Lutheran theology interprets Matthew 16:18 'on this rock' as referring to Peter's faith and confession ('You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God') rather than to Peter's person as the foundation of the church. Luther argued that the rock is the confession of faith, not the apostle himself. This reading preserves Peter's important role while denying the Petrine primacy doctrine that grounds papal authority.

Lutheran theology affirms apostolic authority but distributes it among the apostles rather than concentrating it in Peter alone. The church is built on the apostles' teaching (Ephesians 2:20) and ultimately on Christ as the chief cornerstone (1 Corinthians 3:11). While Lutheran churches recognize the historic significance of Peter's leadership, they do not accept the Roman Catholic interpretation of Matthew 16:18 as establishing perpetual papal supremacy.