For background,see Is.22:21,22.
bind & loose-refer to what was permitted and what was not permitted in rabbinical literature.
In Is.22:15-25,we find that Shebna who was the steward(a high government official) in King Hezekiah’s court was an arrogant person.He was demoted to a secretary(Is.36:3)& Eliakim was promoted to replace Shebna.The steward had the key of the house of David.(Is.22:12)The key is a symbol of authority.
Where there is authority,there is also responsibility.He was responsible for caring the king.
Peter was entrusted with the responsibility of preaching the Gospel.In Matt.
18:18,the responsibility has been given to all the disciples.In fact,the Church has the responsibility to preach the Gospel to the whole world.
(Matt.28:19,20;Mark 16:15;Luke 24:47).
When Peter preached the Gospel on the day of Pentecost after resurrection of Jesus Christ,about 3000 people were saved & baptized.(Acts 2:14-41).When he preached in the house of Cornelius,all his friends & relatives who heard the gospel were saved & baptized.(Acts 10:24-48).
When people respond to the Gospel & accept Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour & Lord,they got the privilege to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven to enjoy the eternal inheritance promised by God,as their sins are forgiven & as they are delivered from the penalty of sin.(Read Heb.9:15;10:16-18;I John 2:12;Rom.10:9,10)
The Gospel in a nutshell is found in I Cor.15:3,4.Please read John 1:12;
3:3,5;14:6;Acts 4:12;16:31

Commentary by Alexander
Posted on: 8/4/2008 03:59 am