Who is the rock in Matthew

Описание: This message tackles the long standing controversy between Catholics and Protestants over the meaning of Matthew 16:18 and seeks to answer the question: Who or what is "the rock" upon which Christ says He will build His church?

There are three primary views: Peter is the Rock (Catholic View), Peter’s Confession is the Rock (Protestant View), or Jesus Himself is the Rock (Protestant View).

Pastor Chad explains why He takes the following 4th view: Peter is a little rock (petros) and one of the stones that God used to build His church (Ephesians 2:20), but the rest of Scripture, including Peter himself, clearly state that Jesus Christ is the ultimate rock/CORNERSTONE (1 Peter 2:4-8, Acts 4:11-12, Ps. 118:22). Pastor Chad quotes Dr. Norman Geisler who explains why the Roman Catholic view of Papal primacy, succession, and infallibility are not Biblical: "FIRST, many Protestants, insisting that Christ was not referring to Peter when He spoke of “this rock” being the church’s foundation, note

a. Whenever Peter is referred to in this passage, it is in the second person; the “this rock” is in the third person.
b. “Peter” (Gk: Petros) is a masculine singular term, and “rock” (Gk: petra) is feminine singular.
c. the same authority to bind given to Peter (v. 18) is given later to all the apostles (18:18).
d. no Catholic commentator gives primacy in evil to Peter simply because he was singled out by Jesus’ rebuke a few verses later: “Get behind me, Satan!” (16:23).
e. Renowned authorities (some Catholic) can be cited in agreement with this interpretation, including John Chrysostom and Augustine, who wrote: “ ‘On this rock,’ therefore, He said, which thou hast confessed, ‘I will build my Church.’ For the Rock (petra) is Christ; and on this foundation was Peter himself built."

SECOND, even if Peter were the rock referred to by Jesus, he would not be the only rock in the church’s foundation.
THIRD, Peter’s New Testament role falls far short of the Catholic argument that he was given unique authority among the apostles.
FOURTH, however Peter’s role in the early church is understood, there is absolutely no reference to his having any kind of infallibility.
FIFTH, whatever apostolic powers Peter and the other apostles possessed, it is clear that these were not passed on to anyone after their deaths." Pastor Chad concludes that Peter is the referenced rock, but a small, limited rock in view of the the whole of Scripture, which describes at length the power and works of the ultimate rock, Jesus Christ. Dr. John MacArthur writes, “In all four gospel accounts Peter is clearly the leading apostle, and he remains so through Acts 10. He was most often the Twelve’s spokesman during Jesus’ earthly ministry (Matt. 15:15; 19:27; John 6:68), and he was the chief preacher, leader and worker of miracles in the early years of the church (Acts 1:15-22; 2:14-40; 3:4-6, 12-26; 5:3-10, 12, 29). It therefore seems that in the present passage Jesus addressed Peter as representative of the Twelve. Regardless, of one’s choice of who the rock is in Matthew 16:18, the basic truth of Scripture remains: The foundation of the church is the revelation of God given through His apostles, and the Lord of the church is the cornerstone of that foundation."