The Rock and Keys of the Kingdom Explained
What Did Jesus Really Mean When He Said "I Will Build My Church"?
Have you ever wondered what Jesus was really talking about when He made that famous declaration in Matthew 16:18? Most Christians have heard this verse countless times, but few understand the profound mystery that Jesus was revealing about His church and the future kingdom.
In Matthew 16:17-18, we read: "And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 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 something crucial here - Jesus spoke in the future tense. "I will build my church." This wasn't something that existed during His earthly ministry. The church was a mystery, hidden from the beginning of the world, waiting to be revealed.
The Church Was a Hidden Mystery Until Christ Revealed It
The church that we are part of today was not in view during the Old Testament period. It wasn't even in existence during Jesus's earthly ministry. Why? Because the kingdom had been postponed.
Look at what Paul reveals in Ephesians 3:8-10: "Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God."
A mystery in Scripture is simply an unknown truth that becomes a known truth. It's been hidden in God, but now it's no longer hidden - the truth has been revealed. The church is that mystery made manifest.
The Church: A New Man Made From Two
In Ephesians 2:14-16, we discover something remarkable about this church: "For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby."
Christ created "one new man" - His church. We are in Him, part of His body, this new spiritual creation that didn't exist before.
Understanding Who Is Really the Rock
Here's where many people get confused. Some religious groups try to convince you that Peter is "the rock" upon which the church is built, making him the first pope. But that's not what Scripture teaches.
Jesus Christ is the Rock - and Scripture makes this crystal clear:
Deuteronomy 32:4 calls God "the Rock" seven times in that passage
1 Corinthians 10:4 states plainly: "And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ"
The Old Testament picture in Exodus 17 shows Moses smiting the rock to bring forth water - a picture of Christ being smitten for us
But here's something fascinating: In Numbers 20, God told Moses to speak to the rock, not smite it. Why? Because Christ was to be smitten once - not repeatedly. When Moses disobeyed and struck the rock twice, he destroyed the picture of Christ's one-time sacrifice.
Peter: A Pillar, Not the Rock
If Peter were supposedly the head of the church, why does Galatians 2:9 mention him second? "And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship..."
Notice - James is mentioned first because he was presiding over the church in Jerusalem. And they're called pillars, not rocks. There's a distinction you need to understand. Jesus Christ is the Rock - He always has been, He always will be.
Want more proof? Look at Matthew 16:22-23, just a few verses after Jesus's declaration. When Peter rebukes Jesus about going to the cross, what does Jesus say? "But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men."
Would Jesus call the supposed "first pope" Satan? That should settle the matter right there.
The Keys of the Kingdom Explained
Now let's tackle verse 19: "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
Important distinction: Jesus said "kingdom of heaven" - not kingdom of God. The Kingdom of Heaven is the physical, earthly kingdom. The Kingdom of God is spiritual.
Peter isn't granting people access into eternal life with these keys. The key to understanding the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven is found in understanding Peter himself.
Peter's Pattern Mirrors Israel's Future
Watch Peter's journey:
Initially following - Luke 18 records Peter saying, "Lo, we have left all, and followed thee"
Gets offended - Matthew 16:22, Peter rebukes Jesus about the cross
Denies and forsakes - Matthew 26, Peter denies Jesus three times
Repents - Matthew 26:75, "And he went out, and wept bitterly"
This exact pattern pictures what happened with the Jewish nation:
They initially responded to John the Baptist
They got offended by Jesus's message
They cried "Crucify him! Crucify him!"
But there's coming a day when, just like Peter, they will repent nationally
The Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven relate to that future time when the Jewish nation will turn back to the Lord and gain entrance into the physical, millennial kingdom that Christ will establish on earth.
The Future Judgment of Nations
Matthew 25:31-40 describes this future scene: "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations... Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."
This isn't about individuals getting into heaven - this is about nations being judged for entrance into Christ's earthly kingdom. They'll be judged based on how they treated "the least of these my brethren" - the Jewish people during the tribulation period.
The Church vs. The Kingdom: Two Different Programs
Here's what you need to understand: We who are saved today are part of the church, the body of Christ. We're not His "brethren" - we're His children, born again into the spiritual Kingdom of God.
The church is a spiritual building, and we are part of His spiritual body. But there's also coming a physical, literal kingdom that Jesus will establish on earth after He returns.
Those who claim to be "pre-millennial" understand this distinction. The church will be caught away, and then God will turn back to deal with the nation of Israel, just as Peter eventually turned and repented.
The Bottom Line
When Jesus said "I will build my church," He was revealing a mystery that had been hidden from the foundation of the world. This church - made up of all who accept the Messiah - exists during this interim period while the kingdom is postponed.
Jesus Christ is the Rock upon which this church is built, not Peter. He's the head of the body, the bridegroom of the bride. The Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven relate to the future earthly kingdom and Israel's national repentance, not to Peter having authority over salvation.
Understanding these distinctions helps us rightly divide the Word of truth and see God's amazing plan unfolding through history.
🎧 📖 Want to dive deeper into this powerful expository preaching? This verse-by-verse Bible teaching contains so much more detail and scriptural cross-references that couldn't fit in this post. I humbly encourage you to listen to the entire sermon message for the complete biblical exposition - you'll be blessed by the thorough way God's Word is opened up and explained. [Listen to the full message here]