1.
a. Matthew
16:15-19. Jesus held an interesting
conversation with His disciples after going a ‘round’ with the Pharisees and
Sadducees. He asks them: “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They
tossed out a couple of names, then Simon Peter says: “You are the Messiah, the
Son of the Living God.” Then Jesus says to Simon Peter: “Blessed are you, Simon
son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you but my Father in
heaven has. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my
church and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the
keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in
heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Many
readers of this passage believe that Jesus was anointing Peter to be head of
the church, and the Roman Catholics also say that Peter was the first Pope. What
message was Jesus giving His disciples at that time, and throughout
the millennia?
b. By
the power of the Holy Spirit, Simon Peter writes to the elect in Christ the
message in 1 Peter 2,
beginning at verse 2 through 10 (this was part of a recent lesson preached
on at a Sunday worship service). What is being conveyed in this passage about our identity
as Christians – which Jesus was implying in His words recorded at Matthew
16:15-19?
a. This
is one of those hard passages that, when read at face value in the English
language, appears to be saying that Jesus was anointing Peter to be head of the
Church! If that was true, then Jesus
would be contradicting the Holy Spirit who said in other places, including
verses in Ephesians 5, verses in John’s Gospel, chapter 3, at Colossians
1:15-20, 24, in Revelation, and implied elsewhere that Jesus is the head of the
Church. Let’s turn to Colossians 1:15-20,24.
Jesus is the Head of the Church. So what is Jesus saying in Matthew 16,
then?
It is helpful again to return to the original language of this passage (Koine Greek). Jesus
blesses Peter as He refers to him as Simon Bariona/Simon son of Jonah. He adds, "Because
flesh and blood did not reveal this" mystery to you but My Father in heaven did.
So Peter, God spoke to you and gave you this revelation – what a blessing!! You
are Petros/Peter, and on this petra/rock – this understanding that I, Jesus, Am
the Messiah, the Son of Man, long foretold, as in centuries gone by, and it is
on this Rock – this Foundation – will My Kingdom be built. You will be given authority in this Kingdom
(represented by the keys), Peter, as will those who will be anointed with you
for that purpose, to, through the Holy Spirit,
bind and loosen, to be My Kingdom Ambassador here on earth. So in this
promise, Jesus has given Peter a "2-fer," (1) awareness of the blessing just now
bestowed upon him, and (2) the further revelation that in His, Christ’s kingdom
Petros/Peter will be given certain authorities. For example, look who Christ
appoints to reveal the kingdom and who identifies the Holy Spirit anointing at
Pentecost! There would be further revelations given to Peter about his role in
God’s kingdom; he would share responsibilities with other apostles.
This corresponds to Ephesians 2:20 – let’s read that. Jesus is the foretold
chief cornerstone of the Church - the Rock. Does anyone know the purpose of a cornerstone or foundation stone?
Now let’s turn to 1 Peter 2:2-10 to further capture the full meaning. Remember, this is Peter, the apostle that the Roman Catholic Church mislabels, wrongly identifies, as the Head of the Church, who is writing under the guidance of the Holy Spirit the explanation of Matthew 16:15-19.
According to what the Holy Spirit says here, how does Peter describe The Rock, Jesus Christ? (vss. 4, 6-8) Why "living stone"?
Who are the other living stones? What happens to them? (v. 5) How is it built?
What does it mean to be a royal priesthood? (v. 5,9)
How does that understanding affect
how you look at your calling to be a disciple of Christ?
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