Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 16:20
Then charged he his disciples - ΔιεϚειλατο , he strictly charged them. Some very good MSS. have επετιμησεν , he severely charged - comminatus est , - he threatened. These are the readings of the Cod. Bezae, both in the Greek and Latin. The Christ - The common text has Jesus the Christ; but the word Jesus is omitted by fifty-four MSS., some of which are not only of the greatest authority, but also of the greatest antiquity. It is omitted also by the Syriac, later Persic, later... read more
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 16:19
The keys of the kingdom - By the kingdom of heaven, we may consider the true Church, that house of God, to be meant; and by the keys, the power of admitting into that house, or of preventing any improper person from coming in. In other words, the doctrine of salvation, and the full declaration of the way in which God will save sinners; and who they are that shall be finally excluded from heaven; and on what account. When the Jews made a man a doctor of the law, they put into his hand the key... read more