 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| The Gates of Hades By Adam Comeaux |
Many a great men who were masters in their own right have passed through the portals of time. Profound
orators, able scholars of renowned, linguistic champions of thought provoking declarations have strung fair
words creating a crisp impact upon the mind inducing the desire to listen. Of all the words ever dictated, or of
the methods used to seize the human intellect, none compares to the words used in the teachings of the
Savior. With His words He creates, molds, and shapes the lives of the son’s of God. His authoritative,
parabolic, and prophetic teachings mesmerize the thoughts for a deeper comprehension to unfold the layers
of wisdom within. A passage which demonstrates this remarkable ability is Matt. 16:18. While there are other
words to consider in this context, let us focus on the following phrase, “The gates of Hades shall not prevail
against it.” With these words, we shall string together the context, thereby deducing the meaning of the
phrase.
Let us first analyze the statement under consideration. (1) The term translated “Hades” properly means,
the unseen, the place of departed souls, the grave. This is not a reference to the “eternal flames” prepared
for Satan and his followers. The place of departed souls does not carry with it a necessary distinction between
the saved or lost. Consider, James explains the body without the spirit is dead (2:26). When the spirit leaves
the body, it departs, but where to? Hades is simply speaking of the unseen realm wherein the spirits of men
depart after death (cf. Lk 16). (2) To “prevail” is to overpower and carries with it the implicit notion of
forbidding, stopping, or destroying. (3) According to the context, that which shall not be prevailed against is
the building of the Church (Matt. 16:18). Without any further consideration, Jesus seems to be saying, the
Hadean realm will not prevail against the building of the Church.
What are we expected to understand about this statement? Was there a possibility that the Hadean
realm could stop Jesus from building His church, if so, how? Let us give careful consideration to the context in
order to unveil this understanding. Jesus has posed a question concerning His identity. He asks his disciples
who men thought Him to be (v13). Several names are given, and then Peter answers by saying, “You are the
Christ, the Son of the living God” (v16). The building and authority of the church is proclaimed in verses 18
&19. As a result of what has just taken place, he tells His disciples to tell no one who He is (v20). Now, special
attention needs to be given to verse 21. “From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go
to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be
raised the third day”. As the proverbial saying goes, “the cats out of the bag”. The true identity is brought to
the forefront in order to begin to prepare the disciples for what was to come, His death and resurrection.
Jesus continues with indications of His death and resurrection in verse 22-28. Peter expresses his
unfavorable disposition towards the things the Christ will do (22). Jesus rebukes him (23), and if we keep the
context, Peter is used as an example of one not denying himself and taking up his cross (24). The Greek word
translated deny means to forget oneself, to lose sight of one’s self or own interest. In other words, our will
must become the will of the Father if we are going to follow Jesus. This is why Jesus tells Peter he is not
mindful of the things of God (v23). When we deny ourselves, we put to death those things which hinder us,
the old man of sin (Rom. 6:6, Cf. Matt. 16:25). The death of Jesus is what makes dyeing to sin a possibility. It
is in Him we deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and lose our lives for His sake (Romans 6:1-6, I Cor. 12:30,
Col. 1:24) Jesus continues to consider the eternal spiritual death of man. While previous verses indicate man
dying to live spiritually, verse 26 deals with the spiritually dead on earth, which will also die for an eternity.
Jesus uses this to transition from indications of His death, to indications of His resurrection. A picture is
depicted of His return which implies being raised from the dead (27). If he would not be resurrected, returning
with angels would be impossible. Living a life so that we could be rewarded and the reward itself would be
impossible as well. He also gives an indication as to the time His death and resurrection would take place in
verse 28.
As we return to the phrase under consideration, let us bring the conclusions together for our
understanding. Jesus speaks of Hades in v18, and of His death throughout the context. We know Hades is
where the Spirit goes when it leaves the body (cf. Lk 16; Ac 2:31). Jesus said the place His spirit would go
after he died, hence His death itself, would not keep Him from building His church. If it was not going to be a
preventive source against the building of the Church, then the resurrection of Jesus must be understood as
that which is under consideration.
The gates of Hades indeed would not prevent the building of His church. According to Acts 2:31 His spirit
was not left in Hades and His body did not see corruption. In His death He purchased the Church (Acts 20:28),
in His resurrection He gave it life (Romans 6:4). It is in His death and resurrection that man becomes a part of
His body (Romans 5:6). It is in His death and resurrection that man is saved (Eph. 5:23). These masterful
words of the Savior carry throughout time as we consider this teaching and its implications. He is the Master
Teacher presenting profound truths to feeble-minded man in the most remarkably delicate fashion.
| Street Address: 1019 Clothilde St., Morgan City, LA 70380 Mailing Address: PO Box 1756, Morgan City, LA 70381 Phone: (985) 384-3489 |