And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Matthew 16:18-19
Here, Jesus is speaking to Peter and giving him a special role in the Church.
- “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church” means Catholics believe Jesus made Peter the visible leader of His Church.
- “The powers of death shall not prevail against it” means the Church will face attacks and struggles, but God will protect it from being destroyed.
- “The keys of the kingdom of heaven” symbolise authority. Catholics see this as Jesus giving Peter spiritual authority to lead and govern the Church.
- “Bind and loose” means having authority to make decisions in matters of faith, morals, and Church discipline.
Catholics understand this passage as the biblical foundation for the papacy: Peter was the first Pope, and his authority continues through his successors, the Popes.
Jesus’ words to Peter have a strong parallel with Isaiah 22:20–22.
In Isaiah, God says that Eliakim will be given authority in the kingdom of David:
“I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.”
This matters because Jesus, the Davidic King, says to Peter:
“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven…”
Catholics see a clear connection:
- In Isaiah 22, the key represents authority given to a chief steward or prime minister under the king.
- In Matthew 16, Jesus, the Son of David and true King, gives Peter the “keys” of His kingdom.
- This suggests Peter is given a special governing role in Christ’s Church.
- “Binding and loosing” refers to real spiritual authority: teaching, governing, and making decisions for the Church.
| Parallel | Old Testament | New Testament |
|---|---|---|
| There is “office” | Is 22:19 | Acts 1:20 |
| There is succession of office | Is 22:19 | Acts 1:20 |
| Authority is given | Is 22:21 | Mt 16:19 |
| Fatherhood is bestowed | Is 22:21 | 1 Cor 4:15 |
| Key(s) given | Is 22:22 | Mt 16:19 |
| Power to make binding decisions | Is 22:22 | Mt 16:19 |
| Stability and protection promised | Is 22:23 | Mt 16:18 |
So, Catholics understand Matthew 16 not just as praise for Peter’s faith, but as Jesus appointing Peter to a unique office of leadership — the foundation for the papacy.
