Introduction

Most are familiar with the great confession given by Peter in Matthew 16:16. That Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God is the cornerstone of the Christian system, the foundation of all true faith and the central truth of the new covenant.

Following Peter's confession of Christ, Jesus "confesses" Peter - in words which also deserve attention and will profit the Christian today. These verses are frequently cited to show that there is one church or that it was future at the time of Christ's personal ministry. Let us notice the verses again for additional benefit and knowledge.

Body

I. A BEATITUDE IS PRONOUNCED. "Blessed art thou, Simon bar Jona."

   A. "Blessed" means "happy," "fortunate," "privileged" (see Luke 1:28; Matthew 5).

   B. Peter is pronounced "priviledged" or "fortunate."

II. A REASON IS GIVEN FOR THIS STATEMENT.

    "For flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven" (See also Matthew 11:25-27).

III. A GENERAL PROMISE IS MADE.

    "And ... thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

   A. The church in the Old Testament.

        1. The term "church" (ekkiesia) appears only here and Matthew 18:18 in the four Gospels. This is not surprising, for Matthew is the "Jewish" Gospel, and the term ekklesia had an Old Testament background.

        2. It was the regular translation in the Greek Old Testament (likely used by Christ, the apostles and the early church) for the Hebrew qahal, or "congregation"/"assembly" of Israel (see also Acts 7:38 for a New Testament occurrence of this Old Testament usage).

        3. Jesus promises to build "His" church ("my" is emphatic in the Greek). This will not be a covenant made through Moses; God's people will be related to Him through their relationship with Jesus as the Christ/Messiah and Son of God.

        4. There is no contrast intended here in terms of denomination, for when Christ spoke these words none were in existence and God takes no knowledge of any today.

   B. An architectural figure is suggested by "build" and "rock."

        1. Jesus Christ Himself is head of the comer, the chief cornerstone, the precious and tried cornerstone, the only true foundation (Acts 4:11-12; I Corinthians 3:10-11; I Peter 2:4-8).

        2. Every saint is a living stone in this structure. Some are "laid" before others in point of time, but not therefore more important. These are "lower" in the building than those "laid" later in time (see I Peter 2:5; Ephesians 2:19ff).

        3. Peter, by God's gracious revelation on this occasion, becomes the first to confess the Messiahship and deity of Jesus. By his faith he becomes the first "stone" to be "laid" in the building, then in prospect but in reality at Pentecost.

            a. Many prominent Protestant scholars accord Peter this position of privilege, based on this passage.

            b. This says nothing for Catholic theory. We see neither original authority (only privilege) nor transfer of anything. The evidence is to the contrary in the New Testament on both points.

            c. Yet Peter was "blessed," or "privileged" because of his first confession of Jesus as Messiah-Son of God.

IV. A PERSONAL PROMISE FOLLOWS.

    "And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatver thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

   A. "Keys" as total authority of a chief executive.

        1. "Over the house," "key of David" to "open" and "shut" (see Isaiah 22:15-25).

        2. This applies to Christ Himself, not to Peter or anyone else (Hebrews 3:6; Revelation 3:8).

   B. "Keys" as "revealing knowledge."

        1. This was a term used by the Jews (Luke 11:52; see Luke 1:77). It involved the work of the Scribe; the key was his insignia.

        2. Peter fulfilled this function in the early church by revealing knowledge for the first time on several occasions.

            a. On Pentecost to Jews (Acts 2:14-39).

            b. At Caesarea to Gentiles (Acts 10:26-48).

   C. "Binding" and "loosing" as declaring something lawful or unlawful.

        1. This blessing was given the other apostles also, or perhaps to the gathered (Spirit-filled) church in general (Matthew 18:18, see context).

        2. The Rabbis spoke of "binding" and "loosing," but they could only declare a thing to be so. They spoke as men using human wisdom and logic.

        3. Jesus said (literally), "Whatever you will bind on earth shall have already been bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall have already been loosed in heaven."

        4. This was the work and authority of the apostolic office: to declare the word of God, to reveal what is lawful and unlawful (see how Paul exercises this same privilege as an apostle: I Corinthians 5:3-5, compare Matthew 18: 18-20). They did not speak from human logic and wisdom; they spoke what God through the Spirit told them to say, and in keeping with what was already the case in heaven. Preachers today cannot exercise this function, but every Christian is urged to develop spiritual perception to discern between good and evil (Romans 12:2; Philippians 1:9-11; Colossians 1:9,. 10; I Thessalonians 5: 19-23; Hebrews 5:12-14).

V. SUMMARY

   A. Peter confesses Jesus.

   B. Jesus blesses Peter.

        1. Not flesh-and-blood knowledge, but a divine revelation was involved.

        2. Christ would "build" HIS "church" and Peter was the first "small rock" to be laid on the chief cornerstone and foundation.

        3. Peter was given the key of knowledge to first open doors of truth - a personal privilege and blessing bestowed by Christ.

Conclusion

Mary, the Lord's mother, was "blessed." Catholics have overrated her beyond the authority of Scripture. Perhaps we have neglected her. She was fortunate and blessed indeed, as used of God. Peter, the first to confess Christ's deity and Messiahship, was "blessed." Catholics have made too much of him as well, and again we might have neglected this great man. He was "blessed" and "fortunate" because of the way God chose to use him for carrying out His purpose.

We have a privilege today: to be living stones in the temple of God, the church which is still being "built" as men hear the gospel and place their faith in Christ, turning to Him with an obedient heart.

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