Let’s look at some important scriptures for Catholics, Protestants and Orthodox Christians and how they affect us all. Let’s examine Matthew 16.
A Sign
Are we sometimes like the Pharisees, seeking a sign instead of living by faith? Are we looking for conspiracies rather than simply discerning the signs of the times?
The Pharisees and Sadducees came up, and putting Jesus to the test, they asked Him to show them a sign from heaven. But He replied to them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but are you unable to discern the signs of the times? An evil and adulterous generation wants a sign; and so a sign will not be given to it, except the sign of Jonah.” And He left them and went away. (Matthew 16:1-4 NASB)
Is there leaven or yeast that still exists in the teachings of religious leaders?
When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. “Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” They discussed this among themselves and said, “It is because we didn’t bring any bread.” Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? How is it you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. (Matthew 16:5-12 NIV)
The Rock
Is Protestantism legitimate? What are the keys to the kingdom? If true Christians agree on essential matters, why the rivalry? Let’s look at Rome’s exclusive claim in Matthew 16:13-20. Who is Jesus?
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.” (Matthew 16:13-14 NKJV)
Caesarea Philippi, was a city built on a rock for Caesar Augustus. This brutal leader called himself the son of a god. Who is Jesus?
Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. (Matthew 16:15-17 NLT)
Why do men wish to promote human church leadership? When we understand who Jesus is, then are we too rocks of the Rock and receive the keys to the kingdom? Let’s look at a few translations of this controversial verse.
In looking at this verse, we need to ask two important questions. What does the verse say and what does it not say? Does it say anything about Peter being the first pope, or a line of successive popes after him? No, it does not. That’s called eisegesis, reading into a passage something that is simply not there.
I tell you that you are Peter. And I’ll build my church on this rock. The gates of the underworld won’t be able to stand against it. (Matthew 16:18 CEB)
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18 KJV)
And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. (Matthew 16:18 NASB)
Hades is simply the grave, and the church will outlive the death of us all.
Early Church Fathers
How did early church fathers understand this passage?
Origen wrote, “if we too have said like Peter, "Thou art the Christ, … we become a Peter… a rock is every disciple of Christ … and upon every such rock is built every word of the church… all bear the surname of ‘rock’ who are the imitators of Christ…” (Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 9, Book XII, 10)
Roman Catholic Scholar, George Salmon, observed that 44 of 85 early church fathers said the “rock” was Peter’s faith, 16 said it was Christ, and 8 all of the apostles. Only 17 of 85 thought that it was Peter. The greater number of fathers disagree with Rome on this passage.
The pronoun “this” does not agree grammatically with “Peter.” The conversation moves from “you” to “this.” If it meant Peter in Aramaic then, why choose a different meaning in Greek? Peter is not the rock. It is more plausible grammatically, that the rock is Christ or Peter’s confession of faith.
Even if Jesus nicknamed Cephas “Rock,” it would be nothing more than all followers of Christ being named Christian. Nothing declares Peter as the first pope. Nothing in the Bible or early church writings universally supports the dogma of a Roman papacy as the sole Christian authority throughout church history. (Augustine, Retractions. 20.1 and Sermons. vol 6, sermon 229)
Wouldn’t Jesus say, “upon YOU I will build my church”? The word “this” contradicts Roman dogma, directing our attention away from Peter as its intended meaning. What did it point to? Many early church fathers said that “this rock” was Peter’s confession of faith. Others said it was Christ Himself. (Sakr, Johnny. Peter, the Rock & Matthew 16:18: A Grammatical Analysis inc. Response to Tim Staples. Academia.edu)
Rome claims that the conversation was originally in Aramaic. Where is the evidence? People from Galilee commonly spoke several languages. Internal linguistic evidence suggests that Jesus most likely spoke in Greek. Linguistic markers of a translation from Aramaic are absent. Many early church Fathers did not agree with Rome’s interpretation of this. (Sakr, Johnny. Peter, the Rock & Matthew 16:18: A Grammatical Analysis inc. Response to Tim Staples. Academia.edu)
Augustine of Hippo wrote, “Christ is the rock (Petra), Peter is the Christian people. For the rock (Petra) is the original name. Therefore Peter is so called from the rock; not the rock from Peter; as Christ is not called Christ from the Christian, but the Christian from Christ.”
