Matthew 16:18

MATTHEW—NOTE ON Matthew 16:18 you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church. This is one of the most controversial and debated passages in all of Scripture. The key question concerns Peter’s relationship to “this rock.” For several reasons, it is best to think that “this rock” refers to Peter himself. Jesus’ entire pronouncement is directed toward Peter, and the connecting word “and” most naturally identifies the rock with Peter himself. But if “this rock” refers to Peter, the question remains as to what that means. Protestants generally have thought that “rock” refers to Peter in his role of confessing Jesus as the Messiah. The other disciples would share in that role as they made similar confessions (see Ephesians 2:20, where the church is built on all the apostles). In other words, Jesus’ statement did not mean that Peter would have greater authority than the other apostles (see Galatians 2:11), or that he would be infallible in his teaching (see Matthew 16:23). It did not imply a special office for Peter or his successors. Peter is still “sent” by other apostles to Samaria (Acts 8:14), and he has to give an account of his actions to the Jerusalem church (Acts 11:1). Peter is presented as having only one voice among many voices at the Jerusalem council, and in fact, James has the decisive final word (Acts 15:7). The word “church” occurs only here and in Matthew 18:17 in the Gospels; Jesus points ahead to the time when he will build his church. gates of hell (sometimes translated “gates of hades”; see also: “gates of Sheol” [Isaiah 38:10]; “gates of death” [Job 38:17; Psalms 9:13]). Hades, or Sheol, is the realm of the dead. Death will not overpower the church.