Keys to the Kingdom, Peter’s confession of Christ

Matthew 16:13-20. Jesus asks His disciples, “Who do you think I am.”
Peter answers, “You are the Messiah.”
Jesus replies, “You are Peter (Petros=stone).”
“I (Jesus) am the bedrock (petra) and I (Jesus) will build My Church and the gates of Hades i.e. (powers of death) will not overcome it.”

Jesus holds the keys and control of Death and Hades and He lives forever and ever. See Revelation 1:17-18.

Keys denotes authority and power.

Hades is the Greek world for the realm of death. In the New Testament, the word used for what we call “hell” is Gehenna.

Background Reading:

Keys – Key to the Kingdom, Peter Declares His Faith in Jesus

16:13 When Jesus had come to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

14 They said, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

15 He asked them, “But who do you say I am?”

16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!”

17 Then Jesus told him, “How blessed you are, Simon son of Jonah, since flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, though my Father in heaven has. 18 I tell you that you are Peter, and it is on this rock that I will build my congregation, and the powers of hell will not conquer it. 19 I will give you the keys to the kingdom from heaven. Whatever you prohibit on earth will have been prohibited in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will have been permitted in heaven.”

20 Then he strictly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
Matthew 16:13-20
Also, see: Mark 8:27-30, Luke 9:18-21, Revelation1:18, Isaiah 22:22.


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