew: An Introduction and Commentary xi. Jesus Is the Messiah (16:13–20)

The setting for this private gathering is appropriately in the district of Caesarea Philippi, a non-Jewish area near the headwaters of the Jordan, where there was no Galilean crowd in attendance.

For Jesus, “I” and “Son of Man” interchangeable.

Possibilities:

John

Promised to return (Mal. 4:5-6).

Jeremiah

In opposition to the leaders of Jerusalem in his day.

Prophesied a coming judgment and destruction of Jerusalem, just as Jesus does.

“Son of the Living God”

Note their surroundings.

Caesarea Philippi a central place of worship for Pan

Pan, the grandson of Zeus and the god of nature.

Region called Panium in the time of Antiochus the Great.

Given to Herod the Great around 20 B.C. Named Caesarea Philippi around 2 B.C. after his son Philip, and in honor of Augustus.

Augustus, heir of Julius Caesar, is the first emperor of Rome, and considered on some level as deity among Roman society.

Originally Octavian, he is named by the Senate “Augustus”, meaning “revered one” after giving some powers back to the Senate.

Beyond this, many had regarded Julius as a deified spirit after his death. Thus, this “revered one” (Augustus) was the son of a god.

Son of God noted before this, but not specified as “Son of the Living God”. Matt. 3:17; 14:32-33

Matthew 3:17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Matthew 14:32–33 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”

It is possible that Peter is using the phrase “Son of the Living God” in order to starkly contrast the surroundings, where pagan worship is being practiced.

The disciples have previous experience to learn that Jesus is much more than a man. Matt. 8:27; 14:33

Matthew 8:27 So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”

Matthew 14:33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”

In a way, Peter is using the fullest expression of what they have already begun to know in their hearts.

This will not be a full picture for them until after the Resurrection of Christ, but it at least is creating their foundation now.

On This Rock I Will Build My Church (18-20)

Which Rock?

Peter?

He names him “Rock” (Cephas).

Many who aren’t even Catholic will attribute this, but Jesus is referring to what Peter has previously said.

Certainly Peter is important to the history of the church, and an outspoken, forthright person. But he is certainly not a “rock” in his actions!

Faith in Christ?

This is accurate to a degree, but inconsistent with other references to the “rock” of the church.

It also puts an unnecessary focus on the need for our faith for the church to exist.

The Son of the Living God is the Rock. Matthew 21:42–44; 1 Corinthians 3:10–11; 1 Peter 2:6–8

Matthew 21:42–44 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes’? “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.”

1 Corinthians 3:10–11 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:6–8 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.” Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.

There is a sharing of the foundation between the Messiah and his Apostles. Ephesians 2:20; Revelation 21:14

Ephesians 2:20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,

Revelation 21:14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

The “Church” of Christ is the same church that we join in baptism. 1 Peter 2:9; Ephesians 1:22–23; 1 Corinthians 11:3; Colossians 2:19

It belongs to Him.

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Thus it follows that His church must follow His plan and authority.

Ephesians 1:22–23 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

1 Corinthians 11:3 But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

Colossians 2:19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.

The “keys of the kingdom of heaven” are the Gospel. Luke 11:52; Matthew 23:13; Acts 15:7-9

Luke 11:52 "Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered."

Matthew 23:13 "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.

On Pentecost, and again in Acts 10 in the household of Cornelius, Peter used this “key” - the Gospel.

Acts 15:7-9 ...God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe...

The Church is still entrusted with the keys of the kingdom of heaven. The Gospel unlocks men’s hearts to the truth of God.

The Gates of Hades (Death) will not prevail on Christ’s Church. John 18:36; Hebrews 12:28-29

Nothing can stop Christ’s Church.

The shrine to Pan in Caesarea Philippi was literally called the “Gates of Hades”. Some have even suggested that Jesus utters these words near there.

In this sense, the Kingdom and the Church are synonymous.

John 18:36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”

A kingdom without borders, without walls, without the constraints of physical trappings, is eternal, and unshakeable.

Hebrews 12:28–29 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.

Get Behind Me, Satan! (21-23)

Jesus shares the truth of what will happen to Him.

Go to Jerusalem, suffer much from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed.

Raised on the third day.

Literally, “awaken”.

Peter rebukes Him.

“far be it from you, Lord”

Incongruous with his place and rulership as Messiah.

Makes no sense to Peter given what they had already discussed.

“this shall not happen to you!”

Peter thinks to simply will/wish it away.

Note: While Peter says this, he is not only rebuking Jesus being put to death, but also Jesus being raised from the dead!

He misses the good news while focusing on the bad.

In doing this, Peter assumes the place of Jesus’ Adversary. Mark 8:33

Mark 8:33 But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, “Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

At this moment, Peter is NOT a disciple of Christ, but an enemy of the Cross and an enemy of Christ.

Let Him Deny Himself (24-26)

“If anyone desires to come after Me...”

If we are unwilling to do what follows this, it means we do not follow Him.

“…let him deny himself...”

Not holding blindly onto what we desire, but actively denying those things in light of discipleship.

“…take up his cross...”

Take with you the suffering of Christ; bear your daily burden of discipleship; be willing to do so to the point of death.

1 Corinthians 15:31 I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

“…and follow Me.”

Go wherever He wants you to go. Do whatever He wants you to do. All revealed in His word.

How badly do we want our life to stay the same?

If we hold onto our life as it is, we will lose everything.

If we forsake our life as it is for Him, we will find our TRUE LIFE!

How much are we willing to lose in pursuit of our desires?

Are we willing to put a price on our own soul, and sell it for the sake of our pleasure here on earth?

Matthew 16:27–28 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

In terms of what Jesus says to His apostles, He is coming “in his kingdom” when the Church begins in Acts 2.

He has yet to come “in the glory of His Father with His angels”. 1 Cor. 15:24-28; Rev. 20:11-15

1 Corinthians 15:24–28 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. For “He has put all things under His feet.” But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.

Revelation 20:11–15 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

Who is Jesus to You?

Many are living as if Jesus doesn’t matter to them. Heb. 6:4-6

When we refuse to follow His word, but follow the dictates of our hearts, we put him to death anew.

Hebrews 6:4–6 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

This happens when we are not dedicated to His work.

When we do not agree with Jesus’ plan and work, we are his Adversary.

When we rebuke faithful acts and honest hearts of our brethren, we are His Adversary.

If we are not actively working in your local church, we are his Adversary.

If we are not leading our families with compassion and conviction, we are his Adversary.

If we are not sharing the truth of the Gospel as HE shows us, we are his Adversary.

Jesus will turn from us and speak to his TRUE disciples.

The Messiah will always challenge us.

Allow yourself to be challenged.

We all have convictions about certain things. There is no conviction that cannot be overcome by proper faith in Christ, such that conviction in His message permeates our entire lives.