08.23.2026- Pentecost 13 - Kris Perkola

In this passage, Jesus praises Peter for recognizing his Messiahship, proclaims the future founding of the Church, and creates what’s known as the “Office of the Keys”. While traveling with the disciples, Jesus asks them who people say that he is. They give various answers connecting Jesus to previous prophets in Israel’s history up to, and including, John the Baptist. It’s not clear if they think John is still alive or that Jesus is something like John’s spiritual successor. 

But then Jesus asks the disciples who they say that he is. Peter gives a very “creedal” answer. He says Jesus is, “the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” In Mark’s version of this story, Jesus gives a somewhat ambiguous response to Peter, probably because Jesus doubts that Peter really understood the implications of what he said. But here, Jesus has only good things to say to Peter. Peter is the “rock” upon which Jesus will build the Church. While this is impressive, Jesus does give credit to God for Peter’s testimonial, saying it was not by Peter’s “flesh and blood” that he said it, but by the will of the “Father in heaven.” 

But what will the Church be like? First, the “gates of Hades will not prevail against it,” suggesting that the church will go on the “offense” against evil in the world. Second, the Church will possess the power to “bind and loose”. This is what we now call the Office of the Keys. In short, this authority is to tighten or loosen interpretations of God’s Law for our lives. As an example, Jesus tightened rules around divorce because he saw rich men divorcing women who were, for them, “starter wives”. In modern times, we have loosened rules around divorce for a variety of reasons including helping women and children to escape abusive relationships. By the Office of the Keys, we would say that God has granted us authority to do this, as long as it is done with careful and prayerful consideration and as a community.

Peter’s testimony is a powerful statement of faith that should inspire us as the Church to tear down the gates of evil in whatever form we find it, such as prejudice or injustice, carefully using the authority granted to us by Jesus to build a community in keeping with his teachings and his love.