Have you ever thought about the culture that is around us today and wondered - How does Jesus have to say about it. I have. This is where growing up reading and watching shows based on the Greek - Roman myths helped me. When you look at the Greco Roman culture, you realize that is basically the same as the culture that surrounds us today. When you read through the book of Acts and follow Paul through his missionary journeys, take time to look at the Greek-Roman settings in those texts and look at the Gods that are referenced and how they were worshipped. When you do you see a culture that is very similar to what the Far Left is pushing for - here in the USA, and I imagine throughout Europe. Watch how Paul encounters the culture and how the culture reponds to him. What you find out that Paul is putting legs to what Jesus was talking about in Matthew 16:13-20.
In these verses, Jesus takes the Disciples on a roadtrip to a place called Caesarea Philippi. The place gets its name from Caesar and one of the sons of Herod the Great ( the Herod that had all the male babies 2 years old and younger killed in Bethlehem, in a effort to kill Jesus before he grew up) named Philip, who took over as the Roman ruler of that area after his Dad died. The site was 20 something miles north of Galilee, where the headwaters of the Jordan form. It was known for three things that were there. The temple of Pan, The temple of Caesar, and a cave known as The Gates of Hades ( The Greek God of the Underworld and also the place where he reigned).
The Temple of Pan is important because worship at any of the Greco Roman gave legitimacy to the LGBTO+ lifestyle that was practised in that culture. The Gates of Hades was important, because people made sacrifices of sending kids (goats and maybe human) down that chasm, so that they may embrace that lifestyle. The Temple of Caesar was important because it promotes humans to take the place of God. When humans take the place of God, then the basis of right and wrong becomes who is with me and who is against me, instead of a standard that applies equally towards everyone. We see that today on both sides of the political aisle, and even in our churches.
Jesus begins his teaching here by asking - who do people say the "Son of Man" is. That phrase, "Son of Man" is important, for two reasons. First it is the phrase that Jesus used most to identify himself. The second is its connection to one of Daniel's prophecies. Daniel 7:13-14 says: "13 In my vision in the night I continued to watch, and I saw One like the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence. 14 And He was given dominion, glory, and kingship, that the people of every nation and language should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed." When Jesus called himself the Son of Man, he was saying that he was this ruler.
The next word that is important in this discussion is the phrase that Peter uses. - "Christ, the Son of the living God". This phrase first identifies Jesus as being a descendant of king David who was promised to come and set up a kingdom that would surpass the kingdom of of one of the greatest Kings in both Israel's and the world's history and then it identifies him as being God.
Now comes the controversial part, Matthew 16:18-19 -And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against 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.” there have been a big debate on whether the word rock in verse 18 was referring to Peter which means rock or Christ. I will say this Christ is the chief cornerstone according to scriptures which means that he is the foundation stone, and also we see in Revelation 21:14, the 12 Apostles were listed as foundation stones for New Jerusalem. Now comes the important part of this whole post, comes from these words: "I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against 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." These words can and have been used to justify all kinds of different actions, but we need to know the correct actions that thee words are talking about. The answer to that- comes from watching Paul in Acts as well as his epistles in the New Testament. That sounds simple, but many are not listening to the New Testament. much less actually studying to see what it is actually saying. Which brings us back to the start of this post about Paul and the book of Acts.
*Note Bible quotes are from the Berean Standard Bible which is in the Public Domain.
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