Matthew 16

Matthew 16:18

“Upon This Rock”

The “Right Division” of This Verse

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“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church…….”

On these words of the Lord Jesus Christ, in His earthly ministry to Israel, the Church of Rome hangs its’ hat. Early on the Catholic Church confused the prophesied [coming] kingdom with the unprophesied Body of Christ church. This error has been carried over into Protestantism.

Many scholars have rightly called Matthew, the “kingdom” book. It introduces the Lord Jesus Christ to Israel as their king – Matthew 2:2.

Our Lord came preaching the gospel of the “kingdom” [Matthew 4:23] as did John the Baptist [Matthew 3:2]. The Lord sent the 12 to proclaim this same gospel [Matthew 10:7ff; Luke 9:6]. This “gospel of the kingdom” included the proclamation that the “kingdom” was “at hand” and insisted upon repentance and water baptism for entrance into this kingdom – [Matthew 3:1-6ff; Mark 1:4; Acts 2:38]. This gospel did not include the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ [Luke 18:31-34; John 20:9].

This sets the background for our study of Matthew 16:18.

In Matthew 16:13 the Lord Jesus Christ is identified with the title “Son of Man.” This title of the Lord is found in some 93 verses from Matthew 1:1 to Acts 28:31. Significantly, it is not found one time in Paul’s writings from Romans to Philemon. Thus, we can safely conclude that the title “Son of Man” identifies the Lord Jesus Christ in His relationship to Israel, not the Body of Christ Church.

Who is the “Rock?” Is it Peter? Is it Peter’s ‘confession?’ The word “Rock” is used over 100 times in the Bible. In the Old Testament the Lord is the “Rock” [2 Sam. 22:32,47] and Paul, in the New Testament, tells us that the “Rock” is the Lord Jesus Christ [1 Cor. 10:4].

After telling Peter that He is going to “build My church” the Lord Jesus Christ gives Peter the “keys of the kingdom” [not the “keys” of the church]. Keys in Scripture denote authority. The 12 will use this authority in the coming kingdom and Peter used these “keys” of authority in early Acts in binding and loosing [Matthew 19:28; Acts 5:1-12].

The word “church” is first used in the Bible in verse 18. Is this the Body of Christ “church” or some other “church?” The Greek word is ‘ekklesia’ and is translated “church” in most instances in Scripture. There are exceptions – Acts 19:32 “assembly” and verses 39 & 41 “assembly.” - Does it always mean the “Body of Christ?” No! Israel in the wilderness is called a “church” in Acts 7:38. Paul mentions a “church” to the Hebrews when he quotes Psalm 22:24 he changes the word “congregation” to “church” in Hebrews 2:12. Remember now, Paul is writing to the “Hebrews.”

So, because the word “church” is found in verse 18 doesn’t mean that the church is the Body of Christ. When our Lord spoke these words to Peter, He was still a “minister to the circumcision” [Israel – Romans 15:8]. The Law was still active [Galatians 4:4]. And the Body of Christ church was yet to be revealed to Paul.

The Body of Christ church is not in view in Matthew 16:18. The coming “Messianic Kingdom” church is.

Remember, Israel’s hope and calling is earthly while the hope and calling of the Body of Christ is heavenly.

Peter wasn’t given the burden of revealing the Body of Christ church. That is man’s [Roman Catholicism] vain tradition. The revelation of the “mystery” was given to Paul by the exalted, risen Lord Jesus Christ [Romans 16:25; Ephesians 3:1-9; Colossians 1:25-27].