Here are some questions concerning the Greek:
Does Jesus anywhere refer to Simon prior to this as Πέτρος?
ταυτᾳ is a demonstrative adjective, you seem to be suggesting that Jesus is using it reflexively. I have not encountered that usage.
LSJ points out that πέτρος can be either masculine or feminine. It also points out some sublte and interesting usage differences between πέτρος and πέτρα. e.g. In Homer πέτρος, as opposed to λίθος, is used to indicate a stone that is used as a weapon in battle.
As in most any languages, pronouns are tricky to translate. ἐπί in the dative has a large range of meaning in addition to “on” or “upon.” It can mean: in, at, near, over, in honor of, againt, besides, for, after, etc.
Even so, unless Jesus was using the demonstrative in pointing out a particular rock in a particular place, the phrase is metaphorical so that makes the use of ἐπί less certain.
The following verse concering the keys indicates Jesus is making some connection between the church that is to be built and Simon. The preceding verses however pointed out that his followers have a difficult time understanding him. I’m sure that observation is true of both Matthew and those of us who read Matthes.
That being said, I should spend more time reading the Gospels in the original Greek.
Good food for thought ALPAPilot.
None of us (presumably) are native in NT Greek. But there were Christian writers in the first centuries A.D. who certainly were. So why not see what they have to say about this passage?
I meant to say preposition, not pronoun. ἐπί is a preposition, not a pronoun.