-32 The Thirty-first Lord’s Day

31-32 The Thirty-first Lord’s Day
Matthew 16:19
And I will give to you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. And whatever you bind on earth, shall be bound in Heaven; whatever you loose on earth, shall be loosed in Heaven.
In these words is contained an explication of that promise which Christ in the last preceding verse had made to
 Peter, of building his Church upon the Rock, and of the strength of that building which the gates or power of Hell would not overcome. Now the building of his Church is signified by the instrumental cause of it; that is, the Ministry of the Gospel. The strength or firmness of this building is shown in the firmness it has from Heaven, which is its principal cause. And the building of the Church by the Ministry is Metaphorically explained by, the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven; because giving them the keys to bear is the sign of power given them over that House, or Town to which they belong; therefore by this simile Christ most intended the power of the Ministry in those who belong to the Kingdom of Heaven. The confirmation or strength of this Heavenly building is explained from things compared in likeness; namely, between the administration of or around these keys; and its approbation, or ratification by God. This parity or likeness is explained in two parts, according to the two uses which keys serve, of shutting and binding; and of opening and loosing. 
Doctrine 1. Christ appointed in his Church a certain order or rank of Ministers for building her up, and keeping her in repair or strength.
He appointed a Ministry not a Magistry — not a mastership or Lordly power — because he did not ordain that anyone in the Church should do anything from or of his own authority, or according to his own pleasure; but only from and by the authority of Christ himself, who is the only King, Lord, and Law-giver in his Church. He appointed a certain order:
Reason 1. Because God is the God of order, and not of confusion, which ought to be far from his House. 
Reason 2. Because no other but the Lord of the Church had power to ordain any such thing, or make it effectual for its ends. 
Reason 3. Because thus it became Christ to show himself faithful in the House of God, as Moses was, Hebrews 3:2; Hebrews 3:5. 
He appointed this order for building his Church, or for keeping her in repair, or strengthening her.
Reason 1 . Because he would deal with men in a man-like and moral manner, as suited their nature. And this servantship or Ministry is a moral means of building up and confirming the faithful.
Reason 2. Because believers’ imperfections and diverse temptations, require such means by which they may be established and ordained in the faith.
Reason 3 . Because he would so put forth his powerful working by such earthen vessels, and weak means, for the greater praise and illustration of his grace.
Use. Of Information: that we understand how to esteem the Ministry of the Gospel; namely, as a most holy and saving Ordinance of Christ ought to be esteemed. 
Doctrine 2. To this Ministry is adjoined a ministerial or servant-like power in things that belong to the Kingdom of Heaven.
This is collected from giving the keys. For although by a key is sometimes meant a supreme or Lordlike power and command, as in Revelation 1:18; Revelation 1:1 yet sometimes only a Ministerial power is meant, as in Isaiah 22:22.2 And that it is to be so understood here is clear in that Christ alone is King of his Church, and commander, endowed with supreme power. And by this he is distinguished from the Apostles themselves, Matthew 18:19-20; Matthew 3:1-17 and also by this, that the Apostles everywhere profess themselves to be the Ministers of Christ.4
Reason 1 . Because every order, rank, or degree instituted by God has some suitable power adjoined to it. As therefore a commanding or an imperial power is adjoined to an Empire or State; so a ministerial power is adjoined to Ministers.
Reason 2 . Because the building and keeping in repair, and strengthening and advancing the Church, in which the end of this Ministry consists, cannot be procured by men, but only by such a power.
Reason 3 . Because the Kingdom of Heaven is of that nature which can be subject to no imperial or commanding power of sinful man, but only to him that is infallible and impetrable5, God and man Christ Jesus; and only to a Ministerial or servant-like power of sinful men.
Use 1 . Of Refutation: against Papists who give an imperial and commanding power to Peter, and to the Popes of Rome; which they would gladly pick out of this verse. But the power here spoken of is equally given or joined to all the Ministers of the Word, and not to Peter alone, as they would have it. For
1. Peter here represented all the Apostles, and all Ministers of the Word, their successors, and in some way the whole Church. For Christ posed the question to all of them, and the answer was given by Peter with the approval and consent of them all, as what they adhered to and admitted as well as he. And therefore Peter might be said to have answered in the name of all. He was the senior, and so often spoke for all; so also in this promise, instead of them all, Christ directs his speech to Peter.
2. This same power is solemnly given to all the Apostles, and to their successors, John 20:23.6
3. This power is in some kind extended to every true Church.
1 Revelation 1:18 "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. 
2 Isaiah 22:22 Speaking of Eliakim, master of Hezekiah’s household: “The key of the house of David I will lay on his shoulder; So he shall open, and no one shall shut; And he shall shut, and no one shall open.”
3 Matthew 18:19 "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."
4 For example, Romans 15:16; 1 Corinthians 3:5; Ephesians 6:21; Colossians 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 3:2. 
5 Capable of being impetrated, obtained, or influenced by prayer or petition.
6 John 20:22-23 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
Use 2 . Of Direction: to Ministers, that they attempt nothing except from the command of Christ, as his Ministers; and to others, that they not so look at Ministers as to keep their eye on their persons and look no further, but that they lift up their eyes to Christ, whose Ministers they are; and that they love and honour them for his sake, and for the employment he has laid on them in which, and as far as, they conduct themselves suitably to both.
Doctrine 3. This power is properly exercised in binding and loosing, or in shutting and opening; that is, in retaining or remitting sins. 
Reason 1. Because the whole consolation and edification of the Church chiefly consists in the remission of sins given and granted to believers, which is also set out and illustrated by retaining of sins, or denial of remission, which is denounced to unbelievers in the Church.
Reason 2. Because all other duties that belong to the Ministry depend on these, and may conveniently be reduced into them as means, effects, adjuncts, and the like.
Reason 3 . Because in these the excellence and worth of the Ministry of the Gospel singularly appear; because that chief work of forgiving sins, which properly and absolutely agrees only to God, is in some sort communicated to the Ministers of Christ, or made common to them with God; namely, because the denunciation, testification, declaration, and certification of forgiveness of sins, belongs to the Ministers of Christ by their office. And that is in two ways: either in the preaching of the Word, or in the exercise of Discipline.
Use 1. Of Information: about the excellence and worth of the Ministry of the Gospel, that it may not be disgraced by Ministers themselves, nor condemned or spoken against by others. 
Use 2. Of Comfort: to believers, because the whole Ministry of the Gospel labours for this, that believers may be made certain of the forgiveness of their sins.