Binding and Loosing: The Keys of the Kingdom
No. 639. Binding and Loosing.
“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.” Matt. 16:19. What does this signify? W. W. It does not signify that the power of binding and loosing was conferred on Peter alone; for the same power was conferred upon all the disciples (John 20:23), and upon the church (Matt. 18:18). The keys of the kingdom is that which opened the door of the kingdom. This was the Gospel which Peter first preached on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:14), and to the Gentiles (Acts 10:34). Referring to this, Peter said, “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.” See Acts 15:7–9. The proclamation of the Gospel is a savor either of life unto life or of death unto death. He who accepts it enters the kingdom; he who rejects it is barred out. So Jeremiah by the word which he uttered was set “over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to build, and to plant.” Those who complied with the condition were planted. Those who did not were rooted out and destroyed. See Jer. 18:7–10. It is thus that God’s servants bind and loose, remit and retain.