He continued, “Thou art Peter; and upon this Rock” which thou hast confessed, upon this Rock which thou hast acknowledged, saying, ‘...I build My Church;’ that is upon Myself, the Son of the living God, ‘will I build My Church.’ I will build thee upon Myself, not Myself upon thee.” (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Volume VI, Sermon XXVI)
Chrysostom of Constantinople also wrote, “Thou art Peter, and upon this rock will I build my Church;” that is, on the faith of his confession… Peter’s authority … did not continue beyond his grave … “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ [1 Corinthians 3:11]…” (St. Chrysostom: Homilies on the Gospel of Saint Matthew; Saint Chrysostom: Homilies on the Epistles of Paul to the Corinthians)
Jesus most likely used the pagan Greek term “Hades” as a metaphor for the grave. That which overthrows all other societies will not overthrow the church. Many have tried. All failed to destroy the church. Authority was given to Peter AND other Apostles (Matthew 18:18). “Ye” is “you plural.”
Authority over all Christians from China to Britain was historically unrealistic at that time and a matter of practical impossibility. Early church fathers did not interpret this verse as Rome later came to. More logically, wherever the right faith is to be found, there are the keys to the kingdom.
Tertullian believed our faith follows Peter’s. “(Peter) himself, therefore, was the first to unbar, in Christ's baptism, the entrance to the heavenly kingdom…” Any who confess Christ, have the key, “from that time forward, every number (of persons) who may have combined together into this faith is accounted ‘a Church’.” (Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 4, Chapter XXI)
The Keys
What are the keys? To what do they open a door?
And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven. Then he sternly warned the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. (Matthew 16:19 NLT)
Is this divine endorsement of mere human decisions or divine guidance, enabling us to faithfully obey God’s decisions?
The catholic or universal church includes all who are Christians. When the church was once truly catholic, early church fathers had no consensus on Peter’s role. This verse is also silent about Peter being a pope nor does it describe an apostolic succession of popes.
Aren’t we ALL Christians of Christ, rocks of the Rock WHEN we, with Peter, openly declare that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God? Because of our CONFESSION, are we not also then His church, over which the gates of Hades shall not prevail? You decide!
Carrying our Cross
Why do evil people seem to prosper, while good people suffer? Is there any justice? Let’s realize that payday is coming, for good and evil. Let’s discuss carrying our cross in Matthew 16:21-28.
From that time, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up. (Matthew 16:21 WEB)
Jewish Messiahs were traditionally conquering military heroes who saved Israel from enemies. Jesus went totally against that paradigm, prophesying His crucifixion. This seemed to be admitting defeat. Peter’s immediate response was to reprimand Jesus. Yet, in Jesus loss is gain, defeat is victory. The cross transcends all vain human ideals.
Then Peter took hold of Jesus and, scolding him, began to correct him: “God forbid, Lord! This won’t happen to you.” But he turned to Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are a stone that could make me stumble, for you are not thinking God’s thoughts but human thoughts.” (Matthew 16:22-23 CEB)
Satan means “adversary.” The word “behind” is translated in the next verse as “follow” me. Jesus wanted Peter to quit opposing Him, being an adversary, but rather get behind Him and follow Him. When we try to take the lead from Jesus, to be more righteous than Jesus, we are adversaries.
Various translations render this “you think like everyone else and not like God” (CEV), “you are not setting your mind on God’s purposes, but men’s” (NASB), “You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s” (NLT).
Have we expected the Christian life to be one of health and wealth and no suffering? That is a false modern gospel. Life includes suffering. We may want to try and prevent pain. Yet, our good intentions may actually do more harm. Like Peter, we may be benefiting the devil.
Peter went from rock of the Rock to rock of stumbling very quickly indeed. Even worse, he later denied Jesus. Do we sometimes look at God’s plans and cry out, “Lord; this shall not happen!” Are we also tempted to lose faith or cry out to heaven in objection? What would Jesus say?
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24 ESV)
How does this affect the direction of our lives?
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will find it. (Matthew 16:25 HCSB)
Does Jesus ask us to be willing to lose this temporal life, to gain eternal life? Does this mean giving up self-centered ways, taking up the cross of self-sacrifice and following Him?
What will you gain, if you own the whole world but destroy yourself? What would you give to get back your soul? (Matthew 16:26 CEV)
How are we rewarded in eternity?
For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. (Matthew 16:27 KJV)
Did Jesus also predict the transfiguration?
Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom. (Matthew 16:28 NASB)
We have been saved through faith; and this is not of ourselves, it is the gift of God. Our salvation is complete at Christ’s return. Until then we are called to a life of self sacrifice and good deeds and are rewarded accordingly. Have we taken up our cross? You decide!
