Looking Ahead: Peter and the Rock
I once visited Rome and stood in the very room next to the Sistine Chapel that was the Pope’s office during the Reformation. I saw an old chair next to the wall, so I sat down, closed my eyes and thought about the wooden desk standing across the room.
Looking Ahead
I wondered about the conversations and decisions made in that place, resulting in the persecution of so many faithful and innocent women, men and children – those cruel decisions made only because of these two verses (Matthew 16:18-19) in the Bible. And that leads us to the first of three very important topics covered this week in our lesson – topics that should be understood by all Seventh-day Adventists.
Authority
Of all the texts in the New Testament, perhaps Matthew 16:18-19 are the most abused and misunderstood when people claim that Peter is the rock on which Jesus builds His kingdom and to him will be given the keys to that kingdom.
But those who argue for the authority of Peter and the passing of the keys to the kingdom miss several points:
1) Immediately after the passage deemed to hand the keys of the Kingdom to Peter, Christ addresses Peter as an agent of Satan. (Matthew 16:23)
2) Matthew 18:18-20 Jesus tells us the importance of any two or more people coming together and making decisions, and not just one person, and that Jesus will be there with them.
3) Revelation 21:14 describes the city of heavenly Jerusalem with twelve foundations (not one called “Peter”) named after all twelve of the disciples.
An important milestone was reached in 533 A.D. when Emperor Justinian proclaimed that all affairs of the church shall be referred to the pope as “head of all bishops, and the true and effective corrector of heretics.” This proclamation ended many of the arguments regarding the authority of the Bishop of Rome, and officially endorsed the principle of hierarchy in the church.
Prosperity
The words of Jesus in Matthew 16:24 refute the modern day preachers that teach prosperity and how every faithful believer will be wealthy. Jesus makes it clear that as we love God with ALL our hearts, we will seek spiritual things and not things of this world. This is a large issue today because so many are deceived in this direction. Jesus made it clear that His people would suffer, and as we look back on history, we can see how true it has been. Christians are being persecuted today, not because their faith is weak, but because they are faithful, not because their prayers for deliverance are not being answered, but because of the Great Controversy. As they pray for freedom, the Holy Spirit prepares them for suffering for Jesus’ sake. We don’t understand all of the details but we know the blood of martyrs is seed for spreading the Gospel.
Transfiguration
I love to read and think about the transfiguration of Christ, because it’s one of the most exciting stories in the Bible, when the Father provides encouragement for Jesus by bringing Moses and Elijah to Him for a conversation. And the climax of the event is when the Father speaks and scolds the stubborn disciples who refuse to listen to the words of Jesus when He tries to tell them of His future death and resurrection. The Father ends His statement by saying, “Hear ye Him.” (see Matthew 17:5) Oh, what a glorious few minutes that must have been!
May our church be revived by this important lesson study.
Join me this week in praying more and more. Let us draw closer to the Father and Jesus and let the words of Matthew stir our souls.
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This calls for christians today to embrace our selves with sound doctrines and the strength to take as through these times when authority will be abused by human beings as if it was from God. Also for the trying times that will test or faith in this ever changing materialistic world.
A discussion on historical beliefs of Matt 16:18 at this time seemed somewhat less important than the memory verse.Matt.16:13-17. Mark8:27,28,29. Peter seemed to have the right answer. Jesus wanted conformation that the accusations of the scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees were false, Matt.16:4,6. Knowing the story of Elijah being transported to heaven must certainly be one of the reasons that he would be mistaken for tradition rather than Jesus. Matt. 16:18 continues.
The sublime passages were prepared and inspired by the purest, holy LOVE to prepare us for a glorious holy fight in regard to the great controversy. It is right to know why we are in this war and our Commander in chief did just that even before we knew that were at war against subtle enemy. So our commander is saying: know your enemy in and out before engaging him for he is so artiful.
May the LORD bless us with His Spirit to lead and guide us to fully comprehend His will, way, and truth.
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With End Times without a doubt upon us, I had an epiphany myself through the inspiration of Christ. Mine was of the grammatical persuasion when noticing the dialogue between Jesus and Peter. Here we sinply have Jesus referring to rock, as in third rock from the sun as many now recognize in reference to Earth. Had Jesus been refering to Peter, he would have said and none shall overtake THEE. He didn't however and used it, which refers to an object. Had he been describing Peter, he would have used thee or you. Thee was used Biblically when referring to a person.
I would have never at all believed that as Jesus was preparing them for many years to come that he would have made such statements to cause a potential conflict down the road. He was not and is not the author of confusiob. That is just one portion that has been disected by the RCC to lend a hand to the false peofit. These that claim Christ yet do not have or study for facts must be continually prayed for because they're being led astray.
That's interesting about about the rock being the earth, Judy. I always understood that Jesus Himself was the rock.
That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." The word Peter signifies a stone,--a rolling stone. Peter was not the rock upon which the church was founded. The gates of hell did prevail against him when he denied his Lord with cursing and swearing. The church was built upon One against whom the gates of hell could not prevail.
Centuries before the Saviour's advent Moses had pointed to the Rock of Israel's salvation. The psalmist had sung of "the Rock of my strength." Isaiah had written, "Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation." Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 62:7; Isaiah 28:16. Peter himself, writing by inspiration, applies this prophecy to Jesus. He says, "If ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious: unto whom coming, a living stone, rejected indeed of men, but with God elect, precious, ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house." 1 Peter 2:3-5, R. V. -Ellen White, Desire of Ages, Page 413
I find it puzzling that our heavenly father knew how much confusion will come out of certain texts, and still decided to leave them in the scriptures. This is just one of them which I wish was not allowed to be recorded the way it was!
Like you said Gerald, it lead to the persecution and death of many true Christians just because power was erroneously given to one fallen human being to oversee the lives of other fallen human beings! 2 Timothy 3v16 however says "All scripture is God- breathed....", and people deliberately refuse to compare one scripture with another to get the correct understanding. I will ask my father in "the by and by " why this was allowed?
It does seem counter productive and the only reason I find in Scripture is found in 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 "The coming of the [Antichrist, the lawless] one is through the activity of Satan, [attended] with great power [all kinds of counterfeit miracles] and [deceptive] signs and false wonders [all of them lies], and by unlimited seduction to evil and with all the deception of wickedness for those who are perishing, because they did not welcome the love of the truth [of the gospel] so as to be saved [they were spiritually blind, and rejected the truth that would have saved them]. Because of this God will send upon them a misleading influence, [an activity of error and deception] so they will believe the lie, in order that all may be judged and condemned who did not believe the truth [about their sin, and the need for salvation through Christ], but instead took pleasure in unrighteousness." Amplified Bible
The false interpretation of the Matthew text has become a slippery slope leading to the point where the Roman Catholic church is on the verge of declaring Mary to be Co-Redemptrix!
Yes Gerald, like handing them more rope to entangle themselves more and more! But we thank God that it is not the end of the matter. Our God who knows the intent of every heart will judge in righteousness and it will be soon. Stay blessed.