Matthew
Jesus using the word Church means more than you might think
The Ekklesia of Jesus’ time was a ruling, governing assembly of Greeks
On this rock I will build my Ekklesia Matthew 16:18
When Jesus used the word Church, Jesus was speaking of His followers
Assembled together as His government ruling and reigning with Him
The Church is more than a social or community club
It is the government of God
When Peter had the revelation of who Jesus was,
Jesus wasted no time revealing to him that he, too, was a piece of the rock,
Built together with all others who believe Jesus is the Christ,
The Son of the Living God
To usher into earth the Kingdom of Heaven
If you believe Jesus is the Christ, then you must believe you are called
To be among the assembly of living stones to user in the Kingdom of Heaven
The Church
Let’s stop a moment
and look at the word “Church”.
2000 years after Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection…
We define the word “Church” as a building
where people gather to learn about Jesus.
Is this what Jesus was saying when He said…
I will build My church
We can look up the Greek word for church
and find the Greek word ekklesia…
Which means a calling out, an assembly.
The word ekklesia was not coined by Jesus.
Jesus did not come up with a new term
that we would later use to describe a building.
So, if Jesus used a word already
used in the culture of His day…
How would His disciples view the word, church?
First, we need to remember Matthew
was writing to Jewish people unlike Luke
whose gospel was focused on Gentiles.
So, it would have made more since
for Jesus to have said, I will build my Temple…
Instead of, I will build my church.
Next, we should look at what the word ekklesia
or church, meant to the people of His day.
621 BC, years before Christ, detailed records
telling us the ekklesia was…
“The meeting of the people”.
The Athenian Ecclesia were male citizens, 18 years
and older and had final control over policy.
The Ecclesia had regular meetings to set policy,
enforced it, set foreign policy, including treaties
and issues of peace and war, as well as,
questions of secession of the throne.
They also appointed military commanders
and elected the elders and ephors.
The Ecclesia was the government…
It was a kingdom or nation.
The word Ecclesia meant so much more
than an assembly of people.
It was an assembly of government.
Jesus’ choice of words…
I will build My church
Would have been seen much differently
at the time Jesus said it, than now.
Jesus was not saying…
I will build an assembly of believers.
He was not saying…
I will build a building and call it
a church instead of a temple.
Jesus was talking of something much bigger
and something that looked more like Gentile government
than the Jewish Sanhedrin or temple who would reject Him.
With this in mind…
You can see why the Jewish leaders
and Roman leaders resisted Him.
You can see why His followers thought
He would rule like King David,
a new kingdom on earth…
On this rock I will build my church.
When Jesus said…
On this rock I will build my church.
He was speaking of Himself being
the Rock, the chief corner stone…
The one who would bring together
both Jews and Gentiles as living stones,
Jesus, the firm foundation.
When Jesus used the word Church, ekklesia…
He was speaking of His government,
the government of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Jesus was speaking of the fulfillment of Isaiah 9:6-7…
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David's throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
So, when Jesus used the word Church…
Jesus was speaking of His followers
assembled together as His government,
ruling and reigning with Him.
The Church is more then a social
or community club…
It is the government of God.
When Peter had the revelation of who Jesus was…
Jesus wasted no time revealing
to him that he, too, was a piece of the rock…
Built together with all others who believe
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
To user into earth the Kingdom of Heaven.
If you believe Jesus is the Christ,,,
Then you must believe you are called
to be among the assembly of living stones
to user in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Scripture Reading NIV
Matthew 16:13-20
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." 20 Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.
Isaiah 9:6-7
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David's throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
