Syntax?
Here:
In Matthew 16:17-19, Jesus makes three statements. All three begin with an assertion concerning Peter. This assertion is this followed by a two-part elaboration consisting of a contrast (human/divine revelation, Christ’s/Satan’s activity, heavenly ratification of earthly binding/loosing). This elaboration develops the meaning of the principal assertion.
The exegetical structure of Matthew 16:17-19
Statement 1 17 “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona!
Elaboration: Part 1 - For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you,
Part 2 - but my Father who is in heaven.
Statement 2 18 And I tell you, youare Peter,
Elaboration: Part 1 - and on this rock I will build my church,
Part 2 - and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Statement 3 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven,
Elaboration: Part 1 - and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven,
Part 2 - and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
The exegetical structure of the passage demands that Peter be the rock:
Statements 1 and 3 have Peter as their principal subject, therefore statement 2 does as well.
Statements 1 and 3 are blessings on Peter, therefore statement 2 is as well.
The elaborations in statements 1 and 3 develop the meaning of the assertions in those statement, therefore the elaborations in statement 2 develop the meaning of statement 2.
NIV Matthew 16:13-18
13. When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"
14. They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
15. "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
16. Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
17. Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.
18. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.19. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
This only “works” if you ignore the verses just prior to this where Christ is asking the disciples who people think He is.
Then we come to His question to Peter about who do you say I am.
And of course Peter answers, Thou are the Christ.
If we keep this in context with the rest of the passage, the “rock” upon which Christ is going to build His church on can only be this confession.
What else could it be?....but only if we keep this in the proper context.
What was revealed to Peter? The message that Christ is the Son of God.
What will Christ build His church on? This message that Christ is the Son of God. Implication: If one believes in Christ, that He is the Son of God he has faith and goes to Heaven and is saved from all sins, past, present and future.
Peter was given a leadership role in this building of the Kingdom. This is the message that Peter preached as we see him assume a leadership position later on in the NT.
But the Kingdom is built upon Christ and belief in Him. It can be nothing else.