The King Will Build His Kingdom

The verses of our text are the watershed verses of Matthew's gospel. For the first sixteen and a half chapters the question is constantly set before us "What manner of Man is this Jesus?" The answer to this question is found in His royal lineage and the circumstances of His miraculous conception and birth. It is found in the audible and visible signs given at His baptism. And it is found in the authority of both His word and His miraculous works. The Apostles have been eyewitnesses to these things for two years, and the time has come to seek from them the verdict demanded by the evidence: "Who do you say that I am?" God the Father opened Peter's eyes to be able to make the good confession: "You are THE Messiah, THE Son of THE Living God." And having identified just who Jesus is, Jesus in turn promises to build His kingdom, the church, upon the foundation of Himself and the Apostles. The church shall never perish, for we have Christ's own infallible promise that the gates of Hades shall never prevail against us!