It’s surely been answered here countless times, but in the event the Lord is in the process of removing the scales from someone’s eyes, I will answer again.
Matthew chapter 16 and verse 18: ‘And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.’ The meaning of this text is obvious. Jesus having heard from the disciples the various notions which were entertained of Him, asked them: ‘But whom say ye that I am?’ and Peter, always more forward than the rest, replied: ‘Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus, having pronounced him blessed, as every believer is (Psalm 32:1), said: ‘Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.’ Christ in addressing Peter said: ‘Thou art Peter,’ using the word ‘petros’, which signifies a stone, but in referring to the rock He used the word ‘petra’, which means properly ‘an immovable rock’. He does not say: ‘Thou art Peter, and upon thee I will build my church’, but ‘upon this Rock.’ The Rock he had confessed was Christ the Son of the living God, as though He said: ‘Thou art Peter, a living stone in this spiritual edifice, but upon this immovable foundation I will build my church.’
Well stated, and to be amplified to further glorify Him, note the thinking of our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus, when He exclaimed the blessing.
Mat 16:17-18
(17) And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
(18) And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Note, Jesus Christ was obedient to the Will of the Father, not the human will of Jesus Christ prior to the Father’s Will. Jesus Christ was pointing out a fabulous discernment between the Persons of the Godhead and the effects on our humanity.
He is noting that God the Father had blessed Simon Barjona.
He further notes that the knowledge of Jesus as the Christ had NOT been revealed by flesh or blood, but by God the Father to the soul of Simon.
Note also that our Lord’s church is to be built upon this same object of his explanation, namely that which God the Father has worked, the faith of the believer. This is why nothing will overcome it. It is the work of God the Father.
Further in depth study is also induced from this passage. Namely, the role of the flesh and blood, as associated with the bodily senses, the soul’s system of perception which is rationalism, and the spiritual system of perception which is faith.
Salvation KNOWS this.
He is really a secret Prot that wants the word to get out to as many CATHOLICS as possible.