First, let’s get a literal translation of the text from the Aramaic:
Matthew 16:
17. Jesus replied and told him, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Yoanah*, that flesh and blood did not reveal it to you, except my Father in heaven.
18. I am also telling you that you are the Rock [Peter] and on this rock I am building my Church, and the doors of sheol cannot draw* it in.
19. “To you I give the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven and whatever you undo on earth, shall be undone in heaven.”
Now, let’s break it down without “adding” words to the text:
Matthew 16:
17.
Jesus replied and told him,
"Blessed are you, Simon son of Yoanah*,
that flesh and blood did not reveal it to you,
except my Father in heaven.
HERE, JESUS TELLS PETER THAT IT IS GOD WHO CHOSE HIM TO REVEAL THE CORRECT ANSWER TO,
NOT ANY HUMAN BEING.
PETER’S ANSWER COMES FROM
GOD’S PERSONAL REVELATION TO HIM.
I am also telling you that you are the Rock [Peter]
and on this rock I am building my Church,
and the doors of sheol cannot draw it in.
NOW, JESUS TELLS PETER THAT IN ADDITION TO GOD HAVING CHOSEN HIM TO REVEAL WHO HE WAS TO,
("I am ALSO…), HE [JESUS] IS BUILDING HIS CHURCH UPON THE SAME ROCK THAT HE JUST CALLED PETER AND IT WOULDN’T BE CORRUPTED BY SATAN.
“To you I give the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven and whatever you undo on earth, shall be undone in heaven.”
NOW, HE SAYS THAT HE IS GIVING THE KEYS TO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN TO HIM (PETER, NOT TO HIMSELF). THEN COMES THE AUTHORITY ISSUE WHERE PETER (NOT JESUS) IS SAID TO BE ABLE TO BIND AND LOOSEN.
NOW SOME DON’T UNDERSTAND THIS BECAUSE THEY CAN’T SEE HOW SOMETHING BOUND ON EARTH CAN BE AGREED TO IN HEAVEN, BUT! ITS’ THE OTHER WAY AROUND…BY THE TIME THAT PETER HAS MADE A DECISION, IT HAS ALREADY BEEN DECIDED THAT BY HEAVEN. THEREFORE, PETER’S DECISIONS ARE GUIDED BY HEAVEN.
THIS WOULD BE ALLUDED TO IN MANY FURTHER STATEMENTS.
FOR EXAMPLE, MATTHEW 7:
JESUS TALKS ABOUT ONE WHO BUILDS HIS HOUSE ON SAND (AKA SOIL OR BUILDS THEIR CHURCH ON HUMANS) AND THE ONE WHO BUILDS HIS HOUSE ON ROCK (AKA SIMON THE ROCK [PETER]). WHEN THE WINDS/WATERS COME (WIND/WATER HAS BEEN USED TO ALLUDE TO SPIRITS, EXAMPLE, JESUS LETS HIS SPIRIT GO ON THE CROSS AS HIS HEART IS PIERCED AND OUT COMES WATER, BAPTISM IN WATER, WATER [EVIL SPIRITS] PURSUE MARY IN REVELATION 12, ETC…).
THE HOUSE THAT IS BUILT UPON SAND (AND MAN IS MADE OF SOIL) IS THE CHURCH BUILT ON MAN. WHEN TESTED, IT COLLAPSES INTO 30K+ DENOMINATIONS (A ZILLION PIECES).
THE HOUSE BUILT UPON ROCK (THE CHURCH BUILT UPON PETER AS IN MATTHEW 16) STOOD FAST WHEN TESTED BY THE SPIRITS. JUST AS THE CATHOLIC CHURCH (WHICH WAS FOUNDED BY PETER) HAS STOOD FAST.
THEN OF COURSE, THERE IS JOHN’S GOSPEL WHERE PETER IS NOT ONLY REDEEMED FOR HIS 3 DENIALS OF CHRIST, BUT IS TOLD 3 TIMES TO LEAD JESUS’ FOLLOWERS (THE CHURCH).
JOHN 21:
15So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
HERE, JESUS TELLS PETER TO NOURISH HIS APOSTLES. WHY IS IT THE APOSTLES THAT HE’S TALKING ABOUT?
BECAUSE ALL OF THE APOSTLES WOULD GO ON TO BE MARTYRED AS HE WAS. THEY WOULD ALL BE SLAUGHTERED IN HONOR OF HIM. THEY WOULD BE SACRIFICED AS LAMBS.
(EXCEPT FOR JOHN AND THAT’S REFERRED TO BY PETER WHEN HE ASKED JESUS WHAT ABOUT HIM AT THE END OF THIS BOOK AND JESUS MENTIONED HIS NOT DIEING…GOOD REASONS WHY JOHN WASN’T TORTURED TO DEATH? HE WAS CHOSEN TO CARE FOR MARY UPON JESUS’ DEATH, HE WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO DIDN’T ABANDON CHRIST AT THE END AND HE WAS CHOSEN TO WRITE THE LAST BOOK OF THE BIBLE).
16He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
NOW, HAVING MADE SURE THAT PETER WILL SHEPARD THE CHURCH’S LEADERS (BE THE HEAD OF THE APOSTLES, AKA, THE POPE [POPE=FATHER IN GREEK/PAPA, AS IN FATHER OF THE CHURCH]),
HE TURNS PETER’S ATTENTION TO THE DISCIPLES, THE SHEEP, JESUS’ FLOCK OF WHOM HE IS THE GOOD SHEPHARD.
HE NOW TRANSFERS HIS AUTHORITY TO PETER TO BE THE SHEPHARD OF HIS CHURCH AND OF HIS FLOCK.
17He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
PETER LEADS THE LEADERS OF THE CHURCH,
AND THE CHURCH ITSELF.
NOW, UNLESS JESUS LITERALLY WAS A CARPENTER WITH A FLOCK OF SHEEP, HE COULD ONLY HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT HIS FLOCK, US.
PAX