Matthew 16:17-19 (Amplified) – Then Jesus answered him, Blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) are you, Simon Bar-Jonah. For flesh and blood [men] have not revealed this to you, but My Father Who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter [Greek, Petros—a large piece of rock], and on this rock [Greek, petra—a huge rock like Gibraltar] I will build My church, and the gates of Hades (the powers of the infernal region) shall not overpower it [or be strong to its detriment or hold out against it]. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind (declare to be improper and unlawful) on earth must be what is already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose (declare lawful) on earth must be what is already loosed in heaven.
(BBE) – And Jesus made answer and said to him, a blessing on you, Simon Bar-jonah: because this knowledge has not come to you from flesh and blood, but from my Father in heaven. And I say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock will my church be based, and the doors of hell will not overcome it. I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatever is fixed by you on earth will be fixed in heaven: and whatever you make free on earth will be made free in heaven.
(TLB) – God has blessed you, Simon, son of Jonah, Jesus said, for my Father in heaven has personally revealed this to you—this is not from any human source. You are Peter, a stone; and upon this rock I will build my church; and all the powers of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven; whatever doors you lock on earth shall be locked in heaven; and whatever doors you open on earth shall be open in heaven!
(MSG) – Jesus came back, God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn’t get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I’m going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out. “And that’s not all. You will have complete and free access to God’s kingdom, keys to open any and every door: no more barriers between heaven and earth, earth and heaven. A yes on earth is yes in heaven. A no on earth is no in heaven.”
I am blessed when my knowledge comes not from flesh and blood (natural, human knowledge) but from the Father. This is what the church that the powers of darkness can’t overcome is built on.
I don’t get my answers from books or teachers. My Father in heaven lets me in on the secrets of life.
The church is so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell can keep us from what we are to do.
We have complete and free access in God’s kingdom, keys to open any and every door. There are no more barriers between heaven and earth. A “yes” on earth is “yes” in heaven. A “no” on earth is “no” in heaven.
We work together with Him to spread and enforce His kingdom. And no force of darkness can stop us and keep us back – but only when we walk in His wisdom and knowledge rather than natural human knowledge.