Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven

It is interesting to note that the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven was first given to Peter and later on extended to the Church of Jesus Christ. But that does not necessary mean that Peter was the first Pope, as the Roman Catholic Church believed.

The power of "binding and loosing" given to Peter

In the Gospel according to Matthew, Pete made a great confession before Jesus: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matt. 16:16, NKJV).

Jesus answered: "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not revail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven" (Matt. 16:17 - 19, emphasis added).

Here are some statements of truth:

1. The Church of Jesus Christ is built on the divine revelation of Jesus, the Messiah (Son of the Living God), given by the Father. In other words, the Chuch is built upon the solid foundation of this revelation. And so the gates of Hades (hell) shall not prevail against the Church.

2. Notice that Jesus didn't say, "Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven." He said, "Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven." There is a difference here. If you had the keys to a hotel, you could get in the lobby, restaurants, function-rooms and other public areas, but not into any guest room. If you have the keys of the hotel, you could unlock every room in the building. That means Peter could unlock the entire heaven!

3. The keys of the Kingdom of Heaven were given, on this occasion, to Peter alone, solely for the reelation that he received. With these keys Peter had the privilege of "binding and loosing" on earth.

4. Later on, we shall see, in Matthew 18 that power of "binding and loosing" was given to the Church - the Body of Christ, to unlock the entire Kingdom of Heaven, without restriction.

5. The only pre-eminence, that Peter had, was the hornor of first opening the doors of the gospel to the world.

The power of "binding and loosing" given to the Church

Let us move on to Matthew 18:

Jesus said to His disciples: "Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My namc, I am there in the midst of them" (Matt. 18:18 - 20).

When Jesus made the above statement, He was teaching His disciples how to deal with a sinning brother in the Church - (read Matthew 18:15 - 17). Therefore, in the context, the power of "binding and loosing" was given to the Church. Apparently, Jesus did no intend to give Peter any supremacy or exclusive right to regulate the discipline of His disciples. This is logical because after Peter died, the Holy Spirit will dwell in the midst of the Church congregations.

When did Jesus come into His Kingdom?

This is an interesting question. To get the answer let us go back to Matthew 16:

Jesus said to His disciples: "Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the son of Man coming in His Kingdom" (Matt. 16:28).

Mark 9:1 recorded almost the same: ".... some standing here will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power."

When I first read this verse, years ago, I wondered how Jesus could say the Church was going to be raptured before some of His disciples died. Bible Commentaries are of no help either - they give many confusing interpretations. Check it out yourself.

Let us think a little. Jesus said: "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:20, 21, emphasis added).

Jesus was saying something very different from what most of us have thought. Even His closest disciples asked, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom of Israel" (Acts 1:6)?

Jesus was talking about the coming of the Holy Spirit whom God would send after Jesus had come forth from the grave and seated at the Right Hand of God the Father. When a Christian is born again and baptized in the Holy Spirit, the Kingdom of God would come into his heart - Jesus, by the Holy Spirit, dwells in his heart. Remember what I shared in my previous messages that Jesus was the firsborn among many brethren, and He came into His Kingdom? Therefore, Jesus said that some of His disciples would still be alive after they have witnessed His resurrection. Jesus came into His Kingdom after His resurrection!

Never let "religious thinking" and "taking Scriptures out of context" to confuse you and put you under bondage of interpretation error. Always divide the Word of Truth righly!

Binding and loosing

Let us look at Matthew 16:19 again using the Amplified Bible:

Jesus said: "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind - that is, declare to be improper and unlawful - on earth must be already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth - declare lawful - must be what is already loosed in heaven."

In other words, Jesus was asying: "I will give believers authority and power to loose things on earth that are allowed in heaven and to bind things on earth that are not allowed in heaven."

What things are not allowed in heaven? The answer is - there is no stress, no sickness or disease in heaven, nor is there poverty. And so these are the things not allowed in heaven. There is no evil, no lack of any kind. Heaven is a healthy, happy place.

And so Jesus was actually saying: "You have authority to bind evil forces upon the earth that cause sickness, disease, poverty and sin of any kind."

What things are allowed in heaven? The answere is - life, health, abundance, happiness, joy, and peace. These are the things we should loose on earth, because they are already loosed in heaven.

That is the reason why Jesus called the power of binding and loosing the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven!

Thy Kingdom has already come

When Jesus was teaching His disciples some principles of prayer, He said: "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heave, Hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven" (Matt. 6:9, 10, KJV).

It is important to understand that this is a prayer under the Old Covenant. It was called "The Lord's Prayer." No one was born-again during that time. Jesus asked the disciples: "Pray that the Kingdom will come." Well, it has already come. The Kingdom is with born-again believer. It is not going to come when we get to heaven, it's already here.

When the Pharisees asked Jesus when the Kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said: "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:21, 22).

Jesus told His disciples to pray, "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." Whose will be done? God's will be done. It is God's will that is to be done in earth as it is in heaven. We need to ask ourselves: "How is it in heaven?" There is no sickness in heaven, no disease, no poverty, no pain and no sorrow - so that is God's will for this earth. It must be His will for He told the disciples to pray that way.

We, as believers, have the God-given right and ability to bind things that are bound in heaven. We have authority to come against these things. We have delegated authority to loose on earth all things that are loosed in heaven. Whatsoever we can bind on earth is what is bound in heaven. It is something we must do.


God's blessings belong to you now


Paul said: "And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Gal. 3:29, NKJV).


Therefore, the blessings of God for the children of Israel, who are obedient, are also for you if you are also obedient:


"And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God" (Deut. 28:1, 2, KJV, emphasis added).


In other words, you can't run fast enough to get away from all the blessings if you'll hearken diligently to the voice of the Lord thy God. They will come behind you and overtake you.


To find out what are the blessings let us read on:


"Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shall thou be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store. Blessed shall thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shall thou be when thou goest out. The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways" (Deut. 28:3 - 7, KJV).


People read this and say, "Yes, but that was to Israel." Yes, it was. It was to the children of Israel. But if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. You have been restored to your rightful godliness.


You need to understand that all these blessings belong to you now and not until you get to heaven. What would you do with them in heaven? There will be no demons there, no battles, no evil and no sickness. You won't need it then. You need it now!


Blessings of God are not for all


These blessings God has promised are for those who have God's Word in their mouth. These are His people - the obedient children of Israel and the born-again believers.


"It is not in heaven, that thou shouldes say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it" (Deut. 30:12 - 14, KJV, emphasis added).


Notice, the Word gets in your mouth first, then it gets unto your heart.


This is in line with what Paul said: "But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart; that is, the word of faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shall be saved" (Romans 10:8, 9, KJV).


The blessings of God are for those who have the keys of the Kingdom of heaven!