Matthew 16:13-19  When Jesus came to the Caesarea Philippi, he asks his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome 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.”

Peter gets it so right in this exchange! He declares, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Then Jesus assures Peter that the church will be founded on this confession. What's more, Peter is given a special position reserved for only one person. Jesus anoints him to take the perennial leadership role in the establishment of the church. He will be the very first pastor of God's church.

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