“And I tell you,
you are Peter and on this rock I will build my church…” Jesus in
Matthew 16:17
“We believe all religions lead to heaven.” (Sign outside of
Ivyland New Church, which claims to be a “new Christianity” in Ivyland,
Pennsylvania)
In Caesarea Philippi in the shadow of temples to false gods,
Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” (v. 15). To which Peter responded, “You are the
Christ, the Son of the Living God,” (v. 16). And Jesus answered him, “Blessed
are you, Simon Bar-Jonah,”
(v. 17).
I find Jesus’ initial 5 words of response to Peter
fascinating. First, Jesus
invokes the same wording that he used with the Beatitudes of Matthew
5:1-12; “Blessed
are you.” Second,
Jesus’ response to Peter gives insight into what Jesus’ believed about
himself. By referring to
Jesus as “the Son of the living God” (v. 16), Peter is declaring Christ to be divine
(see previous devotion on 16:15-16). To this Jesus responds with affirmation and even
blessing, not something a mere prophet or good teacher would do.
Jesus also calls Peter by his complete Jewish name, Simon Bar-Jonah (son of John) which parallels Peter’s
reference of Jesus as the “Son of God.” Jesus continues, “For flesh and blood has not
revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven,” (v. 17). The Pharisees and Sadducees demanded a
sign (see v. 1). But no sign was needed for Peter, because God the Father had revealed to Peter who
Christ is.
Jesus then says, “And I tell you, you are Peter,”
(v. 18). He mirrors Peter’s reply,
“You are the Christ” (v. 16) and then proceeds to use a play-on-words. In the original Greek, two very similar
words are used: Peter is “petros” while rock is
“petras.” (i.e., “you are Petros and on this petras I will build my church”).
There is a great debate, primarily between Roman Catholic
and Protestant theologians, over precisely what rock
Jesus was referring to when he said, “on this rock I will build my
church,” (v. 18). Catholic
scholars insist that Jesus is referring to Peter and they point to this verse to
support their claim that Peter was the first Pope. The traditional Protestant position is that Jesus was
referring not to Peter but to Peter’s answer, “You are the Christ, the Son of the
Living God” (v. 16).
But many prominent Protestant theologians say we have moved
too far from the intent of the text when we deny that Jesus was referring directly
to Peter when he said, “on this rock I will build my church.” As mentioned in the previous
devotion, Peter is the primary spokesman and leader of the Twelve. However, these same theologians point
out this passage cannot defend the office and the powers of the Pope. As D.A. Carson says in his commentary on
these verses, “The text says nothing about Peter’s successors, infallibility or
exclusive authority.” Additionally
Ephesians 2:20 says that the church is “built on the foundation of the apostles
and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone.”
However, Catholic and Protestant theologies agree that it is
upon the Lordship of Jesus Christ that his church, the Christian faith, is
built. Christ sees the church as his own body.
He loves his church, gave himself up for his church, and will “present the
church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that
she might be holy and without blemish,” (Ephesians 5:27).
Any church that does not
point to Jesus and say, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God,” is not worthy to be called his church or
his bride. Either reform or
flee such a church. For all of
history will culminate with the wedding feast of Christ and his church, his Bride
(see Revelation 19:7-9). Pretenders and enemies will not be
allowed into the feast. I
hope to see you at this wedding feast and together we will worship the Bridegroom
and declare, “He is our rock, our cornerstone, our firm foundation!” Amen!
