Hutterites interpret Matthew 16:18 in a nuanced way consistent with their Anabaptist ecclesiology. They affirm that the rock upon which the church is built refers to Peter's confession of faith and, more broadly, to the faith of all believers in Christ. While acknowledging Jesus' special commission to Peter, Hutterites reject the Roman Catholic doctrine of papal supremacy.

They understand the 'keys of the kingdom' as authority shared among the apostles and the church community. The authority is relational and communal, not hierarchical.