Peter's Faith; JESUS' Promises

"After that, JESUS came to Caesarea Philippi.  HE asked HIS disciples, 'Who do people say the Son of Man is?'  They said, 'For some of them, YOU are John the Baptist; for others Elijah, or Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.'

JESUS asked them, 'But you, who do you say I AM?'  Peter answered, 'YOU are the Messiah, the Son of the living GOD.'  JESUS replied, 'It is well for you, Simon Barjona, for it is not flesh or blood that has revealed this to you, but MY FATHER in heaven.

And now I say to you: You are Peter; and on this Rock I will build MY Church; and never will the powers of death overcome it.

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you unbind on earth shall be unbound in heaven.'" - Matthew 16:13-19  

(One parable of the kingdom of GOD already foretold the Church [Matthew 13:31-33].  This present text openly refers to the Church:

- it tells us what its foundation is: faith in JESUS, the CHRIST and Son of GOD;

- it focuses on the primacy of Peter among all the apostles;

- it suggests that the Church will always need a visible head.  This is the successor of Peter, the pope.

Faith in the in the Son of GOD, which Peter, among the apostles is the first to proclaim, really comes from GOD.  This faith is not a human opinion, or a sentimental attachment.  It does not come from flesh and blood, an expression that for the Jews meant what is purely human, what a human being does and understands by his own capacity.  The words with which JESUS greets Peter, it is well for you Simon Barjona, are true for all the believers.  For it is the FATHER who has chosen us and has brought us to CHRIST: see John 6:37; 6:44.

Next, the primacy of Peter is emphasized.  His name was Simon, but JESUS gave him this surname of Rock, foreseeing that he would be for his Church a foundation rock [John 1:40].  This change of his name attests that a mission is given to him as happened to Abraham and Jacob [Genesis 17:5 and 32:19].  Other texts attest to the leadership and faith of Peter: Matthew 10:2; 14:28; 17:25; Luke 5:8-10; 22:32; John 6:68; 21:15-19.)

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