The Strand Study Bible

MATTHEW MATTHEW 16:18 c This word ( will build ) is a Greek verb that is future in tense and means, “ will be building .” According to Jesus, the formation of His Church was still future. And it was. It started at Pentecost ( Acts 2:1 ,14). 16:18 d This word ( church ) is the Greek word HNNOKσLD ( ekklesia ) and means, “ a calling ( klesis ), out of ( ek ).” Ekklesia was used to describe one of five different assemblies: 1. The assembly of Israel in the wilderness as a nation (Acts 7:38) 2. The assembly of a riotous mob (Acts 19:32,41) 3. The assembly of Greek citizens gathered together to discuss the affairs of state (Acts 19:39) 4. The assembly of a Jewish congregation ( Heb 2:12 ) and/or a Jewish synagogue ( Mt 18:17 a and Heb 10:25 ) 5. The assembly of called-out believers; the Church, whether local (Acts 20:28) or universal (Heb 12:23) ( Acts 2:1 ) NOTE – According to Matthew 16:16-18, the Church (the assembly of called-out believers) is God’s choice of vehicle to drive home the truth of the Gospel to an unregenerate world. It is essential; therefore, that Christians understand the “kind” of Church Jesus had in mind. The “kind” of Church Jesus had in mind makes no reference to any one local congregation, external organization, or religious denomination on earth. Christ’s promise was of a “singular” Church (universal Church) made up of all true born-again believers (Heb 12:23). In order to fully understand the “kind” of Church Jesus had in mind, so that envy, pride, and selfishness do not get in the way of reaching the world with the Gospel through the Church, Christians are given five metaphors (a figure of speech in which one thing is spoken of as if it were another) from the NT to describe the Church. Jesus’ Church was meant to be a: 1. Brotherhood – A brotherhood means family. It’s where tolerance for other family members (other believers) is practiced (I Pet 2:17). There would be a whole lot less envy, pride, and selfishness within the local church if Christians took to heart the metaphor that jesus’ Church is supposed to be a brotherhood, a place where tolerance for another believer’s race, culture, and style of worship exists. People are welcome to join “a” church (religion or denomination), but not “the” Church. To become a part of “the” Church (God’s Church) people must be “born into it” via the new birth (I Jn 5:1, Jn 3:1-7 and I Pet 1:23). 2. Body – A body means there are different parts. It’s where unity amongst diversity exists (Psa 133:1, Eph 1:22-23 & 3:1-6 & 4:4,16 & 5:23 and Colo 1:18). 3. Building – A building means there has to be structure. It’s where holiness is the standard in building ( Isa 6:3 , Mt 16:18, Eph 2:19-22, Heb 12:14 and I Pet 2:5) . 4. Bride – A bride means somebody is loved. It’s where the love of the BRIDEGROOM for the bride is emphasized (Jn 3:29 and Eph 5:25-32), not the love of the bride for the BRIDEGROOM. 5. Bright light – A bright light means illumination. It’s where the Gospel is the emphasis of the local church (Mt 5:14-16). THE ADAGE IS TRUE: Church shouldn’t be something we go to; it should be something we belong to 16:18e “Gates” belong to cities and describe a defensive posturing. Meaning: The world, which is Satan’s domain (II Cor 4:4), is on the defense whenever we attack it with the Gospel. Is it no wonder the Devil doesn’t like that part of the armor of God that causes it to fall back in a defensive position (Acts 4:13-21 & 5:25-29). If you want to put the Evil One on the defense, just put the Gospel shoes on ( Eph 6:15 ). NOTE – Like the vision that God gave to Zechariah concerning Israel ( Zech 1 :18- 21 ), the Church of JESUS CHRIST (the vehicle of choice for getting out the message of salvation for this age – SOS 6:3 ) cannot be destroyed ( and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it ); for the Jewish/Gentile Church replaced the nation of Israel as the vehicle of choice for getting out the message of salvation ( Mt 21 :17- 19b ). 16:19 The authority ( keys ) to open the doors of Christianity were given to Peter, who used that right on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1,14). Whatever authority was given to Peter was also given to the rest of the apostles (Mt 18:18 and Jn 20:22-23). 16:20 The reason Jesus told his disciples not to inform the world ( tell no man ) as to who He was... is because they did not fully understand what the promised OT MESSIAH was sent to do. They thought the CHRIST would come and set up His Kingdom immediately (Acts 1:6-7) and heal the world of all its problems, but that is not why He came the first time. Had the disciples presented Jesus as the Christ at this time they would have misrepresented Christ’s mission to the world at that time. 16:22 None of the disciples (vs 24) seemed to grasp the fact that Jesus was going to die, be buried, and rise again ( this shall not be unto thee ). Meaning, they didn’t “appear” to understand the Gospel. Or did they? While the disciples may not have understood every aspect concerning the actual death, burial and resurrection of CHRIST ( Lk 18:34 ), they did understand the “facts” behind the actual death, burial and resurrection, and it is the “facts” behind the Gospel that save a person ( I Cor 15:1 ). 16:24-26 Jesus was speaking here to believers ( his disciples, his life , a man ), not unbelievers ( Lk 17: 26- 32-33 ). What He was saying was, “What does it profit the believer if he becomes a CEO of a big corporation but fails in his relationship with God?” Jesus admonished believers here to embrace the eternal perspective ( II Cor 4:18 ). Charles Spurgeon, in a sermon he preached in 1888, noted: 1524

Doth that man love his Lord who would be willing to see Jesus wearing a crown of thorns, while for himself he craves a chaplet of laurel? Shall Jesus ascend to his throne by the cross, and do we expect to be carried there on the shoulders of applauding crowds? Be not so vain in your imagination. Count you the cost, and if you are not willing to bear Christ’s cross, go away to your farm and to your merchandise, and make the most of them; only let me whisper this in your ear, “What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” 1

THE ADAGE IS TRUE: All that is not eternal is eternally useless

1 Spurgeon, Charles. “Holding Fast the Faith,” The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit , Vol. 34 (London: Passmore and Alabaster, 1888). Print