Embedded Files
Today is Day 78!!
We’re talking about THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM
We are talking about THE MYSTERIES OF CHRIST’S LIFE
ALL of Christ’s life is a Mystery
It reveals the depths of God’s heart
Of course we talked about the Christmas Mystery
We talked about the Mystery of Jesus’ infancy
We talked about His Hidden Life
We talked about the Baptism of Jesus and his temptations
We also talked about the Kingdom of God and how Jesus came to establish the Kingdom
The fulfillment of the promise that God had made to Abraham so many years ago
Jesus says, “The kingdom is at hand.”
WHICH IS INCREDIBLE!!
AMAZING!!
Today, Jesus is going to be talking about THE SIGNS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD
Yesterday we talked about how EVERYONE is called to enter the Kingdom
Salvation is from the Jews
And then it goes to the Gentiles
It goes to the WHOLE WORLD
EVERYONE is called to enter the Kingdom
The Kingdom belongs to the POOR AND LOWLY
Yesterday we talked about how Jesus invites sinner to the table
He calls everyone, no matter how broken we are
BUT…
He also calls us to REPENT
He calls us to CHANGE
He calls us to BELONG to him
WE HAVE TO DIE IN ORDER TO LIVE
Today, there are the signs of the kingdom of God
It wasn’t just that Jesus came along and said, “Oh, by the way, the Kingdom of God is at hand for you.”
And everyone just followed along
He had to DEMONSTRATE that he was the Messiah
That He is the messiah with many mighty works and wonders and signs which manifest the fact that the kingdom is present IN HIM, and attest that he IS the promised Messiah
SO THIS IS IMPORTANT
We’re going to talk about how that’s one of the many things, that Jesus’s miracles, signs, and wonders, pointed to the fact thatTHE KINGDOM OF GOD IS AT HAND
THAT HE TRULY IS THE ANOINTED ONE!!
THE KING OF THE ETERNAL KINGDOM!!
We sometimes think of the signs and wonders and we say, “I WANT MORE, LORD! How about if you can heal the sick, how about you heal ALL the sick? If you can raise the dead, how about you raise ALL of the dead?”
AND YET…
That wasn’t why Christ came
The reason that he healed the sick and cast out demons was because he was ESTABLISHING THE KINGDOM
And he was demonstrating through signs and wonders that that is what he was about
That there was a GREATER SLAVERY that he wanted to set us free from
There was a GREATER DEATH that he wanted to bring us back to life from
And that was the SLAVERY OF SIN
That was the DEATH OF ETERNAL DEATH
And so these are signs and wonders that point to the fact that He is establishing a kingdom
We are also going to talk about the fact that Jesus hands over the keys of the kingdom
That in Paragraphs 551-553
Jesus chooses certain men
Twelve of them in number to recapitulate or reconstitute the people of Israel
And among those twelve there is one person, Simon Peter, who holds the first place in the college of the twelve
And Jesus entrusted a UNIQUE MISSION to Peter
And we’re going to talk about that more, as days go on
But today we have this beginning of
Matthew Chapter 16 where Jesus asks the question, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
And they say, “Well, you know, Elijah, Jeremiah, one of the prophets, John the Baptist come back from the dead.”
And he asks them in Matthew Chapter 16, “But who do you say that I am?”
And Simon Peter again, inspired by the Holy Spirit and then the Father reveals this to him says, “You are Christ, the Holy One of God.”
And Jesus says this to him, “Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, my heavenly Father has. You are Peter, Cephas. And upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.”
Now it goes on to say in Paragraph 553 based off of Matthew Chapter 16, “I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven.”
