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visionary
1st March 2008, 12:15 PM
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." Mat. 16:13-21

The Greek word pulai is used for "gates" in Mat. 16:18. Yeshua probably used the Hebrew word sha'arim, which means "gates."

The Hebrew word sha'ar means "gate," but it was at the gate of the city where we find the Elders sitting in judgment.

Of the virtuous woman it is written, "Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land" - Prov. 31:23.

And we also have the following:

"And if the man like not to take his brother's wife, then let his brother's wife go up to the gate unto the elders, and say, My husband's brother refuseth to raise up unto his brother a name in Israel, he will not perform the duty of my husband's brother" - Deut. 25:7

"Rob not the poor, because he [is] poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate (i.e., in judgment). For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them" - Prov. 22:22-23.

"For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate (i.e., in judgment)" - Amos 5:12.

"Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph." - Amos 5:15.

If we understand "gates" to be synonymous with "courts of judgment," then we must ask is Yeshua saying that "the courts of Hell" shall not prevail against the assembly of those called out (ekklesia)?

If so, is Yeshua alluding to a specific group of judiciaries? In other words, who are the judges manning these gates/courts of Hell?

Further, what is it about this rock that's going to prevent these judiciaries from prevailing against the assembly of those called out?

visionary
1st March 2008, 12:27 PM
Psalm 118 involves the phrase "Gates of YHWH".

Perhaps you could determine the meaning of "gates of hell" as the opposite of the Gates of God.

visionary
1st March 2008, 12:32 PM
Why can we not simply interperet Yeshua as referring to the actual cave, called the Gates of Hades, in Caesarea Philippi where Pan worshippers gathered? And can we not associate the "rock" with the actual rock or cliff face in which the cave exists?

When I read the passage, I almost see Yeshua pointing from Peter to this giant cliff face, saying "you are a rock, but on this (see him pointing?) rock I will build my ekklesia, and the Gates of Hades (see him pointing again?) will not prevail against it." Perhaps what he meant was that the places Jews utterly despised and were loathe to go were the very places where the Kingdom of God would be established, and the pagan system of the Graeco Roman world would not be able to stop it.

visionary
1st March 2008, 12:33 PM
Then there is "gates of hades (sheol)" is simply another way of saying "death"?

A_Pioneer
2nd March 2008, 01:00 AM
Why can we not simply interperet Yeshua as referring to the actual cave, called the Gates of Hades, in Caesarea Philippi where Pan worshippers gathered? And can we not associate the "rock" with the actual rock or cliff face in which the cave exists?

When I read the passage, I almost see Yeshua pointing from Peter to this giant cliff face, saying "you are a rock, but on this (see him pointing?) rock I will build my ekklesia, and the Gates of Hades (see him pointing again?) will not prevail against it." Perhaps what he meant was that the places Jews utterly despised and were loathe to go were the very places where the Kingdom of God would be established, and the pagan system of the Graeco Roman world would not be able to stop it.
I think I chose this one, I might see a change of a point or two, but I do believe Yeshua was there in sight of this site in the scene when he spoke those words.
:thumbsup: :wave:
Shalom