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An Expose on Divine Revelation

by KEN ALEXANDER  
10/02/2008 / Bible Studies

Matthew 16:13-19 is a clear explanation of divine revelation. However, it is also a scripture which is commonly interrupted incorrectly. Most find these scriptures to refer to the man Peter (the first Pope in the Catholic religion) when in fact they refer to something completely different.

Jesus begins his discussion with the disciples by asking "Who do men say that I am?" (v.13). The disciples answered by saying that some thought He was John the Baptist, some Elijah, some Jeremiah and others one of the prophets (v.14). Apparently the speculation as to who Jesus was prevalent among the multitudes.

Jesus, expecting the disciples to have more insight than the multitudes, than asked "Who do you say I am?" (v.15).

Simon Peter, the boldest of the disciples, spoke up and said "You are Christ [Messiah] the Son of the living God" (v.16).

Jesus said to Peter: "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona [son of Jonah; a man]: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven" (v.17).

Christ was saying that Peter the man was blessed because flesh and blood (man) had not revealed this to him. Sarx, among other meanings, is the Greek word for flesh, meaning the physical body or nature. Blood, Haima in Greek, means, "the blood of the human or animal body" or "the life force of man", as opposed to the divine. Neither had revealed this revelation of Christ to him but the Father had.

The word reveal is Apokalupto in Greek meaning: "to remove a veil or covering exposing to open view what was before hidden". Therefore Peter, a man of flesh, had spoken of what was formerly concealed, exposing it to open view. What was revealed was that Christ was the Son of God, formerly a mystery. This "revelation" did not come from man but was revealed by the Father in "Heaven" (the spiritual realm).

Christ said further: "And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven". (Verse 17).

The word "Peter" is in Greek "Petros", meaning a small stone. The rock ("upon this rock") is Petra in Greek meaning a large stone or bedrock. So Peter is a stone and the bedrock upon which Christ will build His church is something else. In the Greek, the scripture contains references to a stone and a rock, two separate Greek words and meanings. God forbid Christ should build His church on a small stone (Peter) as opposed to bedrock!

What was this bedrock? It is the subject of this entire series of scriptures: Christ is referring to the BEDROCK of REVELATION from the Father to human flesh.

Webster's Dictionary defines revelation as: "The act of revealing or exposinga striking disclosure not before realizedGod's disclosure of Himself to His creatures; an instance of such exposing or disclosurethat which contains such disclosure, such as the Bible [the word of God], referring to the example of the Book of the Revelation of St. John the last book of the Bible.

Thus it was the REVELATION OF CHRIST as the Son of God that was the bedrock upon which Christ would build His church, not Peter the stone! This revelation is the first step in our salvation--receiving the revelation that Christ is our Savior (the Messiah).

Jesus said "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him. (John 14:6-7). Christ was the exact duplication of the Father in the earthHe was God.

Paul said: But I assure you, brethren that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. (Galatians 1:11-12). Paul like Peter received his revelation from God not man.

And: "Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith (Romans 16:25-26). Prior to Jesus Christ the Messiah, his identity was hidden, a mystery, covered until the time of His appearing (although revealed to certain Old Testament prophets).

Finally: " The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John" (Revelation 1:1). The entire Book of Revelation is divine revelation revealed to John by God.

Divine revelation from God is the only road to the way, the truth and the life which is Christ. His Kingdom is not of this world. It is built upon the revealing of the mystery of Christ hidden from ages past but revealed to His Sons.

And to him to whom who the revelation comes, he will be given the keys of the Kingdom of God and whatever he binds in earth shall have already been bound in Heaven (the spiritual realm where God dwells). Likewise whatever he loosed on earth shall ALREADY HAVE BEEN LOOSED in the Spirit realm. This is the fulfillment of Christ's prayer in Matthew 6:10 "thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven".

So it is that our spiritual walk with God is completely dependent on the revelation we receive from the Father. Without that, we are left with nothing but a futile attempt to understand God through our intellect. Without the revelation of Christ, we cannot even be saved as that requires recognition in our heart that Christ is who He says he is.

The misinterpretation of other major religions on this point is further evidence of the lack of spirituality that exists in religion even today. The Pharisees of Jesus' time were the most religious of all the peoples, much like the religious leaders of today who preach legalism. Neither has had this revelation. It was the most religious initiated the death of Christ on the cross.

Today our spiritual revelation is our safeguard to being able to follow our Lord in what He requires. Paul said: "For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God" (Romans 8:14). We all want to be fully matured Sons/Daughters of God. There is no other way than through Christ and who He is revealed to be.

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