GOD’S WORD FOR DECEMBER 1

Our  book this month  is a continuation of “Chiseled by the Master’s Hand ~ Lessons From the Life of Peter,” by Erwin  Lutzer.  Dr. Lutzer is  Canadian-born and served as Senior Pastor of the Moody Church in Chicago for 36 years, until his retirement in 2016.   He now serves as Pastor Emeritus of Moody Church.  He’s written many books and has radio and internet teaching programs.

PETER’S PERSONAL PROMISE

Matthew 6:13-28

THE SAND DUNE HAD BECOME A ROCK. 

“Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.   I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church;  and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it.”  (Mt 6:17-18).

Jesus refers to Peter as “Simon  Barjona,”  just as He did in that first encounter along the banks of the Jordan River.  That prediction is now fulfilled as Christ makes the change in names official.  The shifting sand had become a rock.  It would be on a rock that the Church would be built. 

Two controversial questions have been associated with this text.  First, what did Christ mean when He said that His Church would be built on “this rock”?

 Second, what “keys were given to Peter?  (verse 19).

Oscar Cullman, who has made an exhaustive study of Peter’s life and ministry, says, “Until the beginning of the  third century it never occurred to a  single Bishop of Rome to refer the saying of Matthew 16:17 to himself in the sense of headship of the entire church.   For example, Chrysostom believed that the rock meant Peter’s confession of faith, and Augustine taught that Jesus was referring to Himself and not Peter.

When Pope Leo the First wanted to enhance his credibility as he faced opposition from rival Constantinople, he appealed to the primacy of the Roman Church based on this statement of Christ to Peter.  The argument was that Peter was the first bishop of Rome, and since the church was built on him, the succession of the Roman papacy was justified.

Greek scholars have pointed out that there are two words for “rock” used here.  “You are Petros (meaning “a piece of rock”) and upon this Petra (meaning a large slab of rock) I will build My church.” 

This would suggest that Christ was not referring to Peter but to Himself.  The Apostle Paul spoke of Christ as the rock: 

“For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11).

A  SECOND  possibility is that Christ was referring to Peter’s confession as the rock upon which the church would be built.  On the rock of the deity of Christ – on the rock of His unique position as God’s special Son – on the rock of the future work of His kingdom would rest.

* * *

1 Samuel 2:2 ~ ~ No one is holy like the Lord, For there is none besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God.

Psalm 144:2 ~ ~ My lovingkindness and my fortress, My high tower and my deliverer, My shield and the One in whom I take refuge, Who subdues my people under me.

Philippians 3:12 ~ ~ Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.

Romans 9:33 ~ ~ As it is written:   “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling block and rock of offense,  and whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”

1 Corinthians 10:4 ~ ~  and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.

1 Peter 2:8 ~ ~  and  “A stone of stumbling  and a rock of offense.”   They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.

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