And he gives a UNIQUE AND SPECIFIC AUTHORITY to Peter
Jesus is ESTABLISHING the Kingdom
He is pointing to himself as THE MESSIAH through signs and wonders
He is setting up a STRUCTURE to the kingdom
Because he is making Peter the Prime Minister
He’s making Peter the al-habayit
He’s giving Peter a unique authority
That’s what we’re talking about today in Paragraphs 547 and 553
Before we jump into this,let us pray to the Lord to just, that he’s with us
That as we’re learning, we’re learning not just information
We’re allowing the Lord by the power of his Holy spirit to transform our hearts, not just our minds
Prayer by Father Mike: “Father in heaven, we know you are with us. We know that you love us. We know that we can trust in you. And we have confidence in you. We know that Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, that He demonstrated not only His messianic power, His messianic identity, through His signs and wonders, He also demonstrated His great care for us. He also demonstrated His great love for us through these miracles, through these signs and wonders, through these exorcisms. Because He wants everything that is dead in us to come to life. All those things that are good in us to be made whole. All those things that are holding us back and are keeping us from you, Father, He wants those things to be shed, to be gotten rid of. That we be delivered from the power of the Enemy and brought into your Kingdom, into your family, even more fully than we are right now. Lord, whatever things attach to us, whatever things are clinging to us, whatever things we’re clinging to right now that are holding us back from living freely in your kingdom, we ask you, please, help us to let them go. Help us by removing them from our lives according to your will, according to your will in all things, Father. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen”
INCREDIBLE!!
One part is The Messianic signs of Jesus Christ
John the Baptist, at one point sent his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the one we’re waiting for, or should we look for another?”
Jesus says, “Go tell John this. The blind regained their sight. The deaf hear.”
That basically, “I’m doing the works of the ONE WHO WAS PROMISED.”
Paragraph 547 says, “Jesus accompanies his words with many ‘mighty works and wonders and signs,’ which manifest that the kingdom is present in him and attest that he was the promised Messiah.”
It’s one thing for someone to come along and say, “I have insight into God.”
Or to be able to say, “I have a revelation from God.”
But Jesus not only says these powerful NEW WORDS
Scripture says that He taught with authority, not like the scribes.
BUT…
He also backs up those new words
Those new teachings
Remember in the sermon on the mount and on the sermon in the plain Jesus says, “You have heard it said you have heard it said an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.”
But then he says, “But I say to you, you know, forgive your enemies.”
“You’ve heard it said that you should not commit adultery. But I say to you, “if you look on a person lustfully, you’ve committed adultery.”
So Jesus is giving this new teaching with AUTHORITY
But he’s BACKING UP THAT AUTHORITY by these signs and wonders which point to the fact that he’s not merely another rabbi
IN FACT…
His signs and wonders not only point that he is the Messiah, that he is ushering in the new Kingdom
BUT ALSO…
HE IS ALSO GOD HIMSELF!!
HE IS CLAIMING TO BE GOD AND THEN DEMONSTRATING THE VERY POWER OF GOD!!
That’s what these miracles are also doing
Paragraph 548 says, “The signs worked by Jesus attest that the Father has sent him. They invite belief in him.”
The signs are meant to invite us to this place of saying “Yes.”
This is the place of saying, “OK, you’re not just another prophet.”
“You’re not just another rabbi.”
“You’re not just another person.”
“I’M CALLED TO BELIEVE IN YOU!!”
“I’M CALLED TO PUT MY FAITH IN YOU!!”
“I’M CALLED TO ENTRUST MYSELF TO YOU!!”
Paragraph 548 continues, “To those who turned to him in faith, he grants what they ask. So miracles strengthen the faith… But his miracles can also be occasions for ‘offense.’”
IT IS REMARKABLE!!
How many times have you ever read the Gospels and here’s Jesus doing a miracle and people are upset about this
Maybe it was because it was done on the Sabbath or something along those lines
BUT…
If a miracle happened, you’d think everybody in the area would just be going bananas
THIS IS AMAZING!!
THIS IS THE MOST INCREDIBLE THING!!
Some of Christ’s miracles invite FAITH
Those same miracles can invite ANTAGONISM
If you go to John Chapter 11 and the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead
After Lazarus is raised from the dead it says, “Many of the Jews, because of this, came to believe in him.”
But a couple lines later it says, “But from that moment on, others plotted to kill him.”
JESUS IS DEMONSTRATING THAT HE IS WHO HE SAYS HE IS
BUT…
That demonstration, while it invites BELIEF in some
Others respond to it with the DESIRE TO DESTROY HIM
WHICH IS REMARKABLE!!
