tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458350917393042034.post6838885675932002451..comments2016-03-16T15:03:36.594-04:00Comments on The Word and God's Authority: The Pope is just a man…Caryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14762397322658710952noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458350917393042034.post-61008501757791260482012-06-02T19:39:26.285-04:002012-06-02T19:39:26.285-04:00Matthew 16: 18-19 "And I tell you that you ar...Matthew 16: 18-19 "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be[c] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[d] loosed in heaven.”<br /><br />This passage is a clear indication of Christ entrusting the Stewardship of His Holy Church on earth much the same way any ruler would do. The Steward is given the authority to govern the kingdom until the King returns. We see time and time again in ancient history examples of a king giving the "Keys" to a servant who will guide and govern in his place for a time of absence. After the resurrection in John 21:17 Peter is told to "Feed my sheep". In other words Christ the Good Shepherd is telling Peter to take up the responsibilities of shepherding the flock of Christ. The Passage in Matthew is a clear starting point for the belief in the primacy of the Bishop of Rome and the passage in John appears to confirm it. In Matthew 16 Jesus also points to a passage in Isaiah (22:21-25) where the idea of "Binding" and "Loosing" appears. God is shown to strengthen the ones he chooses to be leaders. <br /><br />I hope this helps. <br /><br />Love,<br />A CatholicAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13725449665240866795noreply@blogger.com