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Peter's Declaration

Matthew 16:13-20

Good News Translation (GNT)

13 Jesus went to the territory near the town of
   Caesarea Philippi, where he asked his disciples,
   "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"
14 "Some say John the Baptist," they answered.
   "Others say Elijah, while others say Jeremiah
   or some other prophet."
15 "What about you?" he asked them.
   "Who do you say I am?"
16 Simon Peter answered,
   "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."
17 "Good for you, Simon son of John!" answered Jesus.
    "For this truth did not come to you from any human
    being, but it was given to you directly by my Father
    in heaven.
18 And so I tell you, Peter: you are a rock,
   and on this rock foundation I will build my church,
   and not even death will ever be able to overcome it.
19 I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of heaven;
   what you prohibit on earth will be prohibited in heaven,
   and what you permit on earth will be permitted
   in heaven."
20 Then Jesus ordered his disciples not to tell anyone
    that he was the Messiah.

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Taken from 'word-on-the-web' supplied by
Scripture Union

Peter's Declaration about Jesus

Jesus takes his disciples a full two days' walk from the
Sea of Galilee, off to the far north of Israel, where they
are safely clear of Herod Antipas, before starting the
conversation he knew would lead them to name him
'Messiah'.
This detail helps us grasp the danger of even vocalising
the idea that Jesus was the anointed king.

Peter speaks on behalf of the disciples (and, in a way,
on our behalf too).
Others may have all kinds of ideas about who Jesus is -
a good man, a teacher, a prophet.

But Jesus addresses the question to us, personally.
It is breath-taking to recognise that Jesus is God, come to earth in human form.
So astonishing, it is only the Father who can reveal this
truth to Peter (v 17) - and to us.

King Herod had killed John the Baptist, and his guilty
conscience wondered whether he (John) had come back
to life.
All other options centred on a reincarnation of one of the
revered figures of the nation's religious heritage.

Jesus faced his closest followers with the question of who
they thought he was. Peter came up with an answer which
the most astute human intelligence could not have
perceived on its own.

Using the name he himself had given this disciple, Jesus
now makes a statement that has been variously interpreted through the centuries:
'You are Petros (stone), and on this petra (rock) I will build
my church' (v 18).

Greek wordplay and Jewish metaphor is the key to
interpreting Jesus' reply to Peter (vs 17-19).
In Greek the play between 'Peter' (petros) and 'rock' (petra)
indicates that Peter would play a foundational role in the
formation of Jesus's Church.

Undoubtedly in the book of Acts he takes the lead - prior to
Pentecost.
However, Peter drops out of the Acts narrative once the
initial foundation is laid. In chapter 15 James takes the lead.

He also promised to give him the keys of the kingdom,
with authority to bind and to loose on earth.

Binding and loosing (v 19) is a rabbinic metaphor
describing the authority to declare what is forbidden or
permitted.

The phrase 'the keys of the kingdom' suggests that the
authority Peter receives is to announce the terms of entry
to God's kingdom.

Peter's confession is the gospel in one line.
It anticipates his sermon on the day of Pentecost through
which 3,000 people entered the kingdom of God.

Other versions are available here

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