Matthew 16:15-16
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Application: 

There was much speculation among the crowds about Jesus. Like Herod Antipas (14:1–2), some thought he was John the Baptist back from the dead—or one of the Old Testament prophets (16:14). But after his disciples relayed all the gossip concerning Jesus, he got to his real question: Who do you say that I am? (16:15). The “you” here is plural, so the question was addressed to the entire group.

Simon Peter quickly and correctly answered: You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God (16:16). Jesus affirmed this great confession of faith by praising God the Father for revealing this truth to Peter and blessing him (16:17). That opened the door for an announcement from Jesus—something so awesome that hell itself can’t overpower it: the church (16:18). No matter how much Satan attacks, the church will win, and hell will not prevail. The church’s offensive movement, exercising kingdom authority, surpasses hell’s efforts to stop it.

But how would Jesus accomplish his building program? Since Peter confessed Jesus as the Christ, Jesus used his name in a word play. In Greek, Peter’s name is petros, which means “stone.” But when Jesus said, “On this rock I will build my church” (16:18), he used the Greek word petra, which is a collection of rocks fused together to form a larger slab. Jesus’s church, then, would be made up of his unified followers who confess him as the Christ, the Son of the living God, as Peter did.

The Greek word for “church” is ekklēsia, a term used to refer to an assembly or gathering of people, especially for legal purposes (see Acts 19:39–41).

Reference:  Tony Evans, The Tony Evans Bible Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2019), 893-894.

To God be the glory!

Our Lord Jesus Christ created everything! By Him, For Him!

“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26

Disclaimer

When God inspires me, I write blogs. Consider this writing as a Bible study. Like the Bereans in Acts 17:11, search the Scriptures to determine whether what I write is so. Always consult with your church ministers about biblical matters. I am also not a professional writer, so some grammar or spelling errors may be present. I try my best to write as efficiently as possible. Your brother in Christ, Ricardo

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My book, “Battle Strategy: God’s Plan Amid Chaos.” It’s packed with helpful insights into Bible study and understanding. You can get a free digital version on my website. Fifty percent of the proceeds from this book go to helping children. The book covers the main biblical points and salvation, so you’ll find something valuable. 

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