Paragraph 548 continues, "His miracles can also be occasions for ‘offense,’ they’re not intended to satisfy people’s curiosity or desire for magic.”
You remember when Jesus went before Herod and he wanted to see Jesus because he wanted to see some miracles
But Jesus not only did not do any miracles in Herod’s presence
He didn’t even SPEAK in Herold’s presence
Herod was just curious
Herod beheaded John the Baptist
He was merely curious
Even with John the Baptist, he was perplexed by him, but he liked to hear him preach
He was merely curious
And this is one of those things for ALL OF US to recognize
AM I MERELY CURIOUS ABOUT JESUS?
AM I MERELY INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT HIM?
Because that’s one thing and it’s maybe a start
BUT…
WE RECOGNIZE THAT CHRIST DID NOT COME TO THIS EARTH…
CHRIST DID NOT PREACH AND DO MIRACLES…
CHRIST DID NOT SUFFER AND DIE AND RISE FROM THE DEAD…
CHRIST DID NOT ASCEND TO HEAVEN…
CHRIST DID NOT GIVE US THE HOLY SPIRIT…
SO THAT OUR CURIOSITY COULD BE SATED!!
BUT…
CHRIST CAME SO WE COULD BELIEVE IN HIM!!
SO WE COULD TRUST IN HIM!!
Paragraph 549 says, “By freeing some individuals from earthly evils of hunger and justice, illness and death, he performed messianic signs. But he did not come to abolish all evils here below…”
THAT’S A MYSTERY!!
Isn’t that just an incredible mystery for us?
BUT…
If we realize that there are more serious things than suffering…
There’s more painful things than physical death…
WE REALIZE THAT JESUS CAME TO SAVE US FROM ETERNAL DEATH!!
HE CAME TO SAVE US FROM THE SLAVERY OF SIN!!
SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY LIVE AS GOD’S SONS AND DAUGHTERS IN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT!!
Jesus’ exorcisms highlight the fact that there is a BATTLE going on
WE ARE BORN INTO THE DOMINION OF DARKNESS
JESUS HAS TRANSFERRED US INTO A KINGDOM OF LIFE IN OUR BAPTISM
And so him setting us free highlights not only the fact that
THANK YOU LORD FOR DOING THIS!!
BUT…
It also highlights the fact that there’s an ENEMY
That Jesus has bound the strong man
AND YET…
We experience the consequences of the REALITY of Satan
The REALITY of there being a world of darkness that is fighting to steal our souls away from our heavenly Father
Paragraphs 551-553 talking about the THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM
Jesus assembles twelve people around him
THESE TWELVE MEN ARE THE TWELVE APOSTLES!!
And not only are they a temporary BAND OF BROTHERS here who were on Earth back in the first century
In The Book of Revelation St John says, “I see heaven come down. And the city of heaven, the new heavenly Jerusalem is built on the foundation stones of the twelve apostles.” (Pretty sure Fr. Mike is paraphrasing 😉)
They have a role throughout the entire history of the world
BUT…
Among them, SIMON PETER HAS A ROLE
How he confesses that, inspired by the Father in the Holy spirit given to him, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.
And Jesus gives him a new name
His name WAS Simon
His name IS NOW Cephas
HIS NAME IS ROCK!!
“And upon this rock I will build my Church.”
Jesus gives him a PARTICULAR and UNIQUE authority
Yes, the other apostles have authority
And their successors, the bishops, have authority
COMPLETELY!!
YES!!
BUT…
Jesus entrusted a SPECIFIC AUTHORITY to Peter
When he says, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on Earth shall be bound in heaven; whatever you loose on Earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
This is a throwback to Isaiah Ch 21 where there was the rolf of the al-habayit, the one over the house
“Al” means OVER
“Ha” means THE
“Bayit” means HOUSE
There’s the King who is the ruler
The King is the King
BUT…
There’s also the STEWARD of the house
Or the PRIME MINISTER of the house
The Prime Minister of the Kingdom was the one who was the al-habayit
And he would have the keys
In Isaiah Ch 21, it talks about Eliakim and Shebna
And one of them was the al-habayit who did not do well
And so he was thrust from his office and another took his place
And he was given the keys to the Kingdom of Judah, “And what he opens, no one shall shut, and what he shuts, no one shall open.”
