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. 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. 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. -MT 16:17-19
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. I tell you that you are PETER, and on this ROCK I will build my CHURCH...
Jesus changed Simon's name to Peter which means rock. Nobody was never named Peter before. God has changed name of many people in the Bible who has significant role in Salvation History:
1. Abram to Abraham 2. Sarai to Sarah 3. Jacob to Israel
Take note that Jesus speaks Aramaic. The Bible was written in Hebrew and translated into Greek. Peter is the English of Petros which is Greek. Petros came from the Greek word petra.
Literal translation will be: "I tell you are rock, and on this rock..."
Original name in Aramaic is, Cephas/Kephas. Refer to John 1:42
And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas" (which, when translated, is Peter). John 1:42
Take note, that Jesus said "I will build my Church" and not churches.
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 bee LOOSED in heaven.
The Jews are culturally literate
Key is a symbol of stewardship
Davidic kings have a royal steward, similar to Secretary of State, executive secretary. Only answerable to the king
“In that day I will summon my servant, Eliakim son of Hilkiah. I will clothe him with your robe and fasten your sash around him and hand your authority over to him. He will be a father to those who live in Jerusalem and to the people of Judah. I will place on his shoulder the KEY to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. -Isaiah 22:20-23
Isaiah 22 comes into the mind of the audience of Jesus when he spoke Matthew 16
“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32
This verse shows, to be avoided to be sifted by Satan, they are to remain with Peter. Peter is the visible source of unity
So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My lambs.” He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep. John 21:15-17
Peter was singled out by Jesus to tender his flock
Peter is given the command to feed both lambs and sheep-young and old
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ SEAT. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.
Matthew 23:1-3
Moses seat and judge the people day and night
The chair (cathedra) was taken from the seat of Moses which is 1,500 years old before Jesus built His Church upon Peter.
The Chair of Peter has been understood for 150 years before the New Testament was collected into a book.