“…and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:19
Dear Ones:
When Jesus speaks of the “kingdom of heaven,” He makes very clear that His point of reference is not the things of this earth, but that which is of God. In Matthew’s gospel, just prior to speaking to Peter of the “keys of the kingdom of heaven,” that He would give him, He spoke of building His church. In that context, he speaks of a spiritual warfare, where the “gates of hell” shall not prevail against it.” (16:18) Immediately we are brought face to face with a struggle, one where spiritual authority and power are very real. The “gates of hell,” those strongholds where Satan maintains the control, are declared to be overcome. When Jesus addresses Peter concerning the keys of the kingdom, he speaks of binding and loosing things on earth, so that the church, the living body of Christ, will be built. Peter is to use these keys, believing that the power and authority of Christ will be revealed on earth, as it is in heaven. But, we must ask, “What are these keys?” And, are they available to the believer today?
On the day of Pentecost, after the Spirit of God had been poured out, Peter rose up and preached to the crowds. What did he declare to them? Did he use the keys? He preached Christ to them, and the truths of the gospel. There was spiritual power and authority in those words, for about three thousand people came to Christ that day. On that day, the gates of hell could not resist the overwhelming power and authority of Christ. The church of Christ was born.
In the book of Isaiah, we read: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord has anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.” (61:1) Here is the revealed ministry of the Lord Jesus, who came to seek and save that which was lost. But in doing so, He used “keys,” spiritual keys which were, and are effective today. Jesus came first of all to preach “good tidings,” truths by which the suffering soul comes to understand the motive and will of God. According to these truths, God comes to those who have been downtrodden by sin and sorrow, those whose hearts have truly been broken because of loss, and suffering. The words that the Lord speaks are good, for they are filled with hope…but also with authority and power. Christ’s truth addresses also those who are “captives,” having been made slave by sin and Satan. Again, He speaks comforting words of truth, for they reveal to the suffering heart the power of God to deliver, and set free. Lastly, the words of the Lord addresses specifically the issue of, “…the opening of the prison to them that are bound.” The objective of Satan is always to bring the unbelieving sinner into bondage, to make him his slave, and to keep him “in prison,” cut off from the freedom to truly live. Christ’s words are those of hope, and the certainty of God’s response to the heart and soul that will believe Him. Just as “…the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds,” so “the keys of the kingdom” are wondrously effective, for the truths of the Gospel, and Christ by His Spirit, heal the brokenhearted, and set the captive free.
Father, grant us grace to see clearly what these wondrous keys are. Enable us to use them well, by the Spirit. Then others will see, and know, the reality of “the soul set free.” In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad