Matthew Sermon 52 – Mat 16.13-19 – You Are Peter, and on this Rock

Intro

This passage has been side tracked for centuries in a debate that was not present in the first century nor in the earliest Church. That debate concerns who is Peter? Is he the supreme apostle, the foundation on whom the Church is built? And is that foundational role something Peter passed on to a succession of bishops, specifically the bishops of Rome? The debate usually centers around intricate arguments over the Greek in Jesus’ statement, “[Y]ou are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church . . . .” These arguments get very tedious, and there are respected scholars that take every view. Perhaps a more fruitful approach would be to ask two more fundamental questions: What is the main point of the passage in which Jesus’ statement is found? And what did Peter himself teach on the matter of the foundation of the Church? I hope you enjoy the sermon. Thanks for listening. –Alan Burrow

Questions to answer while listening

* This passage has been the ground for centuries for what debate?

* What does the debate usually revolve around?

* If Peter is the rock, what is the best way for us to know what that means?

* What is this passage chiefly about?

* What is the next, most relevant question we should ask?

* What picture does Peter paint in 1Pet 2.4-6?

* Who did the apostle Paul call the foundation in 1cor 3.11?

* Who did Paul call the foundation in Eph 2.20?

* Who is the foundation in Rev 21.14?

* To sum up, who did Peter and the apostles teach was the foundation?

* In the ancient world, what was a cornerstone?

* If Peter wants to be a rock, what must he do?

* What does the language about Peter binding and loosing mean?

* What do keys and binding and loosing relate to?

* What special, foundational role did Peter play in the early days of the Church?

* How does Peter’s role change by time we get to the council of Jerusalem in Acts 15?

* Who became the leading figure in the Jerusalem church?

* In summary, where does Peter point us?

* What does it mean to be a living stone?