Jesus' Promise of the Church

Matthew 16:13–20 CSB

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus responded, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father 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 will not overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed in heaven.” Then he gave the disciples orders to tell no one that he was the Messiah.

I. The Question and Answer

a) The Public’s Opinion (13-14)

Matthew 16:13–14 CSB

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

b) The Disciple’s Opinion (15-17)

Matthew 16:15–17 CSB

“But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus responded, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven.

II. The Building of the Church (17-20)

Matthew 16:17–18 CSB

Jesus responded, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father 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 will not overpower it.

a) The essential foundation “on this rock”

Peter- Petros (masculine form for a stone)

“rock”- Petra (feminine form for same word)

The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament 4073. πέτρα pétra

Distinguished from the masc. pétros in that pétra is a mass of rock while pétros is a detached stone or boulder, a stone that might be thrown or easily moved. Therefore, when a type is sought to illustrate a sure foundation, the word pétra, an immovable rock, is used

The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament 4073. πέτρα pétra

Used metaphorically of Christ and the testimony concerning Him which is an unchangeable, immovable testimony (Matt. 16:18).

Ephesians 2:19–21 CSB

So, then, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole building, being put together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.

John 14:26 (CSB)

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.

1 Peter 2:4–5 CSB

As you come to him, a living stone—rejected by people but chosen and honored by God— you yourselves, as living stones, a spiritual house, are being built to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

b) The future action: “I will build...”

c) The structure: “my church”

Ekklesia- assembly, gathering; community, congregation

d) The victory: “gates of Hades will not overpower it”

Matthew 16:19 CSB

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed in heaven.”

e) The authority:

“keys of the kingdom...”

“binding…loosing...”

The tense of the two Greek verbs translated “will have been bound” and “will have been loosed” indicate that the action in heaven precedes the action on earth

f) The charge: (20)

Matthew 16:20 CSB

Then he gave the disciples orders to tell no one that he was the Messiah.

Conclusion

Know: Christ is building His church

Do: Study the Bible

Be: Connected