“The gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18 English Standard Version).

How do gates “prevail”? After all, gates are not offensive. They aren’t weapons of war. If anything, gates only restrict people from breaking in or getting out.

Preventative forces?

Yet what happens when Peter confesses to Jesus, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16 ESV)? Jesus commends that confession of faith but in an unusual way: “On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” What does that mean?

The sad reality of the wages of sin is that every sinful soul is headed for hell. Death, including eternal death, is our rightful lot. Satan and all the forces of darkness—including the gates of hell—do all they can to keep our souls in eternal darkness.

Yet what does Jesus promise? He promises that all those forces of darkness, even the gates of hell, will not prevail. They will not be able to hold back Jesus from rescuing souls as the gospel goes out into homes, communities, and the world. The gates of hell will not be able to prevent Jesus from saving souls, like ours, for his kingdom.

Eternal rescues

With that promise, every time the gospel goes out into our world, you can imagine our Savior saying, “One more for the kingdom! The gates of hell shall not prevail.”

Parents share the good news of Jesus with their newborn child in the simplest of ways, and the Spirit goes to work planting saving faith in that child’s heart. “One more for the kingdom!”

A pastor pours baptismal waters over the head of an infant, a child, a teen, an adult, as he speaks ancient words, “I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” “One more for the kingdom!”

A Lutheran educator teaches her students about sin and grace. This time the message reaches the ears of a child in the back—and sinks into her heart like a seed in fruitful soil. “One more for the kingdom!”

The gospel is preached in church, and a worshiping guest, after a whole life of wandering, realizes why he’s there. “One more for the kingdom!”

The good news of Christ’s full and free forgiveness—even for that sin—is shared with a friend wrestling with guilt. “One more for the kingdom!”

A pastor visits a homebound member. Her soul suffers with doubt and anxiety, but the pastor brings her Jesus in Word and sacrament. “One more for the kingdom!”

A child of God closes his eyes in death. He opens them to see the welcome of his Savior and all the hosts of heaven. “One more for the kingdom! The gates of hell did not prevail!”

Dear child of God, Jesus looks at you with that same joy. He rejoiced over you when his gospel took root in your heart and life, as baptismal waters were poured over your head, as his good news was shared with you by parent or pastor, teacher or friend. Even now he rejoices over you and will continue to do so when he brings you to heaven someday. Not even the gates of hell can stop him.

How these words frustrate the forces of darkness: “One more for the kingdom!”

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank you for bringing me into your kingdom through your saving gospel. Fill me with joy when you rescue others from hell and use me so others may hear your good news. Amen.

Author: Jeremiah Gumm
Volume 112, Number 10
Issue: October 2025