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A CLOSER LOOK |
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HOMEPAGE |
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BIBLE PASSAGES |
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MATTHEW 17 (JESUS AND THE TAX) |
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ROMANS 13:1-5 THE POWER OF THE STATE |
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MATTHEW 22... JESUS AND TAX TO CAESAR |
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BIBLE TOPICS |
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DID JESUS FEAR THE CROSS? |
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OUR ROCK... JESUS OR PETER |
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BIBLICAL BASIS FOR LEADERSHIP |
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CHRISTIAN LIVING |
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WIVES AND MOTHERS... THEIR HIGH CALLING |
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DRAW THE LINE |
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OUR ROCK... JESUS OR PETER
THE ROCK UPON WHICH THE CHURCH OF JESUS IS BUILT
There is a disagreement between those who hold the Bible to be the authoritative, infallible and inerrant Word of God and those who accept the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church and it's Pope as being the final authority in matters of faith and practice. The Roman church holds that Peter is the rock (or foundation) upon which Jesus built His Church and the Bible believer holds that it is not Peter but rather Jesus upon Whom the Church is built. The passage which is the focus of this controversy is found in the Gospel of Matthew.
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"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18).
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There are several points we will consider.
THE BACKGROUND TO THE PASSAGE
Jesus asked the Disciples,
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"Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?" (16:13).
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He did not ask them what was being said about Peter but rather about Himself.
To which they responded,
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"Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets" (16:14).
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Their answer was concerning Jesus, not Peter.
Jesus then asked more pointedly concerning their own belief in His identity,
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"But whom say ye that I am?" (16:15).
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The obvious issue at hand was not who Peter was or what people were saying about Peter, but rather, Who Jesus was and what people were saying about Him. Jesus was the subject of this discussion, not Peter. The entire Bible is a revelation of God's salvation through His Son Jesus Christ. The Old Testament was a shadow of what was to come and the New Testament is the record of what has come. "The New is in the Old Concealed and the Old is in the New Revealed." The whole Bible is the revelation of Jesus Christ, not the revelation of Peter. Peter is just one small part of the greater whole. The Old Testament recounts God's preparing the world for the coming of His Son, Jesus Christ, and the New Testament is the record of the coming of His Son, Jesus Christ. The Old Testament does not recount God's preparing the world for the coming of Peter and the New Testament is not the record of Peter's coming. Peter, as important as he is, is only one of many characters which make up the supporting cast to the story of the coming of God's Son, Jesus Christ.
Peter understood that Jesus was the subject of the discussion and answered accordingly.
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"Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God" (16:16).
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Jesus then commends Peter and pointed out that Peter gave the right answer because the Heavenly Father had made it known to Peter.
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"Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven" (16:17).
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Jesus gives Peter his new name and tells Peter on what foundation He would build His Church.
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"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (16:18).
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Jesus never loses focus of the main issue, which is His Own identity. It is on the basis of His identity which He will build His Church, not on Peter's identity. Though the Roman church has assumed that Jesus was referring to Peter, the passage does not warrant such an interpretation. Actually, the passage indicates that Jesus would not build His Church on Peter, but rather, build It upon Himself. Contrary to Roman tradition, the Bible clearly states that the Church is the Church of Jesus Christ, not the church of Peter; it would be Jesus Who would build His Own Church, not Peter who would build either his own church or the Church of Jesus Christ.
We must always keep in mind, the words we use to state something are important. We must choose our words carefully. We must use the words according to their own definition. We cannot re-define words for our own purposes. When the meaning of words are changed to accommodate any given position, the words lose their meaning altogether. In other words, "Words mean what they say or they don't mean anything at all." We must accept the words and meanings which Jesus spoke and God revealed in the Bible. To change the meaning from their original and accepted use is to lose, not explain, the truth which God intended to convey.
THE ACTUAL STATEMENT FROM THE GREEK WORDS.
The Greek words used in this passage do not support the Roman Catholic position. When Jesus said, "...thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church...", He was pointing out that the rock (Peter) and the Rock (Himself) upon which His Church would be built were two distinct rocks.
