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The Keys of the Kingdom

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When asked of the identity of Jesus, Peter made the confession, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).  Upon this bedrock truth Jesus promised to build His church (Matthew 16:18; cf. 1 Corinthians 3:11).  Then immediately Jesus said to Peter, “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” (Matthew 16:19).  There is no change in topic here, for the church of Christ is the kingdom of Christ; therefore, it is natural for Jesus to speak of the kingdom when a discussion of the church is ongoing.

key

Keys give access.  Jesus was saying that Peter would serve a function of giving access to the realm of the saved: the church.  Nowhere in this promise is Jesus stating that Peter would pass the keys to the next generation and start a line of authority for humans to preside over Christ’s kingdom and continually revise the doctrines and practices of the church.

Peter would open access to the kingdom.  Others had been attempting to control access to heaven, but only Jesus had the right to grant access (Revelation 3:7).  Jesus pronounced a woe to the scribes and Pharisees, “for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.”  Luke’s account mentions the key, “Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered” (Luke 11:52).

Jesus expounds on the keys in Matthew 16:19 explaining, “and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”   To “bind” and “loose” are terms that relate to matters of law.  Even today we say, “this contract is binding.”  Thus, Jesus is saying what God had determined regarding transgressions of His law in heaven and pardon would be declared by Peter. In fact, two chapters later, Jesus uses the terms “binding” and “loosing” again in regard to forgiveness of sin (Matthew 18:18).  Peter and the other apostles were not making up laws, but rather revealing God’s terms of forgiveness for all (2 Peter 1:16-21).

In Acts 2:38, Peter, on Pentecost day, declared the terms of pardon to the Jews who were guilty of crucifying the Lord by stating, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”  Not only did he function as the key bearer to grant access to the Jews, but also later to the Gentiles (Acts 10:47-48).

The way of forgiveness has been opened to all.  All may enter the kingdom if they will respond to the terms laid out in the gospel by inspired men such as Peter; when they do such they are added to the church, the kingdom (Acts 2:47).  Contrariwise, those who reject the inspired message of the New Testament will remain in their sins and be shut out of the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 25:10-12).

 

-Mark Day

No More Than The Necessary Burden

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The following is an excerpt from the letters written to the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia, “For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things” (Acts 15:28).  Acts 15 records a conference that took place in Jerusalem.  God’s requirements of the Gentiles was the topic addressed regarding which, “there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses” (Acts 15:5).

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Though these Pharisees believed and were part of Christ’s church, they were still up to their old ways.  Jesus said of the Pharisees, “…they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders” (Matthew 23:4).  The apostles and elders went to the Jerusalem conference to consider this matter (Acts 15:6), but it was not that they were going to determine by majority vote what position they were to take.  Rather, it would be established again to those at Jerusalem what God had declared about the Gentiles through miracles and wonders (Acts 15:12).  It was God’s choice that was acknowledged, not man’s choice that was decided (Acts 15:7).  Those Pharisees who were intent on binding the law of Moses and circumcision, were questioned as to why they were trying to put an unbearable yoke upon the necks of the Gentiles (Acts 15:10) and ordered to not trouble the Gentiles with laws God did not require of them (Acts 15:19).

There were requirements God had for the Gentiles.  They were to abstain from idols, fornication, from eating things strangled and eating blood (Acts 15:20, 29), but the extra laws the Pharisees desired to bind were not to trouble them.  God wants to bind on us no additional burden than the commands necessary to keep us from harm and in godliness that leads to eternal life (2 Peter 1:3).

Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).  There are requirements we must keep to follow Christ.  We must not seek to be loosed from what Christ binds upon us.  But His yoke is easy and His burden is light.  His commandments are for our good and are not grievous, nor burdensome (1 John 5:3).

But we must beware of those who would add laws which are not a part of the Gospel.  Christ has given us true freedom in His laws, so we should not be ensnared as slaves to man-made religious requirements (Galatians 5:1-2).  While it is often shown that man flouts the Lord’s commands, certain people have a tendency to go the other way and forbid things which God allows (1 Timothy 4:3).  Spiritual death is lurking in either direction.  Spiritual life is found in doing Christ’s commandments (Revelation 22:14).  When I continue in Christ’s word, then am I truly His disciple and truly free (John 8:31-32).

 

-Mark Day