What did Jesus say to Peter?
Matthew 16:18 – And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter {petros}, and upon this rock {petra} I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Remark: “Petros” refers to a small stone or fragment (as seen in John 1:42, where it is translated as “stone”), while “petra” denotes a large, immovable rock or bedrock (as in Matthew 7:24–25). Jesus’ statement may be a deliberate play on words, indicating that while Peter is a stone, Jesus himself is the foundational rock of the church.
What was Jesus talking about in context?
Matthew 16:13-20 – 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. Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
Remark: The focus of the conversation was Jesus being the Christ, the Son of the living God. The discussion was not about Peter, but about Jesus. Therefore, when Jesus says “and on this rock,” he is referring to himself, as the subject of the conversation is his identity as the Messiah.
Jesus as the rock
Is the concept that Jesus is the foundational rock new?
Psalm 18:1-2, 31, 46 – I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. / [31] For who is God save the Lord? or who is a rock save our God? / [46] The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.
Exodus 17:5-6 – And the Lord said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go. Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
1 Corinthians 10:4 – And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
Can there be any other foundation other than Jesus Christ?
1 Corinthians 3:11 – For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Is Peter not the next in line after Christ as the main apostle?
Ephesians 2:20 – And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone …
Remark: On top of Christ as the only true foundation, there is another foundational layer: the apostles and prophets. Peter is not a uniquely exalted founder of the church but one among many chosen by God to build upon Christ. This verse does not contradict Jesus being the foundation, as it can be understood that the apostles and prophets form a secondary foundation laid upon the primary one—Christ.
What did Peter himself later write about the rock?
1 Peter 2:4-8 – To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
Remark: Peter states that Jesus is the “chief corner stone” upon which the church—the spiritual house—is built. Jesus is depicted as the primary stone, with other stones—the church members—being built upon Him. Peter clearly recognized that he himself was not the foundational rock.
Why did Peter and Paul use the concept of a rejected “corner stone”?
Isaiah 28:16 – Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
Psalm 118:22 – The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
Matthew 21:42 – Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
Remark: See also Acts 4:11.
Peter’s position
If Jesus is the rock, then why does Peter get the authority to “bind” and “loose” things?
Matthew 16:18-20 – 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. Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
Remark: While in verse 18 Jesus addresses Peter with a wordplay on “stone,” in verse 20 he speaks to all his disciples. This suggests that it is not entirely clear whether Jesus was speaking exclusively to Peter or to him along with the other disciples. The following passage supports this broader interpretation.
Matthew 18:18 – Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Remark: Jesus uses nearly the same expression about binding and loosing in Matthew 18:18 when addressing all the disciples. This indicates that Peter did not hold a higher status than the others in this regard. The context of Matthew 18 points to a specific authority within the church to apply disciplinary measures to members whose conduct violates moral or social principles. The only distinction between Jesus addressing Peter in Matthew 16 and the disciples in Matthew 18 is the mention of the “keys to the kingdom of heaven.”
What did Jesus mean with the “key to the kingdom of heaven”?
Matthew 16:18-20 – 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.
Revelation 1:18 – I {Jesus} am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Revelation 3:7 – And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth …
Isaiah 22:22 – And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.
Remark: Jesus is ultimately the one who holds the authority symbolized by the key. So how should we understand Jesus giving Peter the “keys of the kingdom of heaven”? It cannot mean that Peter became the pope or head of the church, as that idea is not supported by Scripture. Rather, it can be understood that the one who uses a key is typically the first to open the door and allow others in. Notably, Peter was the first apostle to initiate the evangelization of the Jews in Acts 2 and the Gentiles in Acts 10. In this sense, Peter served as the “door-opening” apostle, symbolically inviting those in the world who believe into the Christian church and the kingdom of heaven.
Would Peter make for a good foundational rock for the church?
Read Luke 22:31-34, 54-62
Recommended article: From Denial to Devotion – How Jesus Restores the Fallen
Remark: As the Bible verses above confirm, Jesus grants Peter authority within the church, but Peter was by no means qualified to be the sole foundation of it. Among all the disciples, he appeared to be the most humbled, having fallen the lowest when he denied Jesus. Furthermore, it is important to examine how his authority is actually described by the Bible.
Which authority did Peter have in the church?
Acts 15:2, 4-7, 12-13, 19, 22-23 – When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. / [4] And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. / [12] Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me … / [19] Wherefore my {James’} sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God … / [22] Then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas, chief men among the brethren: And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.
Remark: Peter appears to be one of the decision-makers, not the only one and not possessing ultimate authority. The decision-making process also involved former Pharisees, Paul and Barnabas, and notably James. Peter was simply one among the apostles and elders who deliberated together. In fact, it was James who spoke last and whose judgment seemed to carry the final word.
What else do we know of Peter’s standing in the church?
Galatians 2:11-14 – But when Peter was come to Antioch, I {Paul} withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
Remark: Peter, like all of us, had his weaknesses—not only denying Jesus before the crucifixion. More importantly, this passage shows that Peter did not possess ultimate authority. As seen earlier, the apostles and elders shared authority equally within the church. If anyone appeared more authoritative, it was Paul, who publicly rebuked Peter. Yet even Paul did not claim superiority, calling himself “the least of all the apostles” (1 Corinthians 15:9). Despite the rebuke, Paul still respected Peter as the “apostle to the Jews” (Galatians 2:7–9) and acknowledged him as a “brother of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 9:5). The biblical picture is clear: Peter was not the sole leader or first pope; authority was shared among the apostles and elders, and was based on the merits, teachings and guidance of Christ himself.
