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 wordplay. 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 that refers to an assembly or gathering of people, especially for legal purposes (see Acts 19:39–41). The church is like an embassy. Similarly, the church of the Lord Jesus is to adopt the agenda of its heavenly King and enact it on earth.

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 or post articles that glorify God. I invite you to view this post as a Bible study. Like the Bereans in Acts 17:11, I encourage you to search the Scriptures to determine whether what I have posted is true. Always consult your church ministers regarding biblical matters. I am not a professional writer, so there may be grammatical or spelling errors. I strive to write as clearly and efficiently as possible. My prayer is that this message will inspire you to seek the Lord with all your heart and bring glory to His Holy name. Your brother in Christ, Ricardo.

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