What did Jesus mean, "on this rock"?

Question

Jesus said, "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church." What did Jesus mean by "rock"?

Answer 1

The name Peter means "rock." In that passage from Matthew 16, Jesus did not mean that Peter would be the first of a succession of popes.

For the answer, we look to Peter's writing. In 1 Peter 2:5 he refers to believers as "living stones" that are being built up into "a spiritual house, a holy priesthood."

Jesus called Peter, not the most important living stone, but the FIRST, as Peter had just professed that Jesus was "the Christ, the Son of the living God." Peter had just made his declaration of faith by which he was saved. The Cornerstone of that house is, of course, Jesus.

Answer 2

If you read Matthew 16:13-18, you will see that "the rock" is the truth that Jesus is Christ. In short, Christ is the Rock. Also look at what Peter later wrote in 1 Peter 2:4-8.

Answer 3

Peter means Rock. Jesus was appointing Peter as the head of his church.

Answer 4

Matthew 16:18 - 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.

Notice there is a comma after Peter. That indicates a pause because Jesus is addressing Peter. What is he addressing him about? The rock! You are Peter and you will build the church upon the Me! In order to understand what Jesus is saying to Peter you have to begin in the thirteenth verse of the sixteenth chapter of Matthew. Peter has recognized Jesus for who he is. Jesus was the corner stone that the builders had rejected. He was the Messiah that Daniel had prophesied about! Jesus was the head stone in the foundation.

Mark 12:10 - And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:

On the day of Pentecost who stood up and was in charge? It was Peter! What we have to realize is that Jesus is the head rock or corner stone that we build our salvation on, but Peter was one of the eldest apostles and even though he had wavered and denied Christ three times, he knew his weakness and turned it into a strength. Jesus was telling Peter I am the rock and you will be in charge of building the church in Jesus name! That's why he stood without fear, that's why he and John were able to raise the lame man in Solomon's court! Because there power came from the name of Jesus, who is, was, and will always be the rock of all ages!

Answer 5

The rock Jesus mentioned is the confession of Peter. Not Peter himself.

Peter's name in the Greek is Petros, (Pronounced pet'-ros) Strong's Ref. # 4074. It is a primary word; a (piece of) rock; as a name, Petrus, an apostle.

The "rock" that Jesus said He was building His church upon is the Greek word Petra, (Pronounced pet'-ra) Strong's Ref. # 4073. It is the feminine of the same as GSN4074; a (mass of) rock (literally or figuratively).

Had Jesus been referring to the Apostle Peter, Jesus would not have said "Petra," but rather, "Petros." Therefore, it is the confession Peter made to Jesus, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!" (Matthew 16:16) The context demands it.

Answer 6

Isn't it interesting that Peter when he wrote his epistle called everyone in the church lrocks... they were living rocks being built as a temple for worship Peter didnt seem to pull rank in claiming he was called by Jesus to be !!!Rocky Johnson!!!, Simon Peter son of John !! and not other apostles

....and ironically it is Peter who calls the whole church 'a kingdom of priests, a royal prieshood' in fullfillment of moses promise that all israel would be priests but never happened due to the golden calf thing

Ironic...yes... Peter told the whole church they were living rocks being used by Jesus and the whole church was a kingdom of priests...

As far as this question... this verse has been very controvertial, and lakes full of ink has been split on it...

many point out the words for rock vary... you are a small rock ... the church is built on a bedrock...

Also some point out the preposition is neutral in the this bedrock case..

People pointing these out usually are trying to say Jesus builds his church not merely on a man, but on a confession
and posisbly a more rounded way of looking at it is building His church on men with a confession

Additionally in the book of Revelation (no s please thanks in advance) the foundation of the New jerusalem is not seen as hundreds of popes but 12 aposteles and Peter not singled out...
as the apostle had the foundational teaching and eyewitness firstand testimony of Jesus resurection and miracles... Paul likely substituted for Judas

Answer 7

Peter had just said that Jesus was the messiah right before Jesus said "...on this rock", That rock was the fact that Peter knew that Jesus was the savior of the world-that is Peter "believed" in who Jesus was. It is solid rock "faith in Jesus" that builds a church. Not just 'faith'-you can have faith in anything-buy if it is not in Jesus-its not the "rock" that the church is built on.
The "rock" is not Peter, but his confession that Jesus was Lord.

Answer 8

While rock is a play on words on Peter's name, He's talking about revelation. It's right after he notes that Peter didn't know Jesus was the Christ through man, but through a revelation from God.

This communication from God was going to be a very important foundation for His church, as Jesus wasn't going to be physically around for long, and Peter and the apostles were going to need divine direction.

Answer 9

Well, i'll need a verse you're working from....what I see, is twofold, he's either refering to Peter as being the rock, that the christians will rally around, or, there is a place that they were talking, regarding Israel, and the settlement of the early church.
I'm going with the former, because Peter, also known as simon, was quite instramental in founding of churches, and the early spread.
And then, the way he died....upside down on a cross, the opposite way that Jesus went. Wow.

Answer 10

Peter had just made the confession that Jesus was the Christ, the son of the Living God. It is that statement that is the rock upon which the church is built.