Matthew 16:18

“And I say also unto thee, etc.] Either besides what he had already said concerning his happiness; or, as the father had revealed something great and valuable, so likewise would he; or inasmuch as he had freely said and declared who, and what he was, in like manner he also would say what Peter was, thou art Peter: intimating, that he was rightly called Peter, or Cephas, by him, when he first became a follower of him, (<400418>Matthew 4:18 <430142> John 1:42), which words signify the same thing, a rock, or stone; because of his firmness and solidity, and because he was laid upon the sure foundation, and built on the rock Christ, and was a very fit stone to be laid in the spiritual building.…”

“And I say also unto thee--that is, "As thou hast borne such testimony to Me, even so in return do I to thee." That thou art Peter--At his first calling, this new name was announced to him as an honor afterwards to be conferred on him (Joh 1:43). Now he gets it, with an explanation of what it was meant to convey. and upon this rock--As "Peter" and "Rock" are one word in the dialect familiarly spoken by our Lord--the Aramaic or Syro-Chaldaic, which was the mother tongue of the country--this exalted play upon the word can be fully seen only in languages which have one word for both. Even in the Greek it is imperfectly represented. In French, as WEBSTER and WILKINSON remark, it is perfect,…”

“See also Mark 8:27-29, and Luke 9:18-20. Cesarea Philippi - There were two cities in Judea called Caesarea. One was situated on the borders of the Mediterranean (See the notes at Acts 8:40), and the other was the one mentioned here. This city was greatly enlarged and ornamented by Philip the tetrarch, son of Herod, and called Caesarea in honor of the Roman emperor, Tiberius Caesar. To distinguish it from the other Caesarea the name of Philip was added to it, and it was called Caesarea Philippi, or Caesarea of Philippi. It was situated in the boundaries of the tribe of Naphtali, at the foot of Mount Hermon. It is now called Panias or Banias, and contains (circa 1880’s) about 200 houses, and…”

“On this rock - Alluding to his name, which signifies a rock, namely, the faith which thou hast now professed; I will build my Church - But perhaps when our Lord uttered these words, he pointed to himself, in like manner as when he said, Destroy this temple, Joh 2:19; meaning the temple of his body. And it is certain, that as he is spoken of in Scripture, as the only foundation of the Church, so this is that which the apostles and evangelists laid in their preaching. It is in respect of laying this, that the names of the twelve apostles (not of St. Peter only) were equally inscribed on the twelve foundations of the city of God, Rev 21:14. The gates of hell - As gates and walls were the…”

“16:18 The phrase upon this rock is a pun on Peter’s name. Peter was the foundational rock in that he was the first confessor and leader of the apostles—he was the “founding member” of the church (see Eph 2:20-22; Rev 21:14). Some scholars have suggested that Jesus was referring to himself when he said this rock, but it seems clear that Jesus was referring either to Peter or to his confession. However, it is clearly Jesus’ church (my church), not Peter’s, and Jesus himself will build it. So it is not necessary to conclude that later church leaders must derive their authority from Peter. • Matthew is the only Gospel writer who uses the term church (also Matt 18:17). The idea here is more the…”

“thou: Mat 10:2; Joh 1:42; Gal 2:9 upon: Isa 28:16; Co1 3:10, Co1 3:11; Eph 2:19-22; Rev 21:14 I will: Zac 6:12, Zac 6:13; Co1 3:9; Heb 3:3, Heb 3:4 my: Mat 18:17; Act 2:47, Act 8:1; Eph 3:10, Eph 5:25-27, Eph 5:32; Col 1:18; Ti1 3:5, Ti1 3:15 and the: Gen 22:17; Sa2 18:4; Job 38:17; Psa 9:13, Psa 69:12, Psa 107:18, Psa 127:5; Pro 24:7; Isa 28:6, Isa 38:10; Co1 15:55 \*marg. shall not: Psa 125:1, Psa 125:2; Isa 54:17; Joh 10:27-30; Rom 8:33-39; Heb 12:28; Rev 11:15, Rev 21:1-4 Matthew 16:19”