In Greek, Jesus calls Peter a "Petros", or stone or rock fragment, but He went on to say He would build His Church on a "Petra" which is a boulder, a large rock, a rock ledge. As far as men were concerned, Peter was a rock, but compared to the Man Jesus, he was but a pebble. Jesus is the "Gibralter" upon which a structure can be built, but Peter qualifies only as a stone which is built into the structure (more on this later). Though Jesus may have spoken Aramaic and used the word "Kephas" which means "stone" and can be used for either a small or large stone, Matthew recorded it in Greek. Since Matthew was writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit we can be assured that Jesus communicated that there was a distinct difference between Peter and Jesus, and that is why he used the two different Greek words in Matthew 16. It is probable that Matthew was present on this occasion and therefore was eyewitness to Jesus making this distinction but we know for certain he was directed by the Holy Spirit to report it with this verbal distinction. Either way, we do not have a flawed revelation, we have the Word of God.
In affect Jesus was saying, "Good answer Simon, and I will call you Rocky, you are a small stone, a relative pebble, but I will build My Church and it will not be founded upon such a small, failing, vacillating and insignificant one as you, but rather it will be built upon Myself, a Firm and Sure Foundation which has never failed nor will ever fail. For I am the One Who has been the Rock of Israel, the Rock of Ages. I am the prophesied One. I am the promised One. I am The Rock, and besides me there is no Rock."
Matthew did not use "Petros" and "Petra" for color or to avoid repetition, but because he was wanting to draw a distinction between the two kinds of rocks being mentioned. The Holy Record was not left to man's ingenuity, but was "God breathed." Jesus did not say He would build His Church on Petros (Peter) which is the Roman position, but rather He clearly said He would build His Church on Petra (Himself) a Solid Foundation.
MANY PASSAGES WHICH REFER TO JESUS AS OUR "ROCK" OR OUR "STONE."
In the Old Testament God gave water to the Israelites as they wandered through the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land. While traveling for those forty years, they were provided with water from a rock. We are told in the New Testament that Jesus was that Rock. When Moses was speaking about God, he sometimes called him the Rock,
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"Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel" (Exodus 17:6).
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In referring to the rock which supplied water for the Israel when they were in the wilderness, Paul tells us that Jesus was that rock.
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"And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ" (I Corinthians 10:4).
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In "Moses Song", we are told that God is the Rock,
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"He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he" (Deuteronomy 32:4).
"But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.
They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger.
They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.
Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee" (Deuteronomy 32:15-18).
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David wrote a song about his Rock,
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"For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God?
The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation" (II Sa 22:32,47).
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Along with, I Samuel 2:2; II Samuel 22:2; 23:3; David wrote again about God being his Rock,
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"I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.
The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower" (Psalm 18:1-2).
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And again,
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"In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.
Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.
For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me" (Psalm 31:1-3).
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And,
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"Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.
He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved" (Psalm 62:1-2).
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And,
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"And they remembered that God was their rock..." (Psalm 78:35).
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And,
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"The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner" (Psalm 118:22).
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Along with these passages, we find God referred to as a Rock in these passages in the book of Psalms,
18:31,46; 27:5; 28:1; 40:2; 42:9; 61:2; 62:6-7; 71:3; 78:16; 78:20; 89:26; 92:15; 94:22; 95:1
Even this is not an exhaustive list.
Isaiah refers to the Lord God as a Rock and a Stone,
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"And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem." (Isaiah 8:14)
"Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste" (Isaiah 28:16).
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This passage from Isaiah 28:16 becomes a very important verse in the New Testament. Jesus quotes this passage when He is explaining to the Jews of Jerusalem that He was sent from the Father and would be rejected by the religious leaders,
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"Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder" (Matthew 21:42-44).
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In Luke's record we read that when Peter and John were addressing the Jewish leaders after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus and after the day of Pentecost, they used this same passage to verify that Jesus had been sent by God and had been rejected and killed by the Jewish leaders and had been raised again from the dead.
