On this Rock: A Meditation on Matthew 16

When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, 

he asked his disciples, saying, 

Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: 

some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

And Simon Peter answered and said, 

Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

And Jesus answered and said unto him, 

Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona:

 for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, 

but my Father which is in heaven.

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.

And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: 

and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: 

and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Few passages of Scripture have given the Church more fits and controversy over the centuries than this text.  Used as a proof-text, taken alone and apart from the rest of Matthew’s Gospel, the New Testament, or the canon of Scripture as a whole, it can seem to offer up several controversies, not least of which is the role that St. Peter would play among the Apostles, and by extension throughout the history of the Church.  On one side of this controversy, Roman Catholic theologians have used it to claim power and authority (both ecclesiastical and political) over the entire Christian world— a innovation of doctrine which began several centuries after the death of St. Peter, and which eventually caused the Great Schism between Rome and the Eastern Patriarchs in 1054, then later the western Reformation of the 16th century.  This political application of Jesus’ Word toward power and coercion has brought over a thousand years of conflict, schism, division, bitter polemics, and generational feuds sometimes emerging as open war.

Of course, reading this text together with the rest of St. Matthew’s Gospel and the other three Evangelists, it is plain that Jesus intended no such application of His Word.  Church Fathers such as St. John Chrysostom of the late 4th century, bishop of Constantinople who died a persecuted martyr, revered by the Church both East and West as a universal doctor (teacher) and one of the greatest preachers who ever lived, wrote of this text in his homilies on Matthew that while Peter was indeed a receiver of great blessings, a leader of the Apostolic choir, and sent as a witness to the west with the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, the power given to Peter and every other Apostle with their successors was founded on their faithful confession of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God.  Specifically not contained in this text is any mention of an earthly political structure, or the intrigues of bureaucrats angling for the control of money and power.  Nowhere does Jesus tell His disciples to establish an earthly kingdom through which every bishop, priest, deacon, or layperson must swear fealty from every corner of the globe, nor for kings of every nation to seek confirmation of their political rule through the successor of St. Peter.  The Keys promised to Peter in Matthew 16 are the same which are given to the rest of the Apostles after Jesus’ resurrection (recorded clearly in John 20), came with the same commands and promises attendant with abiding in Jesus’ Word by grace through faith in Him, and are carried by all those who have succeeded the Apostles as the Church has ordained them through every age and place.

Together with St. Peter and his successors, every legitimate pastor who has received faith in Christ through His Word, and who by the Church has been sent into the world to carry that Word as a witness and living icon of Jesus, carries the Keys of forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation to every sick and dying sinner, that just as Jesus breathed out His healing and saving Word among His disciples, so too He would breath it out forever through His servants who continue to abide in Him.  Nowhere is there a sign of contention or prestige among the Apostles, but rather a Spirit of common fellowship in the same Savior, whose same Word was life and hope to all who would repent and believe in Him.  Far from what His sinful people would at times try later to contrive for the sake of their own opulence, the gifts and calling of Jesus founded on His living Word, secured for them through His divine authority and by His sacrifice for the world upon His Cross, forever and continually given to them by the power of His Holy Spirit working through His Law and Gospel, was a trove of riches beyond earthly imagining.  This gift of pure grace was reconciliation with God the Father through the Crucified and Risen Son in the communion of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever— a gift of life which transcends death, and a peace which knows no fear in this world or the next.  It is a gift of faith, hope, and love which flows forth from God’s love and forgiveness to the world, calling everyone everywhere to turn from the paths of death and hell, and walk with Him in the path of light and life.

While political kingdoms either secular or religious will always be susceptible to the overthrow of wicked and manipulative men, the Word of God which works faith, conversion, and eternal life is immune from such human or demonic contrivance.  There is no army which can stomp out the forgiving love of God, no terrorist blade or flame which can abolish it.  There is no intrigue of any city or time or place which can crush it, nor any prison cell which can contain it.  And beyond even the crass tools of wicked men, there is no force of hell strong enough to withstand it, no demonic horde which can abide it.  The devil and Hell itself is plundered of its spoil of souls, as the Word of Christ binds the evil one, and breathes eternal life and forgiveness to everyone who will hear and believe in Him.  Jesus’ Kingdom, founded and built by Him upon His Word, multiplied in every generation by the living stones who believe, confess, and live in Him, is an eternal Kingdom which knows no end, and suffers no defeat.  

This eternal Kingdom of Jesus Christ is open to you this day, as His Word comes to you, calling you to repentance and faith in Him.  He has sent His servants forth with His Keys to absolve the sins of those who repent in faith, while also declaring to those who refuse to repent and believe that they are still bound in their deadly sins.  Hear the Word of Christ as He comes to you, calling you into His eternal Kingdom, that you might never need fear the scourges of sin, death, or hell forever more.  Allow the Word of Christ to craft you into a living stone of witness to Him and His saving love for the world, and be built into His Kingdom which has no end.  Amen.