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Sunday, March 29, 2026

Peter's Confession & the Rock

Matthew 16:13–20

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...

This passage has caused more ecclesial division than perhaps any other. What is 'the rock'? Who has 'the keys'? On these questions, churches have split and stayed split.

Peter confesses Jesus as Messiah. Jesus responds with a blessing and a new name: Peter (Petros) means 'rock' (petra). There's a pun here that works in Aramaic (Cephas/kepha) and Greek. 'On this rock I will build my church.'

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