LDS Mormon-ism (and all of the offshoots, too, I suppose)
Church of Christ-ism (Campbellite)
Landmark Baptist-ism
Catholicism
All from seeing the “church,” and making the pre-conclusion, after looking at their own glories in the mirror, that the word is always talking about the same assembly every time you see the word, and that it must always be THEM.
So, I just keep throwing in to the mix, that Christ was born to be the King of the Jews. There is no NEW TESTAMENT yet in Matthew 16. There CAN NOT be a New Testament there in any way shape of form.
Matthew is a continuation of the Old Testament, the entire period being discussed being inaugurated by an Old Testament prophet (John the Baptist) who would have stood for his own antetype (Elijah) in reality had Israel accepted their Messiah/King, Jesus Christ.
Elijah's return is promised before the return of Jesus Christ to this earth (Malachi; Matthew), and John Baptist would have fulfilled that under the condition of Israel's repentance while the Lord Jesus Christ was on this earth.
There is no reason why the CHURCH of Matthew 16 cannot be speaking of the Messianic assembly (this is what “church” means — “assembly called out” - the congregation) as per Psalm 22:22, 25.
“I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
“Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.
“For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.
“My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.”
This is a Hebrew Church - the seed of ISRAEL. Psalm 22 is the passage quoted in Hebrews 2:12, where the word “church” is used for “congregation” in Psalm 22.
“Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the CHURCH will I sing praise unto thee.”
Hebrews 2:12. HEBREWS 2:12 H E B R E W S 2:12. A Hebrew church/congregation. I mean, we still use the word “congregation” to mean “church” even today.
The “church” of Matthew chapter 16 can mean a Hebrew Messianic Eatern-Sky-watching (for the King to return) CONGREGATION (that has nothing to do with ANYTHING we see in a “church” today), just as easily as it can mean anything else.
And so, for the discriminating, RIGHTLY-DIVIDING (2 Timothy 2:15) Bible reader, I suggest that the “church” of Matthew chapter 16 is not
LDS Morman,
Church of Christ (Campbellite),
Landmark Baptist,
NOR
Catholic (any branch you want to pick).
You mean the pharisees 2,000 years ago didn’t have a corner on self-righteous assumptions?
Who’d a thunk!