129. What does Matthew 16:19 mean: “I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and...
What does Matthew 16:19 mean: “I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven"? Does this teach that Peter had the power to admit anyone to the kingdom of heaven or shut him out, and that therefore the Roman Catholic Church built on Peter is the true church?
No, it does not teach anything of the kind. When anyone studied under a Jewish rabbi it was the custom of the rabbi to give him a key when he had become perfect in the doctrine, signifying that he was now able to unlock the secrets of the kingdom. Christ’s words refer to this custom. Peter by the confession of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, had proven that the Father was revealing the truth unto him (v. 17), and Jesus looked forward to that day when, filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter would be guided into all the truth (John 16:12-14) and thus be competent to unlock the kingdom to men. Every Spirit-filled man, everyone taught by the Holy Spirit, has the keys of the kingdom of heaven. He has spiritual discernment and is competent to unlock the kingdom to men.
“Binding” and “loosing” were common expressions in Jesus’ day for forbidding and permitting. What a rabbi forbade, he was said to “bind,” what he permitted, he was said to “loose.” Peter and the other disciples, as Spirit-filled men, would have discernment to know what God permitted and what God forbade. And whatsoever Peter as a Spirit-filled man forbade on earth would be forbidden in heaven, and whatsoever he permitted would be permitted in heaven.
We see Peter on the day of Pentecost using the keys to unlock the kingdom to the Jews, and 3,000 entered in that day. In the Acts 10 we see Peter now using the keys to unlock the kingdom to the Gentiles, and a whole household entered into the kingdom that day.
Every time any man preaches the Gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit he is using the keys. Not only did Peter have the keys, but we may have them today, and being taught by the Spirit we may have discernment as to what God permits and as to what God forbids, and then what we forbid here on earth will be the thing that God in heaven forbids and what we permit will be the thing that God in heaven permits.