Can you see the similarities in what occurred in Matthew 16:18 and Matthew 16:23?

Question

Matthew 16:18
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it

The rock was not Peter but the answer that Peter had just given to Jesus:

Matthew 16:16
Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

I can't help but believe that God knew some people would misinterpret this scripture. I feel that is why in the same chapter of Matthew we find:

Matthew 16:23
Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."

Surely Jesus did not mean that Peter was Satan. Rather Jesus comments once again were a comment on what Peter had just said:

Matthew 16:21-22
From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third...

... day be raised to life.
22Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!"

Both comments were on the words Peter had spoken, no?

Answer 1

Yes I agree, Jesus is commenting on things Peter said. "On this rock" was a response to Peter. God had opened Peter's heart to a deeper knowledge of Christ by faith.(Matt16:16) Jesus then is to build "on this rock" meaning = built on the foundation of obedience to God's Word. (Matt 7:24)

The word for "Peter", Petros, means a small stone (John 1:42) Jesus used a play on words here with petra which means a foundation boulder. It is clear that Christ is both the foudation and the head of the church, its a mistake that we think He is giving either roles to Peter. Christ is the "cheif cornerstone" (Pet. 2:6,7)

I agree Jesus did not mean Peter was Satan. Rather Peter was being used as a mouthpiece for Satan.

Answer 2

First of all,Peter was married( Matthew 8:14), and Popes do not marry. If the first pope could marry, why later pronounce that no priest(or Pope) can marry?

Second,Peter was not infallible in his views on the Christian life.Even Pail had to rebuke him for his hipocrisy, because he was not" straight forward about the truth of the Gospel"(Galatians 2:14).

Third,the Bible clearly declares that Christ is the foundation of the Christian church,insisting that"no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid,which is Jesus Christ"(1 Corithians 3:11).

Fourth,the only sense in which Peter had a foundation role in the church, all the othe apostles and prophets shared that in this sense the church is" built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets,Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone" (Ephesians 2:20). indeed, the early church continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine(not just Peter's)(Acts 2 :42). Even"keys of the kingdom" given to Peter(Matthew 16:19) were also given to all the apostles(Matthew 18:18).

Fifth,there is no indication that Peter was the head of the early church. When the first council was held at Jerusalem, Peter played only an introductory role (Acts 15:6-11). James seems to have a more signifigant position,summing up the conference and making the final pronouncement(Acts 15:13-21). In any event, Peter is never referred to as the "pilar" in the church. Rather,paul speaks of "pillars" (plural).

Finally, many Protestants interpreters believe that Jesus' reference to "this rock"(Matthew 16;18) upon which His church would be built was to Peter's solid (rock-like) testimony that Jesus was "the Christ,the son of the living God."(Matthew 16:16). But even if this rock has reference to Peter(Petros,rock),which is certainly a possible interpretation,he was only a rock in the apotolic foundation of the church(Matthew16:18),not the rock. Nor is he the only apostolic rock. Even Peter himself admitted that Christ is the chief rock("cornerstone," 1 Peter 2:7). And Paul notes that other apostles are all of the"foundation"(Ephesians 2:20)

Answer 3

Yes I can see the similarity here. Just an interesting tidbit. Catholics claim that Jesus named Simon as the rock there because He was going to build upon Peter. However Christ named Simon the rock when He first met him.

John 1:42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

Answer 4

When Jesus says and on this rock I will build my church, he is not referring to Peter as the rock, Peter is a stone, Jesus was referring to, the Word of God, the Words He spoke.

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:Matt 7:24

Peter betrayed Jesus not Judas. Peter was always more concerned about who would be greater. Peter denied Jesus 3 times, read what Jesus said about those who deny Him.

Who is Peter (Simeon), son of Jacob who also betrayed Joesph.

Answer 5

Peter was and is understood as the rock Christ built the church on. Just research the apostolic and early church fathers to know more.

People don't understand the Papacy, because they don't understand the Old Testament. Let my try to explain...In the Old Testament, The Davidic Kings would set up Prime Ministers (stewards) to execute their power for them. Such as in Isaiah 22:15, in which the "shedna" is the office of prime minister, who has the authority to arrest or pardon crimes. The King would also allow the Prime Minister to rule the Kingdom for them in their absence and such. In the New Testament, Jesus Christ, The King, gives St. Peter the office of Prime Minister, in order to rule the kingdom of God on earth (The Church), until Jesus returns. We can see this in Matthew 16:18. Jesus gives the keys of the Kingdom to Peter, in order for Peter (The Pope) to have full authority on behalf of the King, Jesus Christ.

Answer 6

When Peter could see the truth...that Jesus was the son of the living God...he was spoken well of.

When Peter was unable to see the greater truth that Jesus's death would bring to the future of our world....he was not spoken well of.

Jesus makes it clear throughout his teachings that words come from the heart of the man....and they should be used wisely.