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"This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner" (Acts 4:11).
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Paul points out that Jesus is the Stone of Stumbling to the Jews which had been foretold by Isaiah,
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"As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed" (Romans 9:33).
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Even Peter himself recognizes that Jesus alone is the Chief Corner Stone,
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"To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed" (I Peter 2:4-8).
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Paul clearly states that,
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"For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (I Corinthians 3:11).
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To claim that there is any other Foundation Stone for the Church other than Jesus Christ goes against all teaching found in the Bible, including those portions which Peter recorded.
It is true that the Apostles are given a very important place in the Church and even in eternity, but they are not the Foundation Stone of the Church. The Church of Jesus has been built upon the teachings of the Apostles and Prophets only because the Apostles are built upon Jesus. Though the Apostles occupy a special place, Peter is not given any place or position above the Apostles. Just because Peter is often mentioned first among the Disciples, it does not mean that he has pre-eminence over the other Disciples.
---------------------------------------------------------"And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;" (Ephesians 2:20).
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Peter along with all other believers are considered Living stones which are part of the Church, but he is never called the Foundation Stone or Chief Corner Stone Or the Rock of our Salvation. All of Divine revelation points to Jesus as our Rock. It is only when men have usurped the authority of God that we are told a mere man was made to be the Foundation Stone of the Church.
Peter, along with all other Bible writers acknowledge Jesus to be the Stone or Rock which is the Foundation of the Church. No other Bible writer ever claimed that Peter was the Rock of our salvation or the Foundation Stone of the Church. Peter never claimed to be the Rock of our Salvation nor the Foundation Stone of the Church.
Everything in the Bible affirms that the Only Rock of our Salvation and Foundation Stone of the Church is Jesus. The Bible was not in error when It was written and It is not incomplete in It's revelation. The Romish teaching is not supplemental, but rather it is subversive to the eternal truths which God has given us.
PETER WAS NOT WORTHY TO BE DESIGNATED AS THE ROCK UPON WHICH JESUS WOULD BUILD HIS CHURCH
It Is Jesus' Church...Not Peter's Church
The Church of Jesus Christ was founded upon Jesus Christ. It would be built by Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the only One worthy upon which His Church should be built. The Bible record shows that Jesus Christ created the world and all that is in it. Jesus was prophesied throughout the Old Testament. Jesus was born of a virgin and announced by angels. The name of Jesus indicates that He is "God with us." Jesus lived a sinless life and died for the sins of the world. Jesus raised Himself from the dead physically and ascended into heaven to sit at His Father's right hand. Jesus sent His Holy Spirit and now intercedes for us. These are some of the reasons which make Jesus worthy to be the Foundation Stone of His Church.
Peter on the other hand does not qualify in any way, shape or form to be the Foundation Stone of the Church of Jesus Christ. Peter did not create the world, Peter was not the "long awaited One" prophesied by Old Testament men of God, Peter was not born of a virgin, and Peter is not "God with us" nor even the "Petra" upon which Jesus would build His Church. Peter did not live a sinless life, Peter did not die for the sins of the world, nor did Peter raise himself from the dead. Peter did not ascend into heaven and Peter does not sit at the right hand of God and make intercession for us since there is only one mediator between God and men,
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"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (I Timothy 2:5).
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Though we admire the man Simon Peter, we do not ascribe to him Divine attributes nor credit him with Divine function.
Simon Peter was a recipient of the grace of Jesus Christ as are all sinners. Simon Peter was called into the service of God by the grace of Jesus Christ. Simon Peter was gifted for ministry by the grace of Jesus Christ. All that is good about Simon Peter came because of the grace of Jesus Christ.