And he had AUTHORITY
And it was the authority of a FATHER, which is remarkable
Go back and read Isaiah 21 (Let’s take a little stroll down memory lane, shall we? https://www.thebibleinayearstudyguide.com/day-201 😀)
When Jesus is speaking to Peter in Matthew Ch 16, He is referencing so clearly Isaiah Ch 21
Part of that authority that Jesus gives to Peter as the al-habayit, as the prime minister…
Is the authority to ABSOLVE SINS
The authority to PRONOUNCE DOCTRINAL JUDGMENTS
He can say things DEFINITIVELY
To make DISCIPLINARY DECISIONS in the Church
He can GOVERN THE CHURCH
He has the AUTHORITY to do that
Jesus has trusted this AUTHORITY to the CHURCH through the ministry of the APOSTLES
ALL OF THE APOSTLES, AND THEIR SUCCESSORS, THE BISHOPS
And in particular to the ministry of Peter who is the ONLY ONE to whom He SPECIFICALLY ENTRUSTED THE KEYS
The other apostles and their successors, the bishops, have authority
They have authority to govern as well
BUT…
Peter has a UNIQUE ROLE in the midst of the college of apostles
The midst of that fraternity of brothers
It’s just like the Holy Father now
The Pope now has a unique role amongst other bishops who are around the world
WHICH IS JUST INCREDIBLE!!
IT’S INCREDIBLE TO REALIZE THAT WHEN JESUS ESTABLISHED A KINGDOM…
HE IS THE KING!!
HE’S THE MESSIAH!!
HE’S THE ONE WHO BRINGS TOGETHER!!
RECONSTITUTES THE KINGDOM
AND…
HE ALSO GIVES IT A STRUCTURE!!
And part of that structure is that He has given us a PRIME MINISTER
Part of that structure is He has given us these APOSTLES AND THEIR SUCCESSORS, THE BISHOPS
So the Church is not just the invisible church that exists kind of in our dreams, or our imagination, or in our hearts
BUT…
The Church not only exists there
It also exists in REALITY
TANGIBLY
AND PRESENTLY AMONG US TODAY
We are so grateful that our Lord Jesus not only proved that he is the Messiah
But also gave the keys to Simon Peter and to his successors
THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM BELONG TO JESUS!!
THEY ARE HIS!!
THEY ARE HIS KEYS!!
THEY ARE HIS KINGDOM!!
BUT…
HE ENTRUSTED THEM TO PETER!!
And they’ve been entrusted to EVERY POPE since Peter
ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE HOLY FATHER RIGHT NOW!!
WHAT AN INCREDIBLE GIFT!!
We want to thank God today
We want to praise God today for the gift of DEMONSTRATING THAT HE IS WHO HE SAYS HE IS AND TO GIVE GOD THE PRAISE AND GLORY FOR GIVING US THE CHURCH!!
THIS IS JUST REMARKABLE!!
IT IS INCREDIBLE!!
Fr. Mike is praying FOR YOU!!
Please pray for Fr. Mike and for each other!!
I cannot WAIT to see you tomorrow!!
"Signs of the Kingdom: Jesus, Peter, and the Keys"
Notes compiled by Andrew Adamany
Catechism of the Catholic Church
552 “Simon Peter holds the first place in the college of the Twelve; Jesus entrusted a unique mission to him…”
553 “Jesus entrusted a specific authority to Peter: "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." The "power of the keys" designates authority to govern the house of God, which is the Church. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, confirmed this mandate after his Resurrection: "Feed my sheep." The power to "bind and loose" connotes the authority to absolve sins, to pronounce doctrinal judgments, and to make disciplinary decisions in the Church. Jesus entrusted this authority to the Church through the ministry of the apostles and in particular through the ministry of Peter, the only one to whom he specifically entrusted the keys of the kingdom.”
“Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do men say that the Son of man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:13–19)
How did the other Apostles recognize Peter to be the Chief Apostle through the Keys?
