On This Rock I Will Build My Church?
In Matthew 16, Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do you say the Son of Man is?” Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus said, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood have not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church.” (Matthew 16:15-18)
Now, let’s play a game: What is “this rock” on which Christ would build His Church?
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- Peter
- Peter’s confession
- Christ and His teachings
- All of the above
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If you guessed Peter, you are correct.
But, not if you’re Catholic.
The Bible says Christ is the Foundation (Acts 4:11-12, 1 Corinthians 3:11); and the Head of the Church (Ephesians 4:15, 5:23). So, in no way was He giving either of those titles to Peter and to a successive line of Popes.
Peter is a lesser stone. (The name Peter means “stone.”) The TRUE Rock is Christ. Do you know who said that? Peter!
In fact, we are all lesser stones being built into a spiritual house unto the Lord.
As you come to Him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and Precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house…” (1 Peter 2:4-5)
Paul said the Church is built on the foundation of all the Apostles. Christ is the cornerstone.
You are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone… (Ephesians 2:19-20)
Meaning every other stone is set in relation to Him.
But, what is all that stuff about Peter loosening and binding on earth and in heaven?
But Jesus said to them, “Who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “Your are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” 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. 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. 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. (Matthew 16:15-19)
Though Jesus was speaking directly to Peter in Matthew 16, He wasn’t speaking exclusively to Peter, as He gave the same promise to the whole Church in Matthew 18.
Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 18:18)
All Christians are living stones, like Peter, being built into the house of God.
…when we understand the text.
(This video is by WWUTT. Discovered by Christian Podcast Central and our community — copyright is owned by the publisher, not Christian Podcast Central.)