(PETER BEFORE THE DAY OF PENTECOST)
Peter was a man, just like all other men throughout history. He was born with a natural "Bent-To-Sin" as all of Adam's children. He followed the way or rebellion and sinned willfully against God. He met Jesus Christ and believed in Him as the Messiah or Christ and became a new man through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. In his early ministry he entered into a redemptive relationship with Jesus Christ. This made him into a new creation. However, he still had the sinful nature at work within him and we see his weaknesses and impurities manifested during his time of serving Jesus. However, in spite of the work of God's grace in Peter's life, he was no more than "a Sinner Saved by Grace." Peter was not a "Super Saint" and he was not above the other disciples. Though he was loved redeemed and called by God, he was flawed and corrupted with his own sinful nature. We will look at passages which point out his weaknesses and sins which disqualified him from being the Rock upon which Jesus would build His Church.
Peter Was A Sinful Man
Early in his relationship with Jesus Christ, Simon Peter 1) fell at the feet of Jesus,
2) confessed his own sinfulness, and
3) called Jesus "Lord."
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"When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord" (Luke 5:8).
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Jesus never fell at the feet of Simon Peter and cry out for Simon Peter to depart from Him because He was a sinful man. Nor do we ever have Jesus Christ call Simon Peter "Lord."
This is not the picture of the "Rock" upon which Jesus would build His Church.
Peter Was A Man Of Fear, Not A Man Of Faith.
Jesus Christ did call Simon Peter to walk to Him on the water, but Simon Peter
1) became afraid when he saw the waves and
2) he started to sink, at which point he
3) cried out for Jesus Christ to save him. Jesus then
4) questioned Peter about his doubt.
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"And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" (Matthew 14:29).
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This is not the picture of the "Rock" upon which Jesus would build His Church.
Peter Lacked Spiritual Understanding.
After Jesus reproved the Jews for their lack of faith, mercy and obedience, Peter asked Jesus to explain the parable He had just given them. Jesus answers Peter with a rebuke for his lack of understanding the basic spiritual truths which he should have understood by this time.
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"Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable.
And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?
Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?
But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man" (Matthew 15:15-20).
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This is not the picture of the "Rock" upon which Jesus would build His Church.
Peter Loved The Things Of Men And Not The Things Of God
After having made the great confession concerning Jesus being the Christ, and then being commended by Jesus for his confession,
1) Peter took it upon himself to "rebuke" Jesus for His prophecy about His coming crucifixion and
2) Jesus then called Peter, "Satan" for
3) being an offence to Jesus and because
4) Peter did not "savour" the things that were of God, but rather
5) he savored the things which were of Satan.
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"Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men" (Matthew 16:20-23).
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This is not the picture of the "Rock" upon which Jesus would build His Church.
Peter Lacked Spiritual Depth
When Simon Peter was present at the "Transfiguration of Christ",
1) he became sleepy along with John and James and
2) he failed to understand the meaning and impact of that great event.
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"And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.
And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.
And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:
Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.
But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.
And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said" (Luke 9:28-33).
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This is not the picture of the "Rock" upon which Jesus would build His Church.
Peter Was Self Oriented
The disciples had followed Jesus and witnessed His miracles, message and methods in ministering to people with all kinds of needs. They had experienced as well as seen His love, mercy and power. They had been exposed to the reality of eternal promises as well as temporal provisions. They had walked with, talked with and lived with God in the flesh. After all of this, Peter had no more depth of character or insight than to ask Jesus what he would get for his own personal sacrifice. Though he had "forsaken all" to follow Jesus, his all was not worthy to be compared with the privilege he was afforded by simply being in the presence of Jesus. With all that he had seen Jesus do and all that he had heard Jesus say, he was still wondering what would be his portion for having "forsaken all."
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"Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?" (Matthew 19:27).
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This is not the picture of the "Rock" upon which Jesus would build His Church.
Peter Did Not Honor Jesus Authority
In demonstration of His Servanthood , Jesus prepared to wash the feet of the disciples. This was a very sacred and special moment. Instead of humbly and obediently yielding to Jesus Christ, Peter
1) disrespectfully and without discernment, questioned Jesus on His action and
2) boldly resisted and rebuked Jesus in His demonstration of love. When Jesus told Peter that he must allow Jesus to wash his feet if he wanted to have part in Jesus,
3) Peter presumed to tell Jesus to wash his hands and his head.
