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A proper understanding of what Christ means when he says the "gates of hell" will not prevail against His church requires a more complete understanding of the term "gates" in the Jewish, Old-Testament-influenced mind.
In Old Testament times, a gate could literally mean a "gate" through a wall. But, the term also meant the government of a city, or the court of a king.
Apparently, in the oldest of times, the elders, and other respected members of a society congregated together regularly. And the habitual place of congregation was around the gates of their city. Perhaps this had the practical value of giving them a vantage point to observe the city's comings and goings. Observing who came and went would be an excellent way to know what is going on in the city. This also meant that if you needed to appeal to them for advice, to settle a dispute, or to make an official public proclamation of record, you knew where to find them...at the gate.
As time passed, as government became larger and more formalized, the term "stuck" and a king's court continued to be known as his "gate" even though it was no longer located literally at the city's literal "gate."
In Gen. 19:1 we learn that Lot sat in the gate at Sodom. This tells us that he was a respected, influential citizen of that city.
In Gen. 22:17 God promised Abraham that his seed will possess the gates of his enemies. In other words, to overtake and control them. Generally, in war, when you take over the government, you have "won."
In Gen. 23:10 When Abraham purchased the cave of Machpelah, the sale was proclaimed at the gate of the city. In more modern terms, we might say it was registered at the town hall or at the county seat. (Notice, to this day we use the term "seat" to represent the location of a government, as in "sitting at the gate.")
In the book of Ruth, when Boaz went to officially exercise and record his intentions as kinsman redeemer, he went to the gate, the proper place to meet with the elders of the city and to make a transaction a matter of public record.
Move forward a bit to the book of Esther, we find Ahasuerus sitting on a throne in his palace, with a court referred to as the king's "gate."
In Matt. 16:18, when Jesus Christ says the "gates of hell" will not prevail against His church, this indeed seems like a strange and difficult utterance when we think of a literal gate in the side of a wall. But, when we view this as an Old Testament idiom for government or ruling powers, it makes perfect sense.
Jesus is saying that he will build His church, and the very powers of hell, Satan and the worst of his demons WILL NOT PREVAIL against it.
History has proved this statement to be true. Satan has landed his blows. But, the powers of hell have never defeated or wiped out the church. And they never will. We have the power of the promise of Jesus Christ on that, right here in Matthew 16:18. |