To understand the significance of Jesus giving the keys to Peter, it helps to recognize the significance of the keys to Jesus and his identity in the Kingdom: the King.
Part I- Jesus in the Kingdom
One major theme of Jesus' public ministry as told in the New Testament, is that the Promised Messiah would come as the New King David:
Jesus the New David
The Shepherd
David
“And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” (1 Samuel 16:8)
Messianic Prophecy
“I will save my flock, they shall no longer be a prey; and I will judge between sheep and sheep. And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd.” (Ezekiel 34:22-23)
Jesus
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep.” (John 10:11)
The Anointed One, the Spirit, and the Voice of God
David
“And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.” Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward.” (1 Samuel 16:12-13)
Jesus
“And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately out of the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him; and lo, a voice came from heaven saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”” (Matthew 3:16-17)
The Rod of Iron
David
"Why do the nations conspire, and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and his anointed…
I will tell of the decree of the Lord: He said to me, “You are my son, today I have begotten you.Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron," (Psalm 2:1–2, 7-9)
Jesus
"she brought forth a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne," (Revelation 12:5)
With the New Davidic King would come the restoration of the everlasting Kingdom of David
David
"I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son…And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure for ever before me; your throne shall be established for ever.’" (2 Samuel 7:13-14,16)
Jesus
"And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High;
and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,
and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever;
and of his kingdom there will be no end.” (Luke 1:31–33)
The significance that Jesus is the New David restoring, even elevating, is highlighted in Matthew's Gospel, referring to Jesus as "Son of David," "King of the Jews," and preaching of the coming Kingdom of Heaven in his parables. From the first sentence:
"The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham." (Matthew 1:1)
"Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?" (Matthew 2:1–2)
"From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”" (Matthew 4:17)
"At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the sabbath; his disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the sabbath.” He said to them, “Have you not read what David did, when he was hungry, and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests?” (Matthew 12:1–4)
Part II- The Keys of the Davidic King
Another sign of the old Davidic Kingdom that that appears in the New Testament and points to Jesus as the New Davidic King appears in the book of Revelation:
“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one shall shut, who shuts and no one opens.” (Revelation 3:7)
Being the key of David, its ownership ultimately belongs to the king, himself. The key of David appears in the Old Testament as a sign of authority over the house of the King, entrusted to a steward of the king's house
“Thus says the Lord GOD of hosts, “Come, go to this steward, to Shebna, who is over the household, and say to him:...
I will thrust you from your office, and you will be cast down from your station. In that day I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and I will clothe him with your robe, and will bind your girdle on him, and will commit your authority to his hand; and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. And I will fasten him like a peg in a sure place, and he will become a throne of honor to his father’s house." (Isaiah 22:15,19-23)
The key of the king carried the king’s authority to whomever it is given to, not just over his household, but over the kingdom (“The inhabitants of Jerusalem and the house of Judah.”) As Isaiah 22 shows, the key was given to the steward Shebna, and then passed to Eliakim. And with the key, this steward’s authority included the power to open what none shall shut, and shut what none shall open. This is the same authority Christ holds in Revelation 3:7, as the king that the key belongs to.
So when Jesus, to whom the key of David belongs to, says to Peter:
“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:18–19)
Matthew is bearing witness that New David, the heavenly King of Kings, has set the king’s authority over the kingdom, on Peter with a stewardly office overseeing his house and kingdom, the Church (1 Tim 3:15), of which its inhabitants he will be a father to. And with this authority that Christ gave to the apostles collectively afteward (Matthew 18:15-18), Peter is first given unique authority himself to bind in heaven what he binds on earth and loose in heaven what he looses on earth, just as Eliakim, could open what none shall shut, and shut what none shall open. The source of Peter’s authority to do so with such authority is the wisdom and strength of Christ- God the Son- as explained by Job similarly:
“With God are wisdom and might;
he has counsel and understanding.
If he tears down, none can rebuild;
if he shuts a man in, none can open.
If he withholds the waters, they dry up;
if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land.
