Is Matthew 16:18 also about the church? Definitely so! Jesus is the subject of the sentence, as the One who builds his church. In Matthew’s whole Gospel, the word ekklèsia (church) appears only in Matthew 16:17–18. It makes us think of the church, even if in the original Greek it was merely a normal word for any kind of meeting or gathering. Since we can also call God’s people from the old dispensation his church, there is no reason to see Matthew 16:17–19 as a later insertion based on the assumption that the word church
would be inappropriate prior to Pentecost. The Greek word ekklèsia likely did not yet have the technical meaning of Christian church at this point. Note that Jesus uses this word right after asking how things stand with the people
(Matthew 16:13), who were not gathering around him, but remained aloof from the Messiah, as if he was only a precursor.
However, he comes as Son of Man to gather Israel to him, as the Shepherd with his sheep (Matthew 9:36; Matthew 11:28; Matthew 15:24). The disciples who persevere are his first small gathering, but the flock that is still faithful is not a mere remnant, for Jesus makes it a foundation of a more far-reaching gathering.
Matthew 16:18 raises a second question: *What is the function of this verse in the narrative as a whole? Is it a statement about Simon and the apostles, or is it rather about the church? It is most definitely also the latter. Jesus himself is the subject of the sentence. He is the One who builds his church. In the entire Gospel of Matthew, the word ekklèsia (church) appears only in Matthew 16:17–18. It immediately makes us think of the church, even though in the original Greek it was merely a normal word for any kind of meeting or gathering. Hence, we can also call God’s people from the old dispensation his church. As such, there is no reason to regard Matthew 16:17–19 as a later insertion based on the assumption that the word church
would be inappropriate prior to Pentecost. It is likely that the Greek word ekklèsia did not yet have the technical meaning of Christian church at this point. It is striking that Jesus uses this word immediately after inquiring how things stand with the people
(Matthew 16:13). It became apparent that Israel did not gather itself around him. It remained aloof from the Messiah, as if Jesus was merely a precursor.
Nonetheless, he comes as Son of Man to gather Israel together, as the Shepherd gathers his sheep (Matthew 9:36; Matthew 11:28; Matthew 15:24). The disciples who persevere constitute the first small gathering around Jesus. Their number does not grow now that many turn away. Yet Jesus will continue to gather his disciples and followers together. He creates a flock, a family, a gathering of believers: one that is greater than the residual value of this moment. The flock of this moment, that has remained faithful, is not a mere remnant, for Jesus makes it a foundation of a much more far-reaching gathering.1
18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rockI will build my church, and the gates of hellshall not prevail against it.