Matthew 16:18-19

The Catholic Church was the beginning of Christ’s Church and it was headed by Peter. Satan has tried to destroy her many times but, hear this, Hades shall not prevail against her. It was too small a thing that Christ would die only for Catholics but also for all the Gentiles who would accept His birth, death and resurrection and the salvation given to man only through Him. Praise be to God!

The words I will build My church indicate that the church had not yet been started. Obviously the disciples did not at this point understand the doctrine of the NT church with its equality of Jew and Gentile. They simply understood it to be the Lord’s followers.

The keys seem to be explained by the binding and loosing discussed in the last part of the verse. In rabbinical literature, binding and loosing refers to what was permitted or not permitted. So this passage may refer to judgments that Peter would make about what would be permitted or forbidden in the church, the body of believers.

Matthew 16:18-19

18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”