Matthew 16:13-20
Peter's Declaration about Jesus
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
14 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”
15 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. 18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”
20 Then he sternly warned the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
Matthew 5:43-48
Love Your Enemies
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Matthew 6:7-15
The LORD's Prayer and Disciple's Prayer
7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’
14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
When Peter declared that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, there was no Christianity...Jesus and the Disciples would have been believers in Judaism...But we can assume that Christianity was coming to earth, even though at this time no one on earth knew or heard of the word Christianity, or what it was...We know Christianity was coming because of the reply that Jesus gave Peter...Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because My Father in heaven has revealed this to you...You did not learn this from any human being...Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build My church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it...And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven...Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”...
Jesus tells the Disciples and specifically Peter that His Church would build His Church on earth, the Church of Christ, or the Church of Jesus would be coming and be led by Peter...And what Peter forbid on earth would be forbidden in heaven...And whatever Peter would permit on earth would be permitted in heaven...This reply by Jesus is similar to His Prayer...Jesus is now here on earth...He is making earth now a place for believers to believe in God and in Him, the same as they do in heaven...
Jesus says in His LORD's Prayer says, “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven...And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors...For if we forgive those who sin against you, our heavenly Father will forgive us...But if we refuse to forgive others, then our Father will not forgive our sins...So we must be prepared and able to forgive others so our Father will forgive us of our sins while we are on earth...Jesus wants us to to be loving neighbors and to love our enemies...It is like Jesus is wanting us to be like those in heaven, and they are a very forgiving and loving group...