With him are strength and wisdom” (Job 12:13–16)
If the Old Testament type had authority from an earthly king to shut what none can open in the earthly Davidic kingdom is tied to the authority described be God's in both Job 12:13-16 and Revelation 3:7, how much more so is the authority Peter is given by Christ, the king of heaven and earth, to bind and loose in heaven what is bound and loosed on earth in the heavenly kingdom- the church?
Part III- While the Shepherd King is Away
Just as David was a shepherd who became king, and gave his key, and his authority, to a steward, Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd and King of Kings, entrusted his keys to the kingdom, and his flock, uniquely to Peter:
“Jesus answered, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now; but you shall follow me afterward.” (John 13:36)
“And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” (John 14:3)
“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, “Feed my lambs.” A second time he said to him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend 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 everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”” (John 21:15-17)
Because by Jesus’ example, to lead in the Church meant to be a servant, just as a shepherd serves his flock. When the apostles argued over who would be the greatest among them, he never did say there was no greatest among them. Jesus answered explained the greatest would one who “servant leadership.” Interestingly, without a break in the narrative, or any redirection by the author, Jesus immediately turns to Peter, singling him out as the one He is praying for, and encouraging to strengthen the others:
“A dispute also arose among them, which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors.
But not so with you; rather let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For which is the greater, one who sits at table, or one who serves? Is it not the one who sits at table? But I am among you as one who serves.
“You are those who have continued with me in my trials; and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you*, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you** that your faith may not fail; and when you have turned again, strengthen your brethren.”" (Luke 22:24–32)
* “Satan demanded to have you” (greek “umas” - plural- all the apostles)
** “but I have prayed for you (greek “sou” - singular - Peter)
Part IV- The New Testament Authors Attest to Peter’s position
The way the authors of the books in the New Testament write their Gospels and Epistles, they presuppose to the reader that Peter was the prominent Apostle of the group:
Fun fact! Peter is mentioned 195 in the New Testament, more than all the other Apostles combined.
Even after giving him the name “Peter,” Jesus continued to call him, “Simon,” thereafter. But the authors throughout the Gospels and Epistles, commonly referred to him in their narrative as “Simon Peter,” “Simon, who is called Peter,” “Peter” or the aramaic version of Peter- “Cephas” by Paul, despite writing in Greek.
In passages where the apostles are named, Peter is always named first:
“And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every infirmity. The names of the twelve apostles are these: first*, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.” (Matthew 10:1–4)
*Original Greek in Matthew 10:2 for “first” - “pretos”- “first, chief, foremost (in time, place order of importance- notice Judas is always named last)
In passages referring to all the apostles, Peter is set apart while the rest are referred to as a group. No other apostle is named individually while referring to the rest collectively. Peter is also the one speaking on behalf of the group:
“But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them [the crowd]” (Acts 2:14)
“Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the Apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized…” (Acts 2:37-38)
"But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men." (Acts 5:29)
“He said to them, “But who do you (greek plural) say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:15-16)
“Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you (greek plural) also wish to go away?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:67-68)
Peter is also seen leading the church to settle important matters:
"In those days Peter stood up among the brethren (the company of persons was in all about a hundred and twenty), and said, “Brethren, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David, concerning Judas who was guide to those who arrested Jesus…
For it is written in the book of Psalms,
‘Let his habitation become desolate, and let there be no one to live in it’; and ‘His office let another take.’
So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
(Acts 1:15–16, 20-23)
“But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up, and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses.”
The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter.
And after there had been much debate, Peter rose and said to them, “Brethren, you know that in the early days God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. And God who knows the heart bore witness to them, giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us; and he made no distinction between us and them, but cleansed their hearts by faith. Now therefore why do you make trial of God by putting a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”
And all the assembly kept silence; and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.” (Acts 15:5–12)
Sources:
The Holy Bible (RSVCE)
“Upon This Rock” by Steve Ray- Watch his talk here
“Rome Sweet Home” by Dr. Scott Hahn
Video- “Peter, the Rock, the Keys, and the Chair”- Steve Ray
Video- “The Case FOR The Papacy w/ Joe Heschmeyer”
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