You Hold the Key
"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)
Matthew 16:19
a [thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven] Not to Peter only, for the same power is promised all believers (Matthew 17:20; Matthew 18:18; Matthew 21:22; Mark 9:23; Mark 11:22-24; Mark 16:15-20; Luke 10:19; John 14:12-15; John 15:7,16; Acts 1:4-8; Acts 2:38-39; Acts 5:32; 1 Cor. 12).
b [keys of the kingdom of heaven] Keys are a symbol of authority (Isaiah 22:22; Rev. 3:7). Here they mean authority and power to do the works of Christ (Matthew 18:18; Matthew 16:15-20; John 14:12-15). Whatever He bound and loosed is the true idea.
c [bind on earth shall be bound in heaven]
Binding
1. Men with chains (Matthew 12:29; Matthew 14:3; Matthew 22:13; Mark 5:3; Acts 9:2,14,21)
2. Tares in bundles (Matthew 13:30)
3. Men by Satan’s power (Luke 13:16)
4. Men with obligations (Acts 20:22)
5. Men in marriage bonds (Romans 7:2; 1 Cor. 7:27,39)
6. Satan and angels in chains (Rev. 9:14; Rev. 20:2)
7. Animals in chains (Matthew 21:2)
8. Men by God’s power (Matthew 16:19; Matthew 18:18)
d [loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven]
Loosing
1. Infirmities (Luke 13:12-16; Mark 7:35)
2. Satan and angels from chains (Rev. 9:14; Rev. 20:3,7)
3. Men from chains and prison (Acts 16:26; Acts 22:30; Acts 24:26)
4. Men from sin (Rev. 1:5)
5. Men from bonds of death (Acts 2:24)
6. Marriage bonds (1 Cor. 7:27)
7. Satanic powers (1 John 3:8)
8. Animals (Mark 11:2-4)
9. Earth from bondage and the curse (2 Peter 3:10-13; Romans 8:21)
10. Men by God’s power (Matthew 16:19; Matthew 18:18).
One can see from these examples of binding and loosing that it means more than declaring something lawful or unlawful by preaching. It also means to confirm the truth by power as Christ and the apostles did. See Matthew 18:18, refs.
The Greek text of that scripture would literally read, "I give you the
keys of the kingdom. Whatever you declare locked on earth is locked in
heaven and whatever you declare unlocked on earth is unlocked in the
heavenlies."
The heaven Jesus was talking about there isn’t the heaven where God
resides. He was talking about the battle zone, about the heaven where
Satan’s forces are operating.
He was telling us that God has given us power to bind the wicked spirits
in heavenly places and to loose the angelic powers of God to work in our
behalf.
Philippians 2:9-10 says, "We have been given a Name which is above every
name, and at the Name of Jesus every knee shall bow!" Where? In heaven,
in earth and under the earth. That covers it all!
Phil. 2:9
a [hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name] Seven steps in His exaltation:
1. God highly exalted Him (Phil. 2:9; Ephes. 1:21).
2. God gave Him a name above all (Phil. 2:9).
3. At the mere mention of His name, every knee must bow (Phil. 2:10).
4. Everything in heaven must bow (Phil. 2:10).
5. Everything in earth must bow (Phil. 2:10).
6. Everything under the earth must bow (Phil. 2:10).
7. Every tongue confess His Lordship to the glory of God the Father (Phil. 2:11).
Phil. 2:10
a[That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow ...] The 2nd New Testament
prophecy in Philippians (Phil. 2:10-11, unfulfilled). Next, §Phil. 3:11.
b[of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth] Three worlds
that are inhabited:
1.Heaven (Phil. 2:10; Job 1:6; Job 2:1; Daniel 4:35; Col. 1:15-18; Rev. 12:12; Rev.
13:6)
2.Earth (Phil. 2:10; Col. 1:16; Rev. 12:12)
3.Underworld. Greek: katachthonios (GSN-2709), under the earth; subterranean;
infernal world (Phil. 2:10; cp. Psalm 16:10 with Matthew 12:40 and Ephes. 4:8-10).
