Matthew 16: 19 Commentary

1. Peter was handed the keys by Jesus
a. And handed to ALL believers by extension
2. Keys signified gaining and denying access
a. Peter was the first Apostle to preach to the Jews (Acts 2:38-39)
b. And also to the Gentiles (Acts 10:34-44)
3. Those who believed in Jesus were loosed from sin
a. Those rejecting Jesus remained bound in their sin
4. In one sense, binding and loosing may have had Apostolic authority ONLY
a. When Peter told Ananias and Sapphira that they would die, they did (Acts 5:1-10)
i. Believers do NOT have this authority today
b. Paul loosed a man from the consequences of sin when the man repented (2 Cor 2:10)
i. We can state the same but only as based upon scripture
5. But believers today do not have it on their OWN authority
a. To go around binding or loosing anyone or anything
b. Including binding demons in so-called “spiritual warfare”
c. Besides, who would ever want to “loose” a demon?
6. Any binding or loosing done today
a. Is simply the verbalization of something
b. ALREADY agreed to by heaven (scripture)
7. Church discipline is a PRIME example (Matt 18:15-18)
a. When a church agrees to discipline according to the Word
b. They are carrying out what SCRIPTURE has ALREADY stated
c. And HEAVEN‘S stamp of approval is ALREADY on their actions
8. Another example would be as follows:
a. If a person denies Jesus, we can say with authority they will be condemned
b. If a person accepts Jesus, we can say with authority that they are saved

From Spiros Zodhiastes Complete Word Study Dictionary, New Testament: Accordingly, as they shut or open the door to anything that should be believed or rejected in the church on earth, it must be in agreement with what God has already ordained in heaven.

From the Believer’s Bible Commentary: The only way in which the verse is true today is in a declarative sense. When a sinner truly repents of his sins and receives Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, a Christian can declare that person‘s sins to be forgiven. When a sinner rejects the Savior, a Christian worker can declare his sins to be retained.

William Kelly writes, “Whenever the Church acts in the name of the Lord
and really does His will, the stamp of God is upon their deeds.”

By Tractorman (wrote 3584 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 2/29/2012 12:02 pm

this is in reference to the disciples only,the disciples were given the power to set doctrine,which could not be applied to us today.once the bible was written that would be the final authority.

By bob (wrote 1 Bible Commentary - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 12/13/2009 17:34 pm

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

By Alexander (wrote 499 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 8/4/2008 03:59 am