explain what Jesus means in Matthew regarding Peter being the rock.
The Catholic Church believes he was the first pope.” In response we
said:
“There are two words in Matthew 16:18 which must not be confused.
“PETROS” is the Greek word for a pebble, a small stone that can be
thrown around. That’s the name which Jesus gave Simon when He first
met him (John 1:42). From the beginning, Jesus knew the wishy-washy
character of Simon. By the time of Matthew 16 (which was near the
crucifixion) Peter had distinguished himself for being brash and
unstable, living up to that humble name Jesus gave him in an effort to
prepare him for that night when Peter denied Him three times.
The second word in Matthew 16:18 is “PETRA,” which means a great
outcrop of rock on which people would build a skyscraper. That’s the
“rock” on which Jesus said He will build His church. Peter himself
vigorously denies that he is the “petra” on which Christ builds His
church (see 1 Peter 2:4-8). The Bible frequently identifies the Lord
Himself as the “rock” or “stone” of our salvation (Deut. 32:4; 2 Sam.
22:32; Psalm 18:31; 95:1; 1 Cor. 3:11).
Our subscriber wrote back: “That was clear and beautiful. I will share
it with my Catholic friends.”
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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