This includes the angelic inhabitants in tartarus (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6-7; 1 Peter 3:19); the pre-Adamites and demon inhabitants of the abyss (Luke 8:31; Rev. 9:1-21; Rev. 20:3,7); the giant races that have no resurrection (§Genesis 2:4, note; §Isaiah 26:14, note); the human inhabitants of Sheol/Hades (Psalm 9:17; Psalm 16:10; Psalm 71:20; Proverbs 9:18; Proverbs 15:24; Isaiah 14:9; Ezekiel 31:14-18; Ezekiel 32:18-27; Luke 16:1-31; Rev. 20:11-15); and all other inhabitants of the infernal world (Phil. 2:10; Rev. 5:13). This proves that hell is not the grave.
As believers, we have total authority over the powers of Satan. We can
take authority over the evil spirits that are trying to destroy this
nation. We can take authority over them in the Name of Jesus and pull
down their strongholds.
It is time we began to realize how important we are to world affairs.
Since the day Jesus gave us the Great Commission, the life or death of
the world has been in the hands of the Church. We are the ones who have
the mighty Name of Jesus and the awesome strength of the gospel to bring
life and abundance to every creature. We are the ones whose prayers can
change every office of authority in this land.
It’s up to you and me to begin to intercede right now and use the power
God has given us. We may come from different lands with different
backgrounds, but we all have one thing in common--Jesus Christ is our
Lord. And that alone is enough to alter the spiritual complexion of this
earth.
SCRIPTURE READING: Acts 4:1-14
Acts 4:1-14
1 And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,
Acts 4:1
a [priests] These were the most implacable of the enemies of Christ from the beginning.
b [captain of the temple] Captain of the temple guards for preserving peace in the temple area.
c [Sadducees] These seemed to be the chief opponents of Christ from here on, instead of the Pharisees. They did not believe in the resurrection (Acts 23:8), so their whole system of religion was in danger by the preaching of the apostles whose main theme was the resurrection. See note, §Acts 1:22.
2 Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
Acts 4:2
a [grieved that they taught the people] Being exasperated and "fed up" with the success of the preaching of the resurrection by the apostles, they determined to stamp it out.
3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.
Acts 4:3
a [they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day] This was the thing they should not have done, had they not wanted the revival to spread all the more (Acts 4:4,33; Acts 5:11).
4 Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.
Acts 4:4
a [number of the men was about five thousand] This makes at least 8,000 converts up to this time (Acts 2:41).
5 And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,
Acts 4:5
a [rulers, and elders, and scribes] An assembly of the Sanhedrin, or grand council of the Jews.
6 And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.
Acts 4:6
a [Annas the high priest] An associate high priest with Caiphas (Luke 3:2; John 18:13,19,24). He had been high priest for 11 years, bore the title all his life, and had the honor of seeing 5 sons fill the office after him.
b [Caiaphas] See note, §Matthew 26:3.
c [John] Some suppose this to be Johanan Ben Laccai, a famous rabbi of that time.
d [Alexander] Probably Alexander Lysimachus, one of the richest Jews of his time. He made great presents to the temple and was highly esteemed by King Agrippa.
e [kindred of the high priest] The family from which high priests were taken.
7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?
Acts 4:7
a[By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?] Question 9. Next, §Acts
4:16. "Power" is the Greek word dunamis (GSN-1411), note, §2 Peter 1:3.
b[by what name] By what name means by what authority. The council was convinced
that they had wrought a miracle, but by what means they were not certain. As all
traffic with demons and familiar spirits was unlawful they hoped by examination to
prove them guilty of death according to Leviticus 20:27.
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
Acts 4:8
a [filled with the Holy Ghost] This is why Peter was free from the fear of man compared to the last time he was in the hall of Caiaphas when he denied the Lord through fear of a servant girl (Matthew 26:69-75). The prophecy of Jesus was now being fulfilled about being brought before rulers (Matthew 10:18-20).
9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;
10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
Acts 4:10
a [Be it know unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth ... doth this man stand here before you whole] We do not hesitate to declare to you that it was by the name (authority) of Jesus Christ of Nazareth that this man was healed.
11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
Acts 4:11
a [This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner] The 9th Old Testament prophecy fulfilled in Acts (Acts 4:11; Psalm 118:22; see also Matthew 21:42; Isaiah 28:16; Isaiah 49:7; