Matthew 16:18 kjv
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 nkjv
And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
Matthew 16:18 niv
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
Matthew 16:18 esv
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Matthew 16:18 nlt
Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means 'rock'), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.
Matthew 16 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 32:4 | “The Rock, His work is perfect... A God of faithfulness and without injustice, righteous and upright is He." | God as a steadfast Rock and foundation. |
| Ps 18:2 | The Lord is my rock... my fortress and my deliverer... my strong tower. | God as a refuge and solid foundation. |
| Isa 28:16 | "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a costly cornerstone for the foundation... Whoever believes will not be in a hurry." | Prophecy of Christ as the true cornerstone/foundation. |
| 1 Cor 3:11 | For no one can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. | Explicitly states Christ is the singular foundation. |
| Eph 2:20 | Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone. | The church's foundation is apostolic teaching, centered on Christ. |
| 1 Pet 2:4-8 | Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected by men... you yourselves also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house... For this is contained in Scripture: "Behold, I am laying in Zion a chosen and precious cornerstone..." | Christ as the Living Stone, believers as living stones built into Him. |
| Rom 9:33 | "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, and he who believes in Him will not be disappointed." | Identifies Christ as the 'rock' which some stumble over. |
| 1 Cor 10:4 | And all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. | Christ as the spiritual rock in the wilderness. |
| John 6:68-69 | Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.” | Peter's confession reflecting faith, aligning with his Mat 16 confession. |
| Deut 4:10 | "...on the day you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, when the Lord said to me, ‘Assemble the people to Me, that I may let them hear My words..." | Old Testament concept of the "assembly" (Qahal), precursor to "ekklesia." |
| Acts 2:47 | ...And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. | The active building and growth of the early church by Christ. |
| Acts 20:28 | "...be shepherds of the church of God which He purchased with His own blood." | Highlights Christ's ownership and purchase of the church. |
| Eph 1:22-23 | He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body... | Christ as the ultimate Head of the church, His body. |
| Col 1:18 | He is also head of the body, the church... so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. | Reinforces Christ's supreme authority over the church. |
| Eph 5:25-27 | ...Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her... so that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory... | Christ's love and ultimate purpose for His church. |
| Rev 1:18 | "I am the living One... I have the keys of death and of Hades." | Christ's absolute authority over death and Hades. |
| 1 Cor 15:54-57 | "Death is swallowed up in victory... O Death, where is your victory? O Death, where is your sting?" ... thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. | Victory over the power of death and the grave. |
| Heb 2:14-15 | ...He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil... | Christ's conquest over death and Satan through His own death. |
| Job 38:17 | Have the gates of death been revealed to you, or have you seen the gates of deep darkness? | Ancient Near Eastern understanding of "gates" as powerful boundaries/control over death. |
| Mat 28:20 | "...I am with you always, even to the end of the age." | Christ's promise of perpetual presence and preservation of His church. |
| Rom 8:38-39 | For I am convinced that neither death, nor life... nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. | God's unbreakable promise of secure love, despite adverse powers. |
| Jude 1:24 | Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy... | God's power to preserve His people. |
Matthew 16 verses
Matthew 16 18 Meaning
Matthew 16:18 presents a foundational declaration by Jesus regarding His identity, the role of Peter, the establishment of His church, and its eternal endurance against spiritual adversaries. Following Peter's profound confession of Jesus as "the Christ, the Son of the living God," Jesus responds by stating Peter's new name, "Peter" (Petros), and then declares that upon "this rock" (petra) He will build His unique assembly, the church. The verse concludes with an assurance that even the powerful forces of death and evil, personified as the "gates of Hades," will never overcome or extinguish this divinely established community. It signifies Christ's ownership and unbreakable promise of preservation for His church.
Matthew 16 18 Context
Matthew 16:18 follows immediately after a pivotal dialogue between Jesus and His disciples at Caesarea Philippi, a region marked by pagan worship, notably a sanctuary for Pan and a temple dedicated to Emperor worship. Jesus initiates a profound inquiry, first asking what people generally say about His identity, eliciting various human opinions. He then narrows the question, directly challenging His disciples: "But who do you say that I am?" It is in response to this personal question that Simon Peter, divinely inspired, declares, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." This confession marks a turning point in Jesus' public ministry, leading to His pronouncement about building His church and revealing His subsequent mission to Jerusalem to suffer and die. The setting, location, and preceding confession provide the essential backdrop for understanding the significance of Jesus' words about His church's divine foundation and invincibility against the powers of Hades, contrasting sharply with the unstable human and pagan authorities surrounding them.
Matthew 16 18 Word analysis
- And I tell you: This phrase introduces a solemn, authoritative declaration from Jesus. It underscores the divine weight and truthfulness of the following statement.
