A lesson in demonstrative adjectives: THIS and THAT - Matthew 16:18

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  For I bear them record that 

they have a zeal of God, 

but not according to knowledge.

Romans 10:2 (King James Bible)

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.

Matthew 16:18 (King James Bible)

Let us suppose two women meet, Laura and Isabel, and Isabel says, upon viewing Laura's dress:
"Oh! I love that dress!"

Laura in turn says, "Indeed! I liked this dress so much, I had to buy it as soon as I saw it!

Now, these women are but a couple of feet away from each other, but, to Isabel, Laura's dress is referred to by the demonstrative adjective THAT, for it is away from her.

Whereas, Laura refers to the very same dress by the demonstrative adjective THIS, for she finds herself wearing the dress; she is CLOSEST to the dress!


Thus, it is, that when Jesus speaks to Peter, He is clearly speaking of Himself as the ROCK, for He says "UPON THIS ROCK!"  Had He intended Peter to be the rock, He would have said "upon that rock!" for He was away from Peter!  It is a stretch of the imagination to so confuse what is GRAMMATICALLY PROVEN!

There is a most fascinating subject called 'Biblical Hermeneutics,' in which the New Testament verifies that which is told in the Old Testament, and the Old Testament verifies all that which is in the New Testament!  In this blog one finds an equally fascinating debate between Dr. Peter Ruckman and Karl Keating, a Catholic apologist, in which Dr. Ruckman, USING SOLELY THE BIBLE HE HAS, he is able to assert this most marvelous character of the word of God! 

Within the pages of the Old Testament, we continually find that Jesus is referred to as a ROCK.  Peter is nowhere found in the Old Testament as being a rock!

Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; 

and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, 

that the people may drink. 

And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

Exodus 17:6 

And did all drink the same spiritual drink: 

for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: 

and that Rock was Christ.

1 Corinthians 10:4

⁶ Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
⁷ Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, [here Peter speaks of Jesus]

⁸ And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
1 Peter 2:6-8


And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Ephesians 2:20 


Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
Isaiah 28:16


It seems, the apostles had no doubt as to WHO the ROCK was!



¹⁹ And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. [Indeed, here, it is to Peter that Jesus is speaking, BUT, the Kingdom of Heaven is for the Jews, as Peter was to preach to the Jews, who hoped for it to be on earth, which it will, one day!  Christians inherit the Kingdom of God, when it is they are born again, and will be in heaven upon their death.]*

²⁰ Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
²¹ From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
²² Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
²³ But he [Jesus] turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. [Interestingly, one hears not Roman Catholics boasting in this that Jesus, INDISPUTABLY, does tell Peter, referring to Peter, less than half a dozen sentences later!]

²⁴ Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
²⁵ For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Matthew 16:19-25


*Anyone wishing to learn more about the difference between the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God, please view: ONE BOOK RIGHTLY DIVIDED / RIGHT DIVISION by Pastor Tom Bruscha / 7 Biblical Dispensations: The KEY to Bible Study   This is Christian education you will never forget!

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, 

a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, 

rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15 (King James Bible) 

TO EXPERIENCE THE WRATH OF GOD!!

RELATED POSTS:

(UPDATED) ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED, NEVER EVER TO EXPERIENCE THE WRATH OF GOD!!
(in this trio of videos one can see the difference between the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God) 

Karl Keating, a Catholic apologist, Debates a Baptist Preacher

ONE BOOK RIGHTLY DIVIDED / RIGHT DIVISION by Pastor Tom Bruscha / 7 Biblical Dispensations: The KEY to Bible Study 


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