Matthew 16:19

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.

And {G2532} I will give {G1325} unto thee {G4671} the keys {G2807} of the kingdom {G932} of heaven {G3772}: and {G2532} whatsoever {G3739}{G1437} thou shalt bind {G1210} on {G1909} earth {G1093} shall be {G2071} bound {G1210} in {G1722} heaven {G3772}: and {G2532} whatsoever {G3739}{G1437} thou shalt loose {G3089} on {G1909} earth {G1093} shall be {G2071} loosed {G3089} in {G1722} heaven {G3772}.

I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you prohibit on earth will be prohibited in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven."

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

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.

Commentary

Matthew 16:19 (KJV) is a pivotal verse in the New Testament, where Jesus grants significant authority to Peter, and by extension, to the nascent church. This declaration immediately follows Peter's profound confession of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Context

This verse is found within a crucial dialogue between Jesus and His disciples in Caesarea Philippi. Just prior to this, in Matthew 16:16, Peter declares Jesus to be the Messiah. In response, Jesus blesses Peter, revealing that this understanding came from God, not man. Then, in Matthew 16:18, Jesus famously states, "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Verse 19 then details the specific authority that accompanies this foundational role, setting the stage for the church's mission and function.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Delegated Authority: The phrase "the keys of the kingdom of heaven" symbolizes authority, access, and stewardship. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, keys represented power and the right to open or close, to admit or deny entry. This signifies Peter's unique role in opening the door of faith—first to the Jews on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:41) and then to the Gentiles through Cornelius (Acts 10:44-48).
  • Divine Ratification: The concept of "whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" indicates a divine endorsement of earthly decisions made under divine guidance. This means that when the church, operating under Christ's authority, makes decisions regarding doctrine, discipline, and inclusion, these decisions are recognized and affirmed by God Himself.
  • The Church's Role: While initially spoken to Peter, the authority of "binding and loosing" is later extended to all the disciples in Matthew 18:18. This highlights the collective responsibility of the church in maintaining sound doctrine, administering church discipline, and proclaiming the gospel, inviting people into the kingdom of heaven.

Linguistic Insights

The terms "bind" and "loose" are rooted in Rabbinic Jewish legal terminology. They refer not to literal physical actions, but to authoritative declarations:

  • "Bind" (Greek: deo): To forbid, declare unlawful, or excommunicate. In a legal sense, it meant to prohibit or to impose an obligation.
  • "Loose" (Greek: lyo): To permit, declare lawful, or absolve. In a legal sense, it meant to allow, release from an obligation, or to pronounce something permissible.

Therefore, Jesus is granting the apostles, and by extension the church, the authority to make authoritative decisions concerning faith and practice, and to exercise church discipline. These decisions, when made in alignment with God's will and word, hold heavenly validation.

Practical Application

Matthew 16:19 has profound implications for the life and mission of the church today:

  • Stewardship of Truth: The church is entrusted with the gospel message and the responsibility to teach sound doctrine. It has the authority to declare what is permissible and what is not according to God's Word, guiding believers in righteous living.
  • Church Discipline: This verse underpins the church's authority to address sin within its community, to excommunicate those who persistently rebel against God's standards, and to restore those who repent. This is a vital aspect of maintaining the purity and witness of the body of Christ.
  • Evangelism and Discipleship: Bearing the "keys of the kingdom" means the church has the privilege and responsibility to unlock the kingdom of heaven for others through the proclamation of the gospel, inviting them to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.
  • Prayer and Spiritual Authority: While primarily focused on church governance and teaching, the concept of "binding and loosing" can also be understood in terms of spiritual warfare—binding the works of evil and loosing God's blessings and freedom in accordance with His will.

Ultimately, this verse underscores the immense authority and responsibility given to the church by Christ, not for its own power, but for the advancement of God's kingdom and the spiritual well-being of His people.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Matthew 18:18

    Verily 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.

  • Isaiah 22:22

    And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.

  • Revelation 1:18

    [I am] he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

  • Revelation 3:7

    And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

  • John 20:23

    Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; [and] whose soever [sins] ye retain, they are retained.

  • Revelation 11:6

    These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

  • 2 Corinthians 2:10

    To whom ye forgive any thing, I [forgive] also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave [it], for your sakes [forgave I it] in the person of Christ;
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