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The Confession; The Rock; The Church
Matthew 16:16-18
During the earthly sojourn of Jesus Christ there was much confusion and
controversy about His identity. The question came up over and over, who is He? (Jno.
7:40-44).
He was aware of this, and He was especially concerned that His disciples knew
who He was. The time came for that teaching. He had gone with His disciples to
the area of Caesarea Philippi. It was here that He asked them two questions. The
first had to do with what impressions the public had: "Who do men say that I,
the Son of Man, am?" Then the Lord asked His disciples to speak for themselves,
and Peter spoke up ...
"And 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."
- Matt. 16:16-18.
There are three vital things here to be studied and distinguished: THE
CONFESSION, THE ROCK, AND THE CHURCH.
Peter's Confession: "You are the Christ, the Son
of God."
A variety of opinions prevailed among the people of that day about who the Son
of Man was. By divine revelation Peter knew the truth, and he spoke it on this
occasion without fear: "You are the Christ, the Son of God." Would you agree,
this confession is important? Certainly. In fact, we know that the person who
refuses to acknowledge this truth is refusing to be saved! Jesus said "if you do
not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins," (Jno. 8:24). And He said
through John, "whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God," (1 Jno.
5:1). Likewise, "whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwells in
Him, and He in God," (1 Jno. 4:15). This confession is the proposition that lies
at the very foundation of the gospel plan; it is a truth that must be confessed
and believed. It is important.
If this confession is important, wouldn't you agree, anything the Bible connects
to it is also important? Or to state this another way: If this confession is
important,
that which is built on it is also important! The church is built on this truth
Peter expressed. Jesus, the Head of the church, said: "...on this rock I will
build My
church!"
"This Rock!"
Should we think of "this rock" as the man, Simon Peter? In favor of this view,
the name Peter means "rock," and the Roman Catholic edition of the New Testament
has this footnote: "This rock was Peter."
This argument is made for one purpose: TO GIVE CREDIBILITY TO THE IDEA THAT
PETER WAS THE FIRST POPE IN ROME. Of course, that idea can be rejected on the
basis of any number of scriptural facts. But in regard to our text, consider
these points:
(1) While the word "Peter" in the Greek is PETROS, which means small rock, the
word "rock" as that which the church is built on is PETRA, which means a massive
stone.
(2) Further, while PETROS (Peter) is masculine, PETRA is feminine in gender.
These observations alone indicate, the Lord was talking about two distinct
things. And, in the King James, the Lord referred to Peter as "thou," but He
referred to the rock as "this."
"This rock" that the church is built on isn't Peter, it is the confession Peter
made. You see, the church wasn't built on Peter, it was built on the truth about
the divine
Person, Jesus Christ. Peter expressed the truth, "Thou art the Christ, the Son
of the Living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh
and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heven."
"And I also say to you that you are Peter (petros), and on this rock (petra) I
will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it."
Agreeing with this, the statement written by Paul in 1 Cor. 3:11, "For no other
foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus christ."
Likewise, in Ephesians 2:20 - "And are built upon the foundation of the apostles
and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner-stone."
"I Will Build My Church!"
This statement identifies Jesus as the builder and owner of the church; it is a
simple matter of grammar and wording: "I will build MY church." In the shedding
of His
blood, His resurrection from the dead, ascension to God's right hand, and in the
preaching He commissioned the apostles to do - HE BUILT HIS CHURCH. Those who
come to Him in obedient response to the gospel become a part of His church, His
body. They belong to Him.
Another point of grammar, when the Lord said, "I will," that indicates present
intention to do something in the future! He was telling His chosen men, Here is
what I
intend to do. He hadn't built the church yet, but He would in the future: "I
will" became reality (see Acts chapter two)
It should be observed, the word "church" in this statement is singular. He said,
"I will build My church." He didn't promise to set up a vast conglomeration of
denominational bodies; he didn't say, "I will build my churches." There is one
church! "The body" in Ephesians 1:22,23 is singular. "There is one body," (Eph.
4:4), and "...by one spirit we were all baptized into one body," (1 Cor.
12:12,13).
The text puts before us these facts about Christ and His church.
1. Jesus is "the Christ, the Son of the Living God."
2. God revealed this to Peter, not "flesh and blood."
3. Jesus told these men, He would build His church on this confession, and "the
gates of Hades" would not prevent it.
What a privilege to be a part of Christ's body; to be baptized into this realm
of fellowship with God and cooperation with His children to do His work.
By Warren E. Berkley
From Expository Files 1.11; November, 1994
