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Upon What Rock Was the Church Built? Matthew 16:13-18
Preface
This passage of Scripture is recognized by the Roman Catholic denomination as evidence that the Apostle Peter was appointed by Jesus Christ to be the first Bishop of Rome (Pope) and therefore the supreme leader of the Church. This commentary is designed to explore this concept and clarify the meaning of Christ’s words regarding the matter.
The Passage—Matthew 16:13-18 (NKJV)
When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 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.”
Commentary
The primary theological question posed by this passage in the minds of most Christians is, “What (or who) is the “rock” upon which Christ will build His church?” If in fact He is referring to Peter as “this rock,” then Roman Catholics may be correct in their position.
But even if this was so, there is ample proof throughout the New Testament that not only was Peter quite fallible prior to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, but afterwards he was also quite fallible and needed to be corrected by the Apostle Paul (Matthew 14:22-31; 26:69-75; Mark 14:67-71; Galatians 2:11). Furthermore, there is ample proof within the New Testament that all the original apostles were of equal rank and recognition (Ephesians 2:20; Revelation 21:14).
The “rock” on which Jesus would build His church has been understood as one of the following: (1) Peter, or (2) the confession (the facts contained within it) of faith that Peter made concerning Jesus Christ, or (3) Jesus Christ Himself. A reading of the English translation of this passage will support any of the three. Because of this it is profitable to examine the passage in the original autograph (Greek manuscript). Doing this, along with considering various other scriptures that relate to this passage, will clarify the matter.
A point that should be made prior to discussing the “identity” of the rock in this passage is that Peter’s confession to Christ, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” was a revelation that Peter had not obtained by himself. It was a revelation given to Peter by God the Father through the media of the Holy Spirit. This fundamental and unalterable principle of learning spiritual truth was true in the Old Testament, the New Testament and today. Only the Holy Spirit can reveal spiritual truth to the mind of man (Luke 12:12; John 14:26; 1 Corinthians 2:13; 1 John 2:27). And when the Holy Spirit is present, His focus is always on Jesus Christ (John 15:26; 16:13-15). Because of this, anyone who attends a church or a rally or views a program on television that proclaims to be of God, where the emphasis is on emotion and healing or other “miracles” but never on the salvation message in Jesus Christ, should exercise great caution and judge all such assemblies and events by the Word of God (Bible doctrine).
Now to the Rock
Within this passage there is a significant play on words by Jesus Christ, and this is only seen in the original Greek. Jesus says to Peter, “You are Petros (a rock fragment) and on this petra (massive rock) I will build my ekklesia (a chosen or called-out assembly). By the way, this is the first of only two times within the New Testament where Christ uses the word ekklesia, which is translated “church”—and it is mentioned as something that will occur in the future. In Acts 2 we find its beginning.
But the important issue is that Jesus Christ purposely changed from the word (petros—a piece of a rock) that He called Peter to the word (petra—a massive or large rock) to refer to the object upon which He would build His church. The words are quite different and definitely mean two different things, as already portrayed. So it is clear that Jesus Christ did not mean that He was going to build His church on Peter.
With this understood, then Christ meant that He was going to build His church either (1) upon Himself or (2) upon the expression of faith in the facts contained within Peter’s confession, i.e., that Jesus Christ is the Christ (Messiah—the Promised and Anointed One), the Son of the living God.”
Frankly, the expression of faith as posed by Peter and the Person of Jesus Christ, in this commentator’s mind, are inseparable. If one is to make a choice though, then a review of the following scriptures will necessitate that Jesus Christ meant that He is the “rock;” and, when making the statement to Peter, He may have even hand-gestured to Himself.
Other Clarifying Scriptures
1 Peter 2:6-8
Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame." Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, "The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone, and a stone of stumbling and a rock [petra] of offense." They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.
Here the Apostle Peter describes Jesus Christ as the petra. A study of the verses preceding this verse (vss 4-7) makes it clear that Peter is speaking of Jesus Christ. So here is Peter’s own testimony as to the identity of the “rock”—Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 10:4
And all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock [petra] that followed them, and that Rock [petra] was Christ.
There is no question that the Apostle Paul is clearly stating that the “rock” is Jesus Christ.
Romans 9:33
As it is written: "Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock [petra] of offense, and whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame."
Again, the Apostle Paul declares that Jesus Christ is the “rock.”
Further study regarding the nature of the petra reveals that it is a an unmovable foundation on which the Church is built (Matthew 7:24 & 25; Luke 6:48), and is what Paul had in mind when in 1 Corinthians 3:11 he said, “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” This foundation, which is Jesus Christ, the petra, is also known as the Chief Cornerstone (or Chief Foundation Stone) of the Christianity (Ephesians 2:20).
And because Jesus Christ is the very Rock upon which the Church is built, the “gates of hades” (a reference to the unseen world of sheol in the Old Testament, which meant “physical death”) will not prevail (have power over or) against it. This was demonstrated in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and will be realized in every believer when his body is changed and physically raised from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:50-55).
Additional Points Regarding the Office of Pope
The Bible (even the Catholic Bible) never mentions the office of Pope. It only mentions the following designated “ministers” of the Gospel and church affairs: Apostles, Elders or Bishops, Deacons, Pastors, Teachers, Prophets and Evangelists. An examination of the following scriptures will establish this fact: Matthew 10:2-4; Luke 6:13-16; Acts 1:21-26; 6:1-6; 10:39-41; 14:23; 20:28; 1 Corinthians 12:28; 2 Corinthians 12:11, 12; Ephesians 3:3-5; 4:11, 12; Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-3.
Peter clearly demonstrated that he was no one special within the Church (Acts 10:25, 26). The word “Pope” originally meant “Father” (Catholic Dictionary, p. 667), and the Bible clearly forbid anyone within the Christian Faith to be called “Father” as a title (Matthew 23:9).
Only One Head of the Church
Jesus alone is the Head of the Church (Ephesians 1:22; 5:22) and alone has authority in heaven and earth (Matthew 28:18). |