Daily Reflections From Higher Things®

Today's Reading: Matthew 16:13-20 Daily Lectionary: Joshua 4:1-24; Acts 9:23-43 "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 16:18-19) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Rome thinks that Peter is superior to the other apostles – that he is the head of the Church and representative of Christ. Rome thinks that Jesus gave a special office to Peter with special authority. The Pope stands in that office, and some believe there can be no Church without a pope. They use our text from Matthew 16 to prove their assertions. "Jesus said that He will build the Church on Peter and that Church – the one built on Peter – shall stand forever. In our text, Peter is speaking on behalf of the apostles. His confession is their confession. Thus, whatever Jesus says to Peter He says to the Twelve. As Paul says in Ephesians 2:19-20, God is building His Church, not on Peter, but on the confessi