Jesus asks his disciples who they say he is. Simon Peter answers that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Jesus tells Peter that this revelation came from God, and that he will build his church upon Peter, the "rock", and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. Jesus gives Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven, allowing him to bind and loose on earth and heaven.

2. 13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea
Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people
say the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some
say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and
still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
Matthew 16:13–14

3. 15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you
say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the
Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Matthew 16:15–16

4. 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of
Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh
and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 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 16:17–18

5. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of
heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be
bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on
earth will be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he
ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that
he was the Messiah.
Matthew 16:19–20

6. - What is the referent to “the Rock”?
- What are the keys to the kingdom?
- What did Jesus mean by “bind” and “loose”?
Questions to consider

7. 18 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

8. - Peter himself
- Peter’s confession
- The apostles
- Jesus
- Jesus’ teachings
options for the referent of “rock”

9. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of
heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be
bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on
earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Matthew 16:19

10. - Exorcism
- Eternal destiny
- Doctrinal decisions
- Church discipline
Binding and Loosing?

12. 14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that
Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent
Peter and John to Samaria.
Acts 8:14

13. 1 The apostles and the believers throughout
Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received
the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to
Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized
him
Acts 11:1–2

14. 11 When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to
his face, because he stood condemned.
Galatians 2:11

15. 12 For before certain men came from James, he
used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they
arrived, he began to draw back and separate
himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid
of those who belonged to the circumcision
group.
Galatians 2:12

16. 13 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy,
so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was
led astray.
Galatians 2:13

17. 14 When I saw that they were not acting in line
with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in
front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live
like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it,
then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish
customs?
Galatians 2:14

18. 1 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow
elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who
also will share in the glory to be revealed:
1 Peter 5:1

20. As the foundational leaders of the church
Peter and the apostles are the gatekeepers of
the kingdom in as much as they proclaim the
gospel, acceptance of which grants one access
into the kingdom of God.
Big idea

21. 15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you
say I am?”
Matthew 16:15