The keys to preach Christ
Given to Peter who saw
Jesus is the rock

This passage is usually understood as Peter being the rock that Jesus builds his church on. However, I heard during a sermon on one of the solas (probably Christ Alone) that the phrase “You are Peter and on this rock” is more of a pun than a description. The Greek for Peter sounds like the Greek for rock; the “this” that Jesus refers to, is Jesus is the Christ, which is what Peter has just professed.

I still have a way to go in thinking about this, but I think it’s plausible. It fits better with the descriptions of the church in the bible: Jesus is the cornerstone, the foundation made of rock and not sand. Sure, the church is built on the apostles’ teaching, but that teaching is wholly about Christ, not about themselves. In fact, that’s what the keys are: teaching the gospel.

Read Matthew 16:15-19 for yourself »