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"Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head" (John 13:6-9).
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This is not the picture of the "Rock" upon which Jesus would build His Church.
Peter Resorted To Violence Instead Of Submission
When Jesus came to the moment for which He was born into this world, His betrayal into the hands of His accusers, to be crucified, Peter
1)used a sword to whack off the ear of a servant of the High Priest, though
2)he did not take up arms against the armed guard which was taking Jesus into custody. Peter was then
3)rebuked by Jesus for his action and then
4)Jesus told Peter that this was the cup which He was appointed to drink (which had been told to Peter time and again, but Peter had not understood and accepted.)
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"Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.
Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?" (John 18:10-11).
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This is not the picture of the "Rock" upon which Jesus would build His Church.
Peter Leaned Upon And Boasted In His Carnal Abilities
The night leading to Jesus betrayal He shared "the bread and the cup" with His disciples. A more solemn and sacred time had never joined man and God than at this moment. Jesus foretold the events of the next several hours which would take Him away and would scatter them. He told them that they would be scattered.
1) Peter then boasted in his own strength and loyalty, contrary to what Jesus had just said to him.
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"And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.
Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.
Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended" (Matthew 26:30-33).
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Peter Was Warned That He Would Deny Jesus
Jesus then foretold Peter's denial in the face of opposition.
2) Peter would not only fail, he would fail time and again.
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"Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice" (Matthew 26:34).
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Peter Persisted In His Empty Boast
Peter, along with the other disciples boasted that he would not deny Jesus, in spite of Jesus statement to the contrary.
3) Peter offered an empty boast.
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"Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples" (Matthew 26:35).
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This is not the picture of the "Rock" upon which Jesus would build His Church.
Peter Denied Christ, He Coward Before And Lied To A Young Maid And Swore That He Did Not Know Christ
While Jesus was on trial, Peter was waiting outside of the High Priest Palace with some others to see how things would turn out. While standing there, warming himself by a fire, a young woman saw Peter and recognizing him she inquired if he was not one of the followers of Jesus. Peter, the big, brave, rock solid man upon whom the Roman church wants to build it's church,
1)denied Jesus. After having vacated his original spot, Peter was confronted by another girl who claimed he was one of Jesus' disciples. Again
2)he coward away while denying that he knew Jesus. Finally, a third time Peter was being identified with the Nazarene and he
3)denied and swore that he did not know Jesus.
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"Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.
But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.
And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.
And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.
And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.
Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.
And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly" (Matthew 26:69-75).
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This is not the picture of the "Rock" upon which Jesus would build His Church.
(PETER AFTER THE DAY OF PENTECOST)
A marked difference took place in Peter after Jesus poured out His Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. On that day the Holy Spirit came in His fullness to cleanse and empower those who were already Born of the Spirit believers in Jesus Christ. With this cleansing and empowering, Peter was miraculously moved forward in his relationship with God, to leave behind his continuous up-and-down relationship which he had been experiencing with Jesus. However, he still did not qualify to become the Rock upon which Jesus would build His Church. Peter's life became more consistent and more productive, but he never entered the realm of being infallible. Peter was definitely a dynamic disciple and an awesome apostle, but he was never the Rock upon which Jesus would build His Church.
Peter Was The "Sent," Not The "Sender"
When the Church was growing and spreading to the Samaritans, the leaders of the Church (the apostles) sent Peter and John to minister to them. Church leadership was in the apostles corporately, not Peter specifically. Peter was subject to the other apostles rather than the other apostles being subject to Peter. Peter and John were deemed the best to send, but it was Peter who was sent, not Peter the so-called "Pre-late" who did the sending.
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"Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John" (Act 8:14).
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Peter Was Said To Be One Among Others, Who Were The Pillars Of The Church
Peter is mentioned as one of those apostles who ministered to the Jews while Paul went to the Gentile world. Peter is listed after James, (the half brother to Jesus and the pastor of the Jerusalem Church, which might be considered the "Mother Church" since it was the first and foremost church of the New Testament times.) Peter is recognized as one of the pillars of the Church, not the Rock upon which the Church is built.
