Matthew 16 is where Jesus finally introduces the concept of his death and resurrection to his disciples. In verse 18, Jesus declares something that confused many:
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.
Matthew 16:18
This statement, often misinterpreted to imply the fires of hellfire, actually speaks to the resurrection and the defeat of death. Understanding the historical and cultural context and examining the language used reveal a profound promise of victory over death rather than a reference to eternal conscious torment in hellfire.
Hades, sometimes confusingly translated to the English “hell,” is actually the Greek word equivalent of Sheol, representing the underworld or the realm of the dead (the grave). In the New Testament, Hades similarly denotes the unseen place where souls go after death, awaiting resurrection. Like Sheol, Hades is not inherently a place of torment or bliss but a temporary holding place for the dead.
Rock? Church?
Let’s go a few verses back for context. In Matthew 16:13, Jesus asks His disciples what they have heard from others about His identity: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” (Matthew 16:13). The disciples respond with various opinions they have heard. Then, Jesus asks them directly: “But what about you? Who do you say I am?” (Matthew 16:15). Simon Peter answers, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). Jesus replies,
Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 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.
Matthew 16:17-18
Some interpret the phrase “this rock” as referring to Peter himself. However, the context from the previous verses indicates that “this rock” refers to the recognition of Jesus as “the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). In other words, the church will be built—theologically—on the core and fundamental acknowledgment that Jesus is the Messiah!
In Greek, the word for Peter is “Πέτρος” (Petros), which means a small stone. In contrast, the word for rock is “πέτρα” (petra), which means a large rock or bedrock. The word “Petros” is masculine, while “petra” is feminine. This play on words indicates that Peter (Petros) is given a symbolic nickname, but the foundation (petra) of the Christian church is Jesus.
Peter himself, in his later letter, describes the cornerstone and the rock not as himself but as Jesus:
To you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.”
1 Peter 2:7-8
Similarly, Paul writes in his first letter to the Corinthians: “The rock was Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:4). In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul also states: “Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.” (Ephesians 2:20).
Thus, the acknowledgment of the Son of God—not Peter—is the rock, the spiritual cornerstone of the Church.
Considering the use of all these previous metaphors, interpreting “the gates of Hades” in Matthew 16:18 as referring to a literal fight against hellfire is not feasible. The imagery of gates fighting against a building is nonsensical. Instead, the gates of Hades, understood in the context of ancient Jewish and Old Testament writings, symbolize the power of death (the grave). Jesus is proclaiming that the power of death will not overcome His church. This is a promise of resurrection and future perseverance of Jesus’s ministry/Church rather than a reference to hellfire or eternal conscious torment. The Church, built on the recognition of Jesus as the Messiah, will ultimately triumph, liberating those held captive, much like an army breaking through the gates of a walled city to free its inhabitants.
The Gates of Death
Taken literally, the idea of gates fighting against a building is absurd. A gate is a defensive structure, not an offensive weapon. The imagery of the “gates of Hades” suggests something that confines or restrains, as if keeping the dead from leaving. In the context of Jesus’ promise, the gates symbolize the obstacles of death and the grave. This interpretation aligns with their usage in the Hebrew Scriptures, where they are referred to as “the gates of death” (Job 17:16, Psalm 9:13, Isaiah 38:10).
The gates of death—like the gates of a cemetery—are a metaphor for the grave, not for a place of eternal hellfire torture.
Jesus’ statement in Matthew 16:18 is a proclamation of His impending victory over death. By saying that the gates of Hades will not overcome His church, He assures that death—perhaps persecution—will not prevail against him, his ministry, and his disciples. This aligns with the broader biblical narrative of resurrection and eternal life:
I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
Revelation 1:18
Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?
1 Corinthians 15:54-55
These verses reinforce the idea that Jesus’ mission was to conquer and defeat death—not hellfire—once and for all, thus inverting the Genesis 3 consequence of death.
Additionally, if the gates of Hades are meant to keep souls confined, Jesus’ statement that they will not overcome his church implies liberation, not further confinement. The Church’s role would be to break these gates and free the captives, aligning more with the concept of resurrection and liberation from death.
Conclusion
Matthew 16:18’s reference to the “gates of Hades” is best understood as a metaphor for death and the grave, not a place of eternal fiery punishment. Jesus promised that his church would prevail over death, highlighting his mission to conquer death and lay a path into eternal life that no gate can block. This interpretation aligns with the broader biblical narrative of redemption and avoids the logical inconsistencies of a strictly literal interpretation. Thus, the “gates of Hades” now signify Jesus’ triumph over death, ultimately assuring resurrection and victory over evil.
This article was a copy-paste from my new book on hell: HELL: A Jewish Perspective on a Christian Doctrine