- you are Peter (Σὺ εἶ Πέτρος, Sy ei Petros):
- Peter (Petros): A male Greek proper name, meaning "stone" or "piece of rock." This is the new name Jesus gives to Simon. While a significant identity, it is grammatically distinct from the word used for "the rock" immediately following. It emphasizes Peter's individual identity and a specific, though not exclusive, foundational role linked to his confession.
- and on this rock (καὶ ἐπὶ ταύτῃ τῇ πέτρᾳ, kai epi taute te petra):
- Rock (Petra): A female Greek noun, signifying a large, immovable mass of rock, bedrock, or a cliff. This term is distinct from Petros (male, a stone). The crucial point of interpretation centers here: Does "this rock" refer to Peter himself, Peter's confession, or Jesus Christ? The context points strongly to Peter's preceding confession of Jesus as the Christ, implying that the foundational truth for the church is this core identity of Jesus Christ. Some interpretations argue it refers to Peter as the first confessor upon whom the church's early ministry would be built, while others argue that Petra unequivocally refers to Christ Himself, who Peter had just identified.
- I will build (οἰκοδομήσω, oikodomeso):
- Future tense, active voice, signifying Christ's direct, personal, and intentional agency in establishing His church. It implies a process of construction. The church is not a human initiative but a divine work.
- my church (μου τὴν ἐκκλησίαν, mou ten ekklesian):
- My: Christ explicitly states His ownership. The church belongs to Him; it is His possession and His body.
- Church (Ekklesia): From ek (out of) + kaleo (to call). Meaning "a called-out assembly" or "gathering." In the Septuagint, ekklesia translates the Hebrew qahal, referring to the "assembly of Israel." Jesus here expands this concept to a new assembly gathered around Him, distinct yet spiritually continuous with God's people. It refers to a living organism of believers, not primarily a building or denomination.
- and the gates (καὶ πύλαι, kai pylai):
- Gates: Symbolize power, authority, strategic strength, counsel, and defense, as city gates were central points of commerce, law, and military strength in the ancient world. "The gates of hell" represents the full organized power and dominion of the spiritual realm of death and evil, encompassing all forms of opposition and destruction.
- of hell (ᾅδου, hadou):
- Hades (Haides): In the Greek context, the abode of the dead, the underworld. It is used synonymously with Sheol in the Old Testament. Here, it signifies the dominion and power of death, darkness, and evil forces, often personified. It's not just a place but a realm of hostile spiritual powers.
- shall not prevail against it (οὐ κατισχύσουσιν αὐτῆς, ou katiskhysousin autes):
- Prevail (katischyo): To have superior strength, to overcome, conquer, or master. It indicates a powerful, active resistance or assault. The active voice and strong negation guarantee the church's invincibility against any and all assaults from Hades, spiritual darkness, death, or any hostile power. The church's perseverance is a divine guarantee rooted in Christ's power.
Matthew 16 18 Bonus section
The immediate naming of "Peter" from Simon, a name not common before this in history for Jews, underscores a new identity and purpose given by Christ. This shift from "Simon" to "Peter" is a personal recognition of Peter's crucial role as the first to confess the foundational truth upon which the church would be built. This foundational truth of Christ's identity, which Peter voiced, precedes the establishment of the church itself. It implies that the church's power and existence flow from divine revelation and recognition of Jesus' divine sonship.
Matthew 16 18 Commentary
Matthew 16:18 is a monumental statement revealing the very nature, foundation, and destiny of Christ's church. It is given immediately after Peter's Spirit-revealed confession of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God. This pivotal moment underscores that the church is not merely a human institution but a divinely purposed and founded assembly. Jesus' declaration about Peter as Petros and the "rock" (Petra) signifies that the church will be built on the bedrock truth of Christ's messianic identity, a truth Peter had just articulated. While Peter himself played a unique initial role in proclaiming this truth (Acts 2), Christ remains the ultimate, singular foundation.
The phrase "I will build My church" highlights Christ's singular agency and ownership. The church belongs to Him; He establishes it and provides for its growth and sustenance. Furthermore, the promise that "the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it" serves as an unbreakable assurance of the church's enduring existence. This is not a passive guarantee against being swallowed up, but an active declaration of invincibility against all the attacking, strategic powers of death, evil, and the spiritual underworld. Whether understood as physical persecution, theological heresies, internal strife, or the ultimate enemy of death itself, no force wielded from the realm of darkness can defeat or dismantle the church established by Christ. It is an institution secured by divine power, destined for triumph through Christ's continuous presence and Lordship. This provides unwavering hope and confidence for believers throughout history.