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"And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision" (Galatians 2:9).
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Peter Was Found Guilty Of Hypocrisy And Rebuked By Paul
As Paul was reflecting on his own calling and ministry, he recalled the occasion when he rebuked Peter for standing with the Jews in requiring obedience to Jewish ceremony. The gospel of Christ sets people free from sin and "works salvation," but Peter was siding with the Jews and denying the gospel of liberty. In Paul's record, Peter,
1)"was to be blamed", because
2)he separated himself from the Gentile believers because he feared the Jews and because he
3)led others into "hypocrisy."
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"But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation" (Galatians 2:11-13).
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For Peter's decision to
1)not walk uprightly, he was
2)rebuked by Paul,
3)before all of those present..
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"But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?" (Galatians 2:14).
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Peter Refused To Be Bowed Down To And To Be Worshipped
Peter understood that he was a recipient of God's grace and not one who should be worshipped. Peter knew that there is only One Who is Worthy to be worshipped and He is Jesus the Christ, the Son of the Living God, the Rock upon Whom the Church was being built. Peter is no more worthy to be worshipped than any other man. We cannot allow people to show us the same honor which is due only to Jesus Christ. Peter knew this, too bad the popes of the Roman church don't know this.
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"And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man" (Acts 10:25-26).
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Peter Was Married
Though the Roman church claims to have a special revelation from God which denied the marriage of it's so-called priesthood, the fact is that Peter the so-called first Pope of the Roman church was married. (The Bible teaches that Christ is wed to the Church whereas the Roman church teaches that her priesthood and ministers are married to the church. There is only one Bridegroom and Bride, Jesus and His Church, not the Roman church and her ministry.)
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"Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?" (1Corinthians 9:5).
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Of course, Peter was living according to God's Word which revealed that ministers of the gospel could be married,
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"A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife..." (I Timothy 3:2).
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God also made it clear, requiring celibacy for ministers of the gospel would be a doctrine of demons (the position of the Roman church),
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"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats" (I Timothy 4:1-3).
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Peter wrote two of the twenty-seven books of the New Testament, whereas Paul wrote at least thirteen of those books. John wrote five and Luke wrote two. Only James and Jude, Matthew, Mark and the writer of Hebrews wrote fewer books than Peter wrote. Of those five books only James and Jude have less wrote less material than Peter.
In Peter's introduction to his first epistle he calls himself "an apostle of Jesus Christ." He did not claim to be the only or the most important apostle. He recognized that he was simply one among many.
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"Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia" (I Peter 1:1).
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In his second epistle, he introduces his writing by pointing out his position as servant, not ruler; he also reiterates his position as AN apostle, not the apostle or the Rock or the Holy Father (another title reserved for God which has been pirated by the Roman church for it's self appointed Head of the Church.)
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"Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ" (II Peter 1:1).
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Peter Was One Of The Elders Of The Early Church, Not The Prime Elder
When he came to the close of his first epistle, Peter made no claim to a special position among the elders of the early church. Peter was simply,
1)"also an elder" and
2)"a witness" and 3) "a partaker" along with others.
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"The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed" (I Peter 5:1).
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Peter's words of exhortation were for others to also "1) feed 2) the flock of God" and take oversight, 3) not for money, nor as 4) lording it over the flock but by 5) being an example to the flock. Peter was calling them to be servants as he was, a servant.
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"Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock" (I Peter 5:2-3).
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Peter finished this portion of his address by saying that he was looking for the return of the chief Shepherd. Peter understood his position as just one of the many who were saved by the grace of God; and the Supreme position of Jesus as the Chief.
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"And when the chief Shepherd shall appear" (I Peter 5:4).
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We either accept the authority of God's Scripture which never changes or the words of religious leaders who contradict God's eternal Word. We either accept the preponderance of evidence found in the Scriptures which make it clear that Jesus Christ is the Rock upon which He would build His Church or we believe the self serving interpretation of the Roman Catholic Church which makes itself and it's imitation Christ the final authority.
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