Matthew 16:17-20

Matthew 16:17-20

And after Jesus answered He said to him, “You are blessed, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you but rather my Father who is in heaven.  And I say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not prevail over it.  I will give to you the keys to the kingdom of heaven.  And that which you should bind upon the earth will be having been bound in heaven.  And that which you should unbind will be having been unbound in heaven.  Then He commanded the disciples in order that they should tell nobody that He is the Christ.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Let’s look at Jesus’ response to Simon’s proclamation.  Jesus calls Simon blessed.  But look at the reason.  Simon isn’t blessed because He answered the question correctly.  Peter isn’t praised because he’s smart and he’s figured it out.  Peter is blessed because the Father has worked through him and Simon has allowed himself to be an instrument in God’s hands.  Jesus doesn’t praise Peter’s logic, ability to reason, or his skill at drawing conclusions.  Jesus praises that the Father spoke to Peter and Peter listened!  Jesus is praising Peter’s ability to follow the Father’s lead!

Do you see how Peter’s submission is what Jesus is praising here?  Why is it important to see that submission to the Father leads to praise?

Second Thought:

Let’s talk about the rock upon which Peter builds the church.  Jesus says, “Upon this rock I will build my church.”  Jesus doesn’t say “upon you” or “upon him.”  Jesus is speaking about the truth that Peter has declared.  The foundation of Christ’s church is not Peter but the words that came from the Father!  If you think about it, this should make much more sense than the perspective that Jesus is building the church upon Peter.  The foundation of the church is that Jesus is God’s Messiah.  The foundation of the church is that Christ came to finish God’s work.  This is that which we are called to come and submit.

What is your foundation?  What is the truth upon which your life is built?  Is Christ your Messiah?

Third Thought:

Now we turn to the keys.  There are many interpretations of this passage.  I personally believe to take the word key quite literally.  Keys are used to open things that are formerly unopened.  Keys open doors.  Keys open vaults.  So Jesus turns to Peter and says, “I give you the keys to the kingdom.  Whatever you should bind has remained bound and whatever you should unbind is having been unbound.”  Think about what Peter does in Acts.  Peter preaches to the Jews.  Then, after Philip does ministry among the Samaritans, Peter and John go and give the Holy Spirit to the Samaritans.  Peter is also present when the first Gentile is observed to have the Holy Spirit.  In other words, Peter is the one who symbolically is opening the door!  Peter is there as the Gospel spreads out from Judaism into the Samaritans and then into the whole world.  Jesus is not talking about church doctrine and dogma here – the last thing we need is another Law for humanity to hold people to.  Jesus is talking about the path of opening up the door to heaven in people’s lives.  And isn’t that what we are each supposed to be about?

What keys has Christ given to you?  Whose lives can you speak into and open up heaven within their being?

Passage for Tomorrow: Matthew 16:21-23