Matthew 16:13-20 ESV Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “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 tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then He strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that He was the Christ.
In the last two posts we saw that the only way men (and women) can know God is when He reveals Himself. That continual revelation is the foundation that Christ will use to build His church and empower it to advance God’s kingdom.
This post will look at a couple of misunderstood (and misused) concepts. Jesus promises to give the keys to the kingdom of heaven and the ability to bind and loose on earth and heaven.
A key is a tool for opening a lock. Human minds cannot fathom the mind of God. Flesh and blood cannot understand spiritual things. God’s reveals Himself so that we can understand Him to some extent. With that revelation comes an understanding of spiritual things. God’s revelation is the key that unlocks the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. Christians can be guided directly by God and therefore know what He wants and how He wants us to do it.
Due to God’s empowering us, Christians have spiritual authority. Binding and loosing were authoritative words in the Jewish religion of Jesus’ day. When we know what God wants us to do we can do it through His strength. We are truly able to do the impossible when God calls us to do it. Whether that means undertaking a difficult task, breaking a sin habit in our life, or forgiving the (seemingly) unforgivable; nothing to too great for God’s power in us.
Finally, many Christians question why Jesus told the disciples not to tell people that He was the Christ. That was just a case of timing. Many times in the Gospels Jesus told people and spirits not to spread word of His being the Messiah. It was not yet time in God’s plan to do so. Later that would change and Jesus Himself would proclaim that He was the Christ. Christians today are commanded to let the world know who and what Jesus is.
Awesome and almighty God, You are the source of all that is good. Reveal yourself to Your people so that we will know You and Your ways. Empower us to live lives that are a witness to the world. I pray that my life, and my words, will testify that Jesus is Lord!