Peter's Confession (16:13-20)

The Gospel According to Matthew
Jesus for President (Part 46:Peter’s Confession)

“Who do you say I am?”

Who do people say Jesus is?

John the Baptist- Herod (out of guilt) believed this in 14:1-2

Elijah- B/c he was a miracle worker and reportedly never died, was prophesied to return

Jeremiah- Rabbi's taught that Jeremiah would come back with Ark and multiply manna

One of the Prophets- Returned or simply that he was another in that tradition

Just a carpenter’s son- His hometown crowd took this approach in 13:55

A demon-possessed man- His adversaries took this approach in 12:24

A good teacher- Some addressed him as good teacher (many take this view today)

Liar-

Lunatic- His family thought he was mad in Mark 3:21

Legend- Currently popular (Jesus never existed OR Bible made up way later)

Christ the Lord-

*But more importantly, what do YOU say about Jesus. A decision is not made solely on an intellectual basis. In point and fact, Simon-Peter HAD been told that Jesus was the Christ by his literal flesh and blood (his brother Andrew), but now he was saying it had been revealed to him personally.

“On this rock I will build my church”

What does this mean?

Roman Catholic Interpretation-
Roman Catholics believe the rock refers specifically to Peter. They believe the church is an institution. Therefore, they interpret this to mean that God will build his institution through Peter as an institutional leader. In other words, this verse is predicting Peter will be the first pope of the Roman Catholic Church.

Protestant Interpretation #1
Some Protestants believe the rock refers to Jesus. The New Testament speaks of Jesus as the foundation of the church (1 Cor. 3:11, 1 Peter 2:6-8).

Protestant Interpretation #2
Some Protestants believe the rock refers to Peter’s faith (his confession). In other words, the church is made up of those who, like Peter, confess Jesus Christ as Lord.

Protestant Interpretation #3
Some Protestants believe the rock refers to the Apostles in general (not just Peter). The New Testament speaks of the Apostles being the foundation of the Church (Ephesians 2:20).

** When it says the 'Gates of Hades will not overcome it,' many interpret this, somehow, to mean that satan and the demons can't defeat Christians. Hades, though, is simply the realm of the dead or the grave. And it's not talking about the grave being on the OFFENSIVE. It's referring to the offensive posture of the church. In other words, the church will be triumphant and death with not be able to hold its own.

***The 'bind and loose' verse is usually poorly translated. What it means is that Peter (and the other Apostles, see 18:1+18) and perhaps the church as a whole has the authority and responsibility to live out heavenly realities here on earth. Essentially, this is the same as the Lord's Prayer which asks that the Kingdom come on EARTH as it (already) is in heaven. Peter is being told here that he has the authority (the keys) to lead the church in a march to a different drummer (the King of kings).




Next Week: Why did Jesus come? (16:21-28)