Matthew 16:19

[FaithAlone]

And 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.

I'm sure this is a pretty widely debated verse so if there's a post for this already just let me know. What did Jesus mean by whatever is bound or loosed?

 

[Mark Of The Best]

I'm sure this is a pretty widely debated verse so if there's a post for this already just let me know. What did Jesus mean by whatever is bound or loosed?

Interestingly enough, this is also found in Matthew 18:18.

It is my understanding that "binding" and "loosing" are terms common in rabbinic literature which refer to the authority to forbid what is wrong and permit what is right.

The authority that the church has today to "bind" and "loose" is restricted to teaching clearly and authoritatively what is already defined as the will of God in his Word.

Hope this helps,
Mark

 

[prodromos]

The Apostles were given the authority to govern the church. Whereas under the Old Covenant the structure of worship and the designation of feast days etc. were dictated by God, under the New Covenant this authority was placed in the hands of the Apostles and their successors as guided by the Holy Spirit.

John.

 

[daveleau]

Christ, in Scripture, never mentions the leadership of the church to be from one man. Scripture written after Christ gives no authority to Peter, and actually rebukes him for his tendency to fall back into Judaic ideas after he began to shun the Gentiles and preach the following of the Law. Matt 16:19 alone, without any other corroborating evidence and with large pieces of evidence being ignored that give contrary guidance, is the source for certain churches to believe in the succession of the apostles.

Many of His apostles answer different things when Christ asks them who they think He is. To the one that answered correctly; that He was the Christ, He gives the keys to Heaven. This applies to all Christians. This is repeated several times in Scripture: Faith in Christ as the Messiah is the key to Heaven. The answer Peter gives is the bedrock unto which the church is founded.

Faith in Christ as the Messiah is the only thing necessary for Salvation. The passage mentioning the loosing and binding is the basis, among other passages, that lets us know that our salvation can not be lost. Whatever we do on earth that is worth reward will be rewarded in Heave. Whatever we do on earth that is worth being punished is lost in Heaven. Our riches in Heaven are dependent on our adherence to God's will on earth. If we do wrong, we lose riches, and if we are righteous, we are rewarded in Heaven.

God bless,
Dave

 

[prodromos]

Many of His apostles answer different things when Christ asks them who they think He is. To the one that answered correctly; that He was the Christ, He gives the keys to Heaven.

Dave,
read the passage again. Christ first asks His disciples "who do other people say that I am?", not "who do you say that I am?". When He then asks the latter it is Peter who speaks first, but that does not imply the other disciples would have answered differently.

Matthew 16:13-16 But when Jesus was come into the parts of Caesarea-Philippi, he demanded of his disciples, saying, Who do men say that I the Son of man am? 14 And they said, Some, John the baptist; and others, Elias; and others again, Jeremias or one of the prophets. 15 He says to them, But ye , who do ye say that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answering said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

 

[Crazy Liz]

"Binding and loosing," used both here and in Matthew 18, has to do with the power of the church to make judgments. Although "you" is singular in Matthew 16, "you" is plural in Matthew 18.

 

[super_mog]

So does that mean binding Satan as well. When it says "whatever", is Satan included?

 

[Crazy Liz]

Read Matthew 16-20. The context in Matthew 18 is church discipline and forgiveness of sins.

 

[davidoffinland]

From Finland.

I think what has been said about the rabbinic interpretation of binding and loosing would be 1st CT correct.

But since the church has become the "new Israel" (WHICH I DO NOT BELIEVE NOR SUPPORT) you will have the churches interpretation from "forgiveness of sins" to that of the church making the judgments. This debate will continue for a long time to come.

Shalom, David.

 

[Borealis]

Jesus gives Peter the "keys of the kingdom of heaven." While most Protestants argue that the kingdom of heaven Jesus was talking about is the eternal state of glory (as if Peter is up in heaven letting people in), the kingdom of heaven Jesus is speaking of actually refers to the Church on earth. In using the term "keys," Jesus was referencing Isaiah 22 (which is the only place in the Bible where keys are used in the context of a kingdom).

Isaiah 22:22 - in the old Davidic kingdom, there were royal ministers who conducted the liturgical worship and bound the people in teaching and doctrine. But there was also a Prime Minister or chief steward of the kingdom who held the keys. Jesus gives Peter these keys to His earthly kingdom, the Church. This representative has decision-making authority over the people - when he shuts, no one opens. See also Job 12:14.

 

[muffler dragon]

I'm sure this is a pretty widely debated verse so if there's a post for this already just let me know. What did Jesus mean by whatever is bound or loosed?

It is a matter of interpretation. This is a rabbinic concept. The keys of heaven permit interpretation of the Torah.

m.d.

 

[muffler dragon]

Interestingly enough, this is also found in Matthew 18:18.

It is my understanding that "binding" and "loosing" are terms common in rabbinic literature which refer to the authority to forbid what is wrong and permit what is right.

The authority that the church has today to "bind" and "loose" is restricted to teaching clearly and authoritatively what is already defined as the will of God in his Word.

Hope this helps,
Mark

well said. should have read through the posts before bothering with mine.

 

[Mark Of The Best]

well said. should have read through the posts before bothering with mine.

You are too kind, muffler. Many thanks.

It is nice to see that we were both on the same track.

Mark

 

[muffler dragon]

You are too kind, muffler. Many thanks.

It is nice to see that we were both on the same track.

Mark

You're welcome.

It's not a very common occurrence that I see someone answer that question the way you did. It was refreshing.

Have a pleasant day.

m.d.

 

[daveleau]

Interesting. Do you have any more information on this, MotB or md? I am not asking for references to try and argue, but to learn. I know that Scripture does not support leadership of the worldwide church from one man, and find your input very interesting and a piece of historical input that I have never heard. I'd like to know more.

 

[BBAS 64]

Interestingly enough, this is also found in Matthew 18:18.

It is my understanding that "binding" and "loosing" are terms common in rabbinic literature which refer to the authority to forbid what is wrong and permit what is right.

The authority that the church has today to "bind" and "loose" is restricted to teaching clearly and authoritatively what is already defined as the will of God in his Word.

Hope this helps,
Mark

Good Day, Mark of the Best



In the context of this teaching there is a Jewish connection to the "lossing and binding" that is of the same catergory of the "locking and unlocking" in Isa 22, but with in the application of these terms they are differnet. This is often over looked.

Peace to u,

Bill

 

[muffler dragon]

Interesting. Do you have any more information on this, MotB or md? I am not asking for references to try and argue, but to learn. I know that Scripture does not support leadership of the worldwide church from one man, and find your input very interesting and a piece of historical input that I have never heard. I'd like to know more.

I'll try to provide you with information. I'll try to give the pertinent information from links:

http://www.hccentral.com/gkeys/bindls.html

The phrase is best interpreted by its use among the rabbis of the days of Jesus' earthly ministry. It was concerned with moral decision making in areas not clearly commanded in Scripture.

Note: this is a matter of Oral Torah or Halacha.

http://www.biblical-life.com/swrc/Articles/bind-loose.htm

". . . and by the time of Jesus the word 'bind' had acquired an additional meaning - 'bind' in the sense of 'forbid'. Similarly, 'loose' had acquired the opposite meaning of 'permit'. These last meanings of 'bind' and 'loose' are the ones we most often meet in Rabbinic Literature. The Rabbis were constantly called upon by their community to interpret scriptural commands. Was such-and-such an action permitted? . . . They 'bound' (prohibited) certain activities, and 'loosed' (allowed) other activities."1

http://www.jerusalemperspective.com/Default.aspx?tabid=27&ArticleID=1561

The Hebrew words for "bind" and "loose," asar and hitir, each appear with more than one meaning in the Hebrew Bible. "Bind" can mean "tie" as in Judges 15:12 and 16:11; "imprison" as in 2 Kings 17:4; "hitch" (a cart, wagon or chariot) as in Genesis 46:29; and "tether" as in Genesis 49:11; while hitir can be the exact opposite of asar in each of these senses.

By the time of Jesus, asar had acquired the additional meaning "forbid," and its antonym hitir had acquired the meaning "permit." These are the meanings most often found in rabbinic literature.

The sages were called upon constantly by their community to interpret scriptural commands.

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0MDO/is_6_30/ai_111696785

A majority of scholars now recognize that the terms "to bind" and "to loose" are best understood with reference to a practice of determining the application of scriptural commandments for contemporary situations. (1) The words are used in this regard by Josephus and in targumic materials. Jewish rabbis "bound" the law when they determined that a commandment was applicable to a particular situation, and they "loosed" the law when they determined that a word of scripture (while eternally valid) was not applicable under certain specific circumstances.

These are just a few examples. Do they suffice?

m.d.

 

[psalms 91]

binding and loosing are terms of power which jesus gave to us as believers. there are conditions such as purity, holiness with using power but we have power over demons serpents sickness and disease and much more. if only the church knew what is available

 

[muffler dragon]

binding and loosing are terms of power which jesus gave to us as believers. there are conditions such as purity, holiness with using power but we have power over demons serpents sickness and disease and much more. if only the church knew what is available

actually, bill, this idea has nothing to do with the context of the passage. Remember, Y'shua was a Jewish rabbi speaking in Jewish rabbinical terms.

 

[Andyman_1970]

Aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh rabbinic binding and loosing.

Jesus, a rabbi with S’mikah (authority) could (and did) teach a new interpretation of Torah. A rabbi’s set of interpretation of Torah was called that rabbi’s “yoke”. A rabbi’s interpretation of Torah is directly connected with the concept of binding and loosing. Anywhere you see Jesus say “you have heard it said but I tell you” – He’s not putting the Torah aside (as some assert) He’s giving His interpretation of Torah – He’s “binding” somethings and “loosing” others. When Jesus is discussing about divorce – this is rabbinic binding and loosing. He takes a matter that was “loosed” by the Pharisee’s and He “binds” it.

Anyway, just some thoughts on the subject……….