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Peter’s Confession of Christ

13 Now when Jesus went into the [a]region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”(A) 14 And they answered, “Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah, or [just] one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), the Son of the living God.” 17 Then Jesus answered him, “Blessed [happy, spiritually secure, favored by God] are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood (mortal man) did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I say to you that you are [b]Peter, and on this [c]rock I will build My church; and the [d]gates of Hades (death) will not overpower it [by preventing the resurrection of the Christ].(B) 19 I will give you the keys (authority) of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind [forbid, declare to be improper and unlawful] on earth [e]will have [already] been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose [permit, declare lawful] on earth [f]will have [already] been loosed in heaven.”(C) 20 Then He gave the disciples strict orders to tell no one that He was the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 16:13 In Jesus’ day this was Gentile territory. Today this region is known as the Golan Heights. The ancient city of Caesarea Philippi was located at the foot of Mt. Hermon, near the Banias Spring, one of the three springs which feeds into the Jordan River.
  2. Matthew 16:18 Gr petros, a small or detached stone.
  3. Matthew 16:18 Gr petra, bedrock or a huge rock. Jesus uses a simple play on the Greek words petros and petra in this verse. Throughout the N.T. Christ is clearly depicted as both the foundation petra and chief cornerstone of the church. Here He praises Peter for his accurate confession of faith in Him as Messiah. Peter explains the role of believers as “living stones” in the church which is built on Christ as the foundation and cornerstone (1 Pet 2:5, 6).
  4. Matthew 16:18 The physical death of Christ will not hinder the establishment of the church nor will death overtake the church.
  5. Matthew 16:19 Gr estai dedemenon, future perfect passive referring to a state of having already been bound.
  6. Matthew 16:19 Gr estai lelumenon, future perfect passive.

13 Now de when Jesus Iēsous came erchomai · ho into eis the ho region meros of Caesarea Kaisareia · ho Philippi Philippos, he asked erōtaō · ho his autos disciples mathētēs, “ Who tis do people anthrōpos say legō · ho that the ho Son hyios of ho Man anthrōpos is eimi?” 14 And de they ho said legō, “ Some ho say John Iōannēs the ho Baptist baptistēs, others allos · de Elijah ēlias, and de others heteros Jeremiah Ieremias or ē one heis of the ho prophets prophētēs.” 15 He said legō to them autos, “ But de you hymeis, who tis do you say legō that I egō am eimi?” 16 And de Simon Simōn Peter Petros answered apokrinomai, saying legō, “ You sy are eimi the ho Christ Christos, the ho Son hyios of the ho living zaō God theos.” · ho 17 And de Jesus Iēsous responded apokrinomai, · ho saying legō to him autos, “ Blessed makarios are eimi you , Simon Simōn son of Jonah Bariōna, because hoti flesh sarx and kai blood haima did not ou reveal apokalyptō this to you sy, but alla · ho my egō Father patēr · ho in en · ho heaven ouranos. 18 And kagō I · de say legō to you sy, you sy are eimi Peter Petros, and kai on epi this houtos · ho rock petra I will build oikodomeō my egō · ho church ekklēsia, and kai the gates pylē of Hades hadēs will not ou overpower katischuō it autos. 19 I will give didōmi you sy the ho keys kleis of the ho kingdom basileia of ho heaven ouranos, and kai whatever hos ean you bind deō on epi · ho earth will eimi have been bound deō in en · ho heaven ouranos, and kai whatever hos ean you loose lyō on epi · ho earth will eimi have been loosed lyō in en · ho heaven ouranos.” 20 Then tote he ordered diastellō his ho disciples mathētēs to hina tell legō no mēdeis one that hoti he autos was eimi the ho Messiah Christos

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