一日耶穌在置滿羅馬皇帝廟和希臘神廟的的黑門山麓前，告訴彼得：「你是彼得，我要把我的教會建造在這磐石上；陰間的權柄，不能勝過她。」 (太 16:18)

耶穌建立教會的這盤石是彼得嗎？主不久前才說他小信(太16:8)，彼得便不會是這磐石。然而，當耶穌問門徒：「你們說我是誰？」他們說：「有人說是施洗的約翰；有人說是以利亞；又有人說是耶利米或是先知裡的一位。」 彼得卻說：「你是基督，是永生神的兒子。」

耶穌便對他說：「彼得，你是有福的！因為這不是屬血肉的指示你的，乃是我在天上的父指示的。 」主耶穌因彼得蒙神指示，他也憑信心的宣告了神給他的啟示，於今，他便會是主所說教會建立的這磐石。而凡像他這樣領受神啟示的門徒亦是。(太16:16-18, 18:18-20)

然而，這樣做教會磐石的門徒也有不听神旨意而憑血氣的時候。他們常會面臨撒但牽扯的屬靈爭戰，於是，耶穌對他們說：「就當捨己，背起他的十字架來跟從我。 (太 16:22-24) 門徒的捨己便在於放下老我而交由聖靈帶領，因為除了神的靈，也沒有人知道神的事。 (林前 2:11) 而我們的軟弱且有聖靈幫助；我們本不曉得當怎樣禱告，只是聖靈親自用我們心中說不出來的歎息，替我們禱告。 (羅 8:26)

求聖靈常教我們知曉主的道以成聖，而能領受神的指示，做為教會的磐石，學得主耶穌怎樣受神差遣，扩展神的國度，我們也照樣的為他所差遣，為要藉著教會使天上執政的、掌權的，現在得知神百般的智慧。 (約 17:17-18，20:21; 弗 3:10)

English translation by DeepSeek:

The Rock of the Church
Posted on February 16, 2025, by John Wen

One day, Jesus stood at the foot of Mount Hermon, surrounded by temples dedicated to Roman emperors and Greek gods, and said to Peter, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” (Matthew 16:18)

Was Peter the rock on which Jesus built His church? Not long before this, Jesus had rebuked Peter for his lack of faith (Matthew 16:8), so Peter could not be the rock. However, when Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do you say I am?” they replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” But Peter said, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus then said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.” Because Peter received this revelation from God and declared it in faith, he became the rock on which Jesus said He would build His church. And so are all disciples who, like Peter, receive divine revelation. (Matthew 16:16-18, 18:18-20)

However, even disciples who serve as the rock of the church can sometimes act according to their own will rather than God’s. They often face spiritual battles instigated by Satan. Therefore, Jesus said to them, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow me.” (Matthew 16:22-24) Denying oneself means letting go of the old self and being led by the Holy Spirit, for no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. (1 Corinthians 2:11) And when we are weak, the Holy Spirit helps us; we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. (Romans 8:26)

May the Holy Spirit continually teach us the ways of the Lord so that we may be sanctified, receive divine revelation, and serve as the rock of the church. Just as Jesus was sent by God to expand His kingdom, we too are sent by Him to proclaim the manifold wisdom of God through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms. (John 17:17-18, 20:21; Ephesians 3:10)