Peter's revelation?

Matthew 16:16
And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

A lot of times we take this verse to mean one of two things: either Jesus is the rock on which the church will be built, or Peter is the rock on which the church will be built. While I can see the case for either of these arguments, I don’t think I agree with them.

While I believe that Jesus is the Chief Cornerstone (Psalm 118:22), in this particular verse He isn’t referring to Himself and He isn’t making a pun with Peter’s name. Scripture must be interpreted contextually. In the context of this little conversation between Christ and Peter, rocks are not the subject! Peter is not the subject. Oddly enough, Jesus Himself, that is, the person Christ, is not the subject either. (Remember that we’re talking about the foundation of the church, not the Deity of Christ or His role in the Church. Jesus is the Head of the Church; He is God, and He is Salvation.)

Initially the subject of this conversation was who people say Jesus is. Then the subject became who the disciples say Jesus is. Finally, the subject became who Peter said Jesus is. When Peter responded, “You are the Christ; the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16), Jesus seized the moment.

He first recognized that only God could give such a revelation to a human. This understanding of who Jesus is can’t be revealed by the teachings of man, the works of man, or the earthly knowledge of man. God and God alone is the one to reveal Himself! Christ acknowledges Peter calling Him by his given name, Simon Bar-Jonah (which means “heard of the dove or Holy Spirit”), then by His new name Peter (which means “rock”).

This is where the confusion begins because suddenly it’s believed that the subject has changed to Peter, but it hasn’t. The subject is still what Peter said about Jesus! Jesus says “and on this rock” and it’s those words that get people confused. Because Peter’s name means rock it is assumed that Jesus is talking about him, but a look into the language used reveals something completely different.

Jesus calls Peter Petros, a name (Strong’s 4074), but the word rock that He used was petra, a literal rock or, metaphorically, a strength of soul or confession (Strong’s 4073). The “rock” on which Jesus will build His church is the confession of who He is. It’s not Peter! The “rock” by which the gates of hell will not prevail is the confession of who Jesus is. The “rock” that gives us, mankind, the keys to Heaven is the confession of who Jesus is!

Romans 10:8-9 tells us that it is the confession of who Jesus is that brings us to salvation. This confession on the part of Peter is what gave him salvation, even after he betrayed Christ three times! This confession is what will save you as well!