In Matthew 16 is a well-known but controversially understood verse. Jesus asks the disciples who they think He is and gets various replies. Upon hearing Peter’s reply, Jesus says, “…and upon this rock I will build My church.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. Matthew 16:16-18
The New Testament was written in Koine Greek, the common, less formal Greek language. There are nuances that don’t transfer over to English. There is an important word play here that doesn’t come across well in our language.
Jesus calls Peter petros, a word meaning a very small stone. The word we translate as ‘rock’ is petra, meaning a massive, immovable bedrock.
This same word, petra, is used elsewhere in the bible to describe absolute stability. The wise man builds his house on petra (Matthew 7:24). The solid petra is where Jesus tomb was carved (Matthew 27:60).
The idea that Jesus the Christ is the rock is further reinforced in Scripture. In 1 Corinthians 10:4, Paul identifies the imagery with Christ, stating, “…that Rock was Christ.” Similarly, throughout the Old Testament, “Rock” is a title reserved for God, not a human leader (see Psalm 18:2)
When Jesus is saying “upon this rock…” What is he saying?
By moving from the image of a “small stone” to that of “solid bedrock,” we are gently drawn into a deeper understanding. When Jesus said, “upon this rock,” He pointed beyond the strength of any one man to something far more enduring—the truth that had just been revealed: that He is the Messiah.
Peter was chosen, shaped, and given a meaningful role, yet even he stood upon that same foundation. The strength of the Church does not rise from human ability, but from the unshakable reality of who Christ is.
And so the Church stands—firm, steady, and secure—because it is built upon this rock: the living truth of Jesus Himself.
Hold fast to the petra, the living bedrock of Jesus.
Be blessed
Kevin
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Summary
In Matthew 16, Jesus contrasts Peter (a small stone) with the “rock” (petra), pointing not to Peter himself but to the foundational truth that Jesus is the Messiah. The Church is built on this unshakable reality—Christ Himself—not on human strength.
Three takeaways:
The “rock” refers to the revealed truth of Jesus’ identity, not merely Peter as a person.
Scripture consistently uses “rock” (petra) as a symbol of divine stability, often pointing to God or Christ.
The Church’s foundation is secure because it rests on who Jesus is, not on human leaders.
