Note 3 at Mt 16:18: Some people have mistakenly interpreted this passage to say that Peter was the foundation on which Christ would build His church. However, that would violate many scriptures that state that Jesus is the "chief corner stone" (1Co 3:10-11 - "foundation," Eph 2:20-22, and 1Pe 2:4-9). Eph 2:20 does mention the apostles as being part of the foundation of Christ's church, but it doesn't single Peter out above any of the other apostles. That same scripture says Jesus Himself is the "chief corner stone." It is implied that the Apostle James, the brother of our Lord (see note 2 at John 2:12), was actually the head of the Jerusalem church (Ac 12:17, 15:13, 21:18; Ga 2:9, and 12).

Two different Greek words are used for "Peter" and "rock" respectively in this verse. The word used for "Peter" means "rock" but signifies "a detached stone or boulder" (Vine's Expository Dictionary). In contrast, the word translated "rock" signifies a massive rock; that certainly refers to Jesus, the "chief corner stone."

Some have suggested that the foundation rock referred to was this confession that Peter made that Jesus was "the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Mt 16:16). Although it is true that people do have to confess Jesus is Lord (Ro 10:9-10) to enter God's kingdom, in light of the O.T. prophecies and N.T. references to Jesus being the "chief corner stone," this passage of Scripture must be referring directly to Jesus as this "rock" upon which He would build His church. Compare this with other statements Jesus made about Himself in the third person (Joh 2:19; 6:32-33, 50, and 58).

Note 4 at Mt 16:18: This statement about the gates of hell not prevailing against us shows that the church is supposed to be on the offensive, not the defensive, in our spiritual warfare. We shouldn't be just trying to hold out behind our own defenses until Jesus comes to rescue us, but we should be pressing the battle to the very gates of hell itself. The devil and his "imps" should be in retreat and hiding behind their walls, not the church.