The Rock And The Key
Matthew 16:13-20
Open in the Worship LibraryLyrics
[Intro] [Verse 1] Walking on the dusty road Jesus asked His friends "Who do people say I am?" The talking never ends Some say He’s a prophet From the days of old But the greatest story Was waiting to be told [Chorus] You are the Christ The Son of the Living God The Rock we build upon The path that we have trod You are the Savior The King of everything To Jesus our Redeemer A song of praise we bring [Verse 2] Simon Peter spoke the truth In that famous place A gift from God the Father A word of shining grace The gates of hell can't stop us Or keep the Church away The Rock is our foundation Every single day [Bridge] He holds the keys to heaven He opens up the door His love is like a mountain Forever, evermore He gives us power to follow He gives us strength to stand Holding to the promise Of His mighty hand [Verse 3] Now the choice is yours to make Turn from every sin Open up your heart today Let the Savior in Repent and follow Jesus Make Him Lord of all He’s waiting there to catch you Any time you fall [Chorus] You are the Christ The Son of the Living God The Rock we build upon The path that we have trod You are the Savior The King of everything To Jesus our Redeemer A song of praise we bring [Outro] He is the Rock He is the Lord Jesus the Christ Forevermore [End]
Study notes
Matthew 16:13-20 centers on Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Messiah and Son of God, establishing Jesus’ divine identity and his intention to build an indestructible Church. This pivotal moment, where Jesus declares He will build his church upon "this rock," shifts the focus toward his divine authority and the spiritual authority given to his disciples. Key themes and insights from Matthew 16:13-20: The Identity of Jesus: Jesus prompts a crucial question of his identity ("Who do you say I am?"), establishing that He is not merely a prophet, but the long-awaited Christ, the Son of the Living God. The Foundation of the Church: Jesus announces that upon "this rock" (referring to Peter's confession or to Peter himself as a faithful follower), He will build his church, which will withstand even the "gates of Hades". Divine Revelation: Peter’s understanding was not humanly produced, but revealed directly by God, highlighting the necessity of divine revelation to understand Jesus' true identity. The Keys of the Kingdom: Jesus grants Peter (and by extension the Church) the "keys of the kingdom," symbolizing spiritual authority to "bind and loose," or to guide the community of believers in heaven's name. The Messianic Secret: Jesus warns his disciples to keep his identity as the Messiah a secret for the time being, likely to ensure his mission is understood in a spiritual, rather than just political, light. The passage serves as a turning point in Matthew, defining the nature of the Church, the role of apostolic faith, and affirming Jesus as the central figure of divine rescue. -Google