Peter and the Keys

Matthew 16:13. When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"
14. They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
15. "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
16. Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
17. Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.
18. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
19. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
20. Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.

Did Jesus start the institution of Church, or was Jesus responding to Peter’s faith?

Let’s break this passage down.

Verse 1:
Jesus has just finished feeding the 4000 in chapter 15. Then in the beginning of chapter 16 the Pharisees and Sadducees ask Jesus for a sign…. Isn’t that a bit funny. Here Jesus just did a miracle, and religious leaders want a “sign”?

They are still questioning who He is. They were so wicked they could not see the sign before them. Jesus warns His disciples against the yeast of the Pharisees. That they must guard their hearts against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Now with that we enter the passage above.

Jesus then asks who the Son of Man is…. They reply what others say He was…. interesting how even now we look to what others say. We are quick to trust others word and not seek and see what God reveals in our own heart.

They respond with, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."

I think Jesus just smiled and then asked,” But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Jesus is much more interested in our heart than what we think others “think”.
He wants us to be responsible for ourselves. Remember Adam in the garden? Instead of accepting responsibility for his actions he said, “that woman you gave me… she did it.”
We are accountable for our own hearts, not others.

Simon of course is the first to chime in with, “16. Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Jesus blesses him. Why? Because Peter had tapped into something…. The Father in Heaven. Peter had opened his heart to the Father though Jesus.

Jesus then goes on in verse 18. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

Let’s break this down as this is the verse many teach that the church is an instutution…. I already mentioned how the church is not an institution in another post. You can read it here.

First off Jesus does seem to have renamed Simon to Peter. Peter of course means “rock”. I like to think of Peter being a bit like Rocky Balboa. So, Jesus was calling Simon His Rocky. The one of solid rock like faith.

Now how do I get “faith” out of this statement?

First, it was the Father who revealed who Jesus was… to have the Father reveal anything to anyone, takes faith.
Second, if one looks at the literal translation, it reads more like this.

18. 2504 I also 1161 And 4671 to you 3004 say, 3754 - 4771 You 1487 are 4074 Peter, 2532 and 1909 upon 5026 this 4073 bedrock 9999 {statement} 3618 I will build 3450 of me 3588 the 1577 community 2532 and 9999 {the} 4439 gates 0086 of Hades 3756 not 2729 will prevail against 0846 her.

Reorganized a bit it reads like this:
And I also say to you, you are Peter, and upon this bedrock (statement) I will build the community of me, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against her.

I think one can now see a couple of things here.

It is on Peter’s statement, which is the foundation. The statement of faith revealed by the Father that Jesus would build His community. The gates of Hades, or Hell will not prevail against Jesus’ community of faith.

I see nowhere this is an institution. I see a relational community of believers united in Faith.

Now in verse 19. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

Here is does seem that the keys of the kingdom of heaven are being given to Peter. This key is the relational faith that Peter has acknowledged. For Peter is now commissioned to share the gospel with the Jews. Peter’s faith in Christ Jesus opened the heavens. Whatever Peter did in this new found faith, would be the things already done in the heavens by the Father… I know some say that Peter was given authority, in a way, but more his decision were now based on his relationship with the Father.

This was not as some teach just authority that whatever Peter’s decisions where, they were already done in heaven. I think this is a bit backwards, especially as Peter was often on the wrong side until the Father revealed things to him of how things where in heaven.
Remember the sheet lowered down from heaven and how Peter argued against eating the “unclean animals” in Acts? Peter fought God as He revealed the truth. Peter finally caught on and then went and taught the truth to the Jews. This was only because of his relationship in faith with the Father through Jesus

To say Peter was now somehow made some perfect mouthpiece or given some type of super ordained knowledge at this point of the Keys given to him is a bit of a stretch. Also, though this word “you” is singular, it seems that he is speaking to more than just Peter for the next statement is to all the disciples to not let anyone know Who He is.


I think it is safe to say that though there is some authority teaching in this passage, it is only because of the relational aspects. Without this relational revelation, Peter would not have revealed his faith. I think also an interesting thing about this passage is that the Father must reveal who Jesus is. He must give revelation, and as he does we must choose.

To me that is the most important part, the choice.
If you are unsure Who Jesus is, pray that God will reveal Who Jesus is to you.

Blessings,
iggy