In Defense of the Faith

Who Has the “Keys” to “Bind and Loose” Today?

Question: Jesus said, “I will give unto you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven.” That sounds as though we have the authority not just to ask God for something in prayer, but to command Him. Why can’t we make this work today?

Response: You have mixed two Scriptures. The promise “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:16:19And 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.
See All...) was given to Peter individually, the singular “thee” and “thou” making that clear. Shortly thereafter, the same promise of binding authority (minus the statement about the “keys of the kingdom of heaven”) was repeated word for word to all of the disciples: “Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew:18:18Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
See All...). The plural, “Ye,” makes it clear that on this occasion the promise was given to all of the disciples.

How do we understand the “keys of the kingdom heaven” given to Peter individually? That Peter did not have a “key” or “keys” by which he alone could open the door into the kingdom for all who would enter is very clear. One enters the kingdom by believing the gospel and as a result being born again by the Holy Spirit (John:3:3-5 [3] Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. [4] Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? [5] Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
See All...). That gospel was preached by Christ (Luke:4:43And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.
See All...), and He commissioned all of His disciples to preach it as well (Luke:9:2And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
See All...) long before the “keys” were given to Peter. Christ said that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob would be in the kingdom (Luke:13:28There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
See All...), but they certainly were not given entrance by Peter, having entered it for centuries before he was born. Many entered the kingdom through the preaching of Philip (Acts:8:12But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
See All...) and Paul (Acts:14:22Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
See All...; 19:8; 20:25, 28:31) and, by implication, through the preaching of the other apostles when Peter was neither present nor referred to as holding any required “key.”

When the Keys Were Used

            The only unique actions by Peter that could be associated with opening the kingdom to anyone were on the day of Pentecost and at the home of the Roman Centurion Cornelius. These were historic occasions on which Peter undoubtedly used the “keys of the kingdom”: one key to open the kingdom through the gospel to the Jews (Acts:2:14-41 [14] But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: [15] For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. [16] But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; [17] And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: [18] And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: [19] And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: [20] The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the LORD come: [21] And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. [22] Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: [23] Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: [24] Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. [25] For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: [26] Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: [27] Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. [28] Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. [29] Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. [30] Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; [31] He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. [32] This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. [33] Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. [34] For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, [35] Until I make thy foes thy footstool. [36] Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both LORD and Christ. [37] Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? [38] Then Peter said unto them, 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. [39] For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call. [40] And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. [41] Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
See All...) and the other key to open the kingdom to the Gentiles (Acts:10:34-48 [34] Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: [35] But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. [36] The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) [37] That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; [38] How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. [39] And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: [40] Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; [41] Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. [42] And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. [43] To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. [44] While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. [45] And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. [46] For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, [47] Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? [48] And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
See All...). Although Paul was “the apostle to the Gentiles” (Romans:11:13For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
See All...), Peter was the first to preach the gospel and offer salvation to non-Jews. He reminded the church leaders of that fact when they gathered in Jerusalem to discuss the status of Gentiles:

Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles [the household of Cornelius] by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bore them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us, and put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith (Acts:15:7-9 [7] And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. [8] And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; [9] And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
See All...).

Obviously these keys given to Peter by Christ, one for the Jews and the other for the Gentiles, needed to be used only once. The door of the kingdom having been opened to all mankind, the “keys” had served their purpose. The Roman Catholic Church, however, teaches that the “keys” bestowed a unique and lasting authority upon Peter, which then passed to his alleged successors, the popes. There is no support for this belief either in Scripture or in history. Peter never again used “key” in his lifetime. Obviously, having served their purpose, they were no longer needed. Nor is there a word about5 Peter’s alleged successors or subsequent use of the “keys.” That the popes were not by any stretch of the imagination successors to Peter is very clear from both the Bible and history, a fact that we document thoroughly in A Woman Rides the Beast.

Successors of the Apostles Today?

          Furthermore, it is clear that all Christians are the “successors” to Peter and the other apostles. Jesus told His disciples, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel” (Mark:16:15And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
See All...). He commanded them to teach those who believed the gospel “to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Matthew:28:19-20 [19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
See All...). That would obviously include teaching all new disciples to preach the gospel and make disciples, who in turn would be likewise taught. Those of us who are believers today have heard the gospel from others, who in turn heard it from others, and so forth all the way back to the original disciples of Christ. Thus we (and all others who have believed the gospel from the day of Pentecost until now) are bound to obey everything that Christ commanded the original twelve disciples. That would include the command He gave His disciples regarding “binding and loosing” in His name and by His power. No exception is made for anything the apostles were commanded to do.

            Roman Catholicism claims that the bishops are the successors of the apostles and therefore they alone can “bind and loose.” Similarly, some Charismatics try to make some special power out of “binding and loosing” available only for certain “prophets or those who have this special gift. Note, however, that the “binding and loosing” in Matthew:18:18Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
See All... is linked with the promise “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew:18:20For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
See All...). That applies to all Christians, and so does every other promise and command given to the disciples.

            As for “binding and loosing,” the context and the entire tenor of Scripture make it clear that Jesus was not handing His disciples some unique power that they could wield as they please. He was telling them that as His representatives they were to act in His name alone. This is not different from His promise that “whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you” (John:16:23And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
See All...). Invoking God’s name in prayer is not a magic formula whereby we receive automatic answers to our requests. The same is true with “binding and loosing.” Whether binding demonic spirits in a certain situation or loosing someone from the power of sin in their lives, it must be in Christ’s name, as He would do it, to His glory, through His Word, and in the power of the Holy Spirit.