What is the rock being referred to in Matthew 16:18

[Gregory Thompson]

What is the rock being referred to in Matthew 16:18?

 

[Sabertooth]

"This Rock" is Peter's confession, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” [v. 16].

"...if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus

and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead,​

you will be saved.
For with the heart one believes unto righteousness,
and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Romans 10:9-10 NKJV

“Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation,
A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation;
Whoever believes will not act hastily." Isaiah 26:16 NKJV

Cornerstone, Leon Patillo (1982)

 

[Albion]

It really doesn't make sense that it could refer to anyone or anything other than Peter, to whom Christ was speaking.

That doesn't mean that all the theories which have flowed from this conversation are correct, but the answer to your question, as asked, does seem definitely to be "Peter."

 

[mlepfitjw]

Foundation of Christ?

 

[Tigger45]

I don’t think it’s an either/or answer but both. The Apostle Peter whom Christ appoints Simon as the rock by changing his name to Peter upon their first meeting and by extension to all who would proclaim this truth. As we all are ‘living stones’ by acknowledging {Matthew 16:16 Simon Peter answered, "you are the Messiah, the Son of the living God”.} Christ is the corner stone, the Apostles the foundation with Peter being the biblically obvious and natural leader (first amongst equals) of the Apostles realizing Peter had been relegated to this position by Christ Himself.

 

[topher694]

The revelation that Jesus is the son of God. This is the foundation of the church.

 

[Albion]

Foundation of Christ?

As I was saying, the wording just doesn't support the alternate theories.

If it is suggested that Christ is referring to the church that he said he founded, why would any of the rest of this naturally follow--thou are Peter (a name that signifies a stone)? Upon THIS rock? I will build my church (upon it)?

Bear in mind also the verses which follow in that passage but which seldom get quoted. Christ and Peter go on with a back-and-forth conversation concerning...you guessed it, Peter's importance to the building of the church.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

What is the rock being referred to in Matthew 16:18?

The Rock is Jesus Christ of Nazareth who is the "Chief Cornerstone". Peter and all of the 11 are the foundation. Be blessed.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

The revelation that Jesus is the son of God. This is the foundation of the church.

I have also reached the same conclusion.

 

[timothyu]

The ROCK is described in the previous verses where Jesus asks the Apostles, who do they say that He is. The only correct answer came from Peter where Jesus then said right, the truth only comes from God and not the opinions of man. Upon that truth (that truth only comes from God) will the foundation the church be built upon. Then gentiles came along and reversed it.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

The ROCK is described in the previous verses where Jesus asks the Apostles, who do they say that He is. The only correct answer came from Peter where Jesus then said right, the truth only comes from God and not the opinions of man. Upon that truth (that truth only comes from God) will the foundation the church be built upon. Then gentiles came along and reversed it.

(I agree)

That the revelation comes only from God, tends to throw a monkey wrench in tradition based structures. Any group around for 200 years or more starts to take on a traditionalized structure because it is inhabited and managed by humans.

Trying to grow a movement to avoid political persecution, is outside of the scope of kingdom of God, we are supposed to be an embassy of God's kingdom.

That revelation can only be provided by God to each individual in the Kingdom, helps determine our roles when we listen and open ourselves up to receive this guidance.

The reversal was more of a usual change since those who are actually born again are far and few inbetween. Those born into the religion going through the regular stages of psychological development used the church as a means to identify themselves - but this process is of the flesh and deceptive, making it difficult to know who received the revelation of God - or just from peer pressure.

The rock of the kingdom of God is indeed that God reveals everything about it that is relevant to you, so you can fit into your role of the Ephesians 2:20-22 inhabitation for God in the spirit realm.

This rock becomes a stumbling block to the church that uses the scripture as a litigation contract to prove they are saved - since God does and says what He wants, and humans have no control over this.

 

[Albion]

The ROCK is described in the previous verses where Jesus asks the Apostles, who do they say that He is. The only correct answer came from Peter where Jesus then said right, the truth only comes from God and not the opinions of man. Upon that truth (that truth only comes from God) will the foundation the church be built upon. Then gentiles came along and reversed it.

The "rock" (actually small stone) IS NOT described by reference to the founding of a new church or to a new religion's "foundation." That is such a stretch! And it's visually impossible anyway. Who makes the foundation of a building out of a pile of gravel or broken pieces?

For that to be the actual meaning, we'd have to believe that Jesus used an inappropriate and extremely fanciful comparison in order to make a point like this one.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

The "rock" (actually small stone) IS NOT described by reference to the founding of a new church or to a new religion's "foundation."

"and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. "

How so?

See also Matthew 7

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

 

[public hermit]

What is the rock being referred to in Matthew 16:18?

Th rock is, in one sense, the truth of the good confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. That is, the rock is Christ. Nonetheless, it is also the confession itself, as well as Peter who was the first to confess. He names Simon, Peter, as the first to confess the truth. So the rock is all three with the ultimate foundation being Christ, who can only be revealed by the Father, as was done to Peter. I think to try and say it was one of the three, to the exclusion of the others, misses the point.

In other words, the Church is built on the revelation of Christ as his followers confess to the truth, which all began with Peter.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Th rock is, in one sense, the truth of the good confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. That is, the rock is Christ. Nonetheless, it is also the confession itself, as well as Peter who was the first to confess. He names Simon, Peter, as the first to confess the truth. So the rock is all three with the ultimate foundation being Christ, who can only be revealed by the Father, as was done to Peter. I think to try and say it was one of the three, to the exclusion of the others, misses the point.

(good answer)
My general standard for this topic is that the foundation of God's kingdom needs to be eternal so as long as it meets that criteria, I don't have an issue with the answer.

Which is why I kind of take an issue with Peter the man being an answer.

 

[timothyu]

That the revelation comes only from God, tends to throw a monkey wrench in tradition based structures. Any group around for 200 years or more starts to take on a traditionalized structure because it is inhabited and managed by humans.

Yes. Tradition is often mistaken for reality. Look at the Christmas tradition of three wise men at the stable. Scripture says no such thing.

 

[timothyu]

The "rock" (actually small stone) IS NOT described by reference to the founding of a new church or to a new religion's "foundation." That is such a stretch! And it's visually impossible anyway. Who makes the foundation of a building out of a pile of gravel or broken pieces?

Peter was the pebble (being a man) but the fact the truth only comes from God (as Jesus always said if it were not true i would have told you) and not from the opinions of man, became the cornerstone (rock) of His church. As I said, the later gentiles had a different idea and made it all about man's opinions. Of course with the truth being in scripture and the coming scattering of Judah, it was necessary to turn scripture over to those who would use it for their own purposes, as that was the only way scripture would survive until present day, safely hidden in plain sight in the hands of the enemy.

 

[public hermit]

(good answer)
My general standard for this topic is that the foundation of God's kingdom needs to be eternal so as long as it meets that criteria, I don't have an issue with the answer.

Which is why I kind of take an issue with Peter the man being an answer.

The foundation being eternal makes sense.

In terms of the reference being solely about Peter, it doesn't fit what we see in Acts 15. It is not Peter who is head of the church, but James, the brother of Jesus. Peter is at the council, and functions as a witness but not as head of the assembly.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

The foundation being eternal makes sense.

In terms of the reference being solely about Peter, it doesn't fit what we see in Acts 15. It is not Peter who is head of the church, but James, the brother of Jesus. Peter is at the council, and functions as a witness but not as head of the assembly.

Yeah, I don't get the Peter doctrine, but it's a popular conclusion.

 

[timothyu]

It is not Peter who is head of the church, but James, the brother of Jesus. Peter is at the council, and functions as a witness but not as head of the assembly.

Peter got thrown into the mix when the gentiles struggling for power came up with apostolic succession and linked Peter to Rome as if Rome was somehow the cradle of Christianity.