We must put forth effort to understand and correctly handle the Bible.  Paul told Timothy, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).  There are many who twist the Scriptures to their own liking, but also to their own destruction (2 Peter 3:16).  Satan misuses scripture as a temptation (Matthew 4:6), and those who handle the word of God deceitfully are following the devil’s lead (2 Corinthians 4:2; cf. 1 John 4:1-3; Matthew 7:15-20).  Since the Gospel can be perverted into a different message which does not save (Galatians 1:6-9), we must work to make sure we arrive at the true meaning of the soul-saving message.  Here are some questions to ask in studying scripture:

1. Who is doing the speaking? Is Satan speaking?  Is Job venting his frustration at God? Is the man who is speaking in this text inspired or not?  Does the overall context of the Bible show that this statement is one approved by God?
2. To whom is the statement addressed? Peter gives one answer to those who have yet to obey the gospel (Acts 2:38), but a different answer to one who has been baptized but has fallen back into sinful ways (Acts 8:22, cf. v. 13).  1 John 1:9 is addressed to those already in the Christian walk; it is not to be taken as the way a person is initially washed from sins (Acts 22:16).
3. Under which covenant is this passage found? How many people today still regard the command to, “remember the Sabbath day” (Exodus 20:8), while never considering the difference between the New Covenant and the Old (Colossians 2:14-16)?
4. What is the true meaning of the words in this verse? Words such as “baptism” and “bishop” carry a different meaning to many today than what the word in the original conveyed when the Bible was written. Sometimes it takes some digging to make sure the way we are taking the words are not colored by modern definitions.
5. Is the language in this passage literal or figurative? The book of John is filled with examples of people taking Jesus literally without catching the metaphor He was employing.  While the Bible usually is to be taken literally it does use figurative language.  We recognize this in everyday conversation, we must apply it to reading the Bible as well.
6. What is the immediate context of this verse? The best habit we can make in studying the Bible is considering the topic at hand. Looking at the verses preceding and following a certain text will help us to ascertain the meaning.  While chapter and verse divisions have added to our ability to locate precise portions of scripture, sadly, they’ve also caused people to isolate verses from the surrounding material.  This makes twisting the scripture very easy.
7. Is this all that is said on this subject? In addition to considering the verses immediately surrounding a certain verse, proper understanding comes from also fitting a verse into the overall teaching of Scripture.  All too often people will quote a portion of scripture that they use as a proof-text for their beliefs without considering what else the Bible says on the matter.  If my interpretation of a passage contradicts other passages of scripture, then I have misinterpreted something.  We must always consider the entirety of Bible teaching on a subject before determining what a certain verse means.

-Mark Day

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.

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