Thank you for your replies. I agree that the keys given opened the door to heaven but I cant see how one man could be given sole authority to do so when Christ has opened that door already for all to receive individually to all who hear him knocking and open that door. Otherwise our salvation would hang on one mans decision to open that door for us.
Take note that in Matthew 16:19 I will give is translated from the Greek word didomi of which below I quote from Strongs:
didomi
A prolonged form of a primary verb (which is used as an alternate in most of the tenses); to give (used in a very wide application, properly or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection): - adventure, bestow, bring forth, commit, deliver (up), give, grant, hinder, make, minister, number, offer, have power, put, receive, set, shew, smite (+ with the hand), strike (+ with the palm of the hand), suffer, take, utter, yield.
It appears to me that this verse could very well be saying that Jesus reveals to them the keys. See the phrase shall show in Matthew 24:24, it is translated from the same word didomi. Reading through all the uses of didomi in the New Testament and looking over the theme of Matthew 16:13-20 makes me believe that Jesus didnt give Peter or anyone else authority over anything but simple revealed to them the keys which will open the doors.
Notice that the conversation starts off with Jesus asking all the disciples a question of who they thought he was. At first they gave the opinion of others but Jesus asked again what did they think. Peter answered correctly and Jesus said that God revealed this to him. Did God only reveal this to Peter or did He not reveal this to all of the disciples? Seeing how Jesus called each man himself (nobody just showed up, Jesus called them) and they laid down what they were doing to follow him. I believe God did indeed reveal it to all of them.
Did Jesus build his church on one man?
Ephesians 2:19-20 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner [stone];
No he did not. What do the apostles and the prophets have in common that they are considered to be the foundation in which Jesus builds on? Revelation. God revealed to the apostles as He did the prophets the true calling of Christ and it is this that is the keys which open the door to heaven.
Ephesians 3:3-5 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
All of the above makes sense to me until I get to the part of the binding. I can not think what the apostles were given in this authority to bind and loose. Our salvation cannot depend on men that much I am sure. Reading Matthew 18:15-18 makes me think it is sins against man that men can forgive. In other words if someone sins against me and I forgive them then it is forgiven them in Heaven. This, however, doesnt fit with the whole notion of the doors to heaven being opened.
Any Comments?
Scripture Reference for above discussion:
Matthew 16
13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
14 And they said, Some [say that thou art] John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed [it] unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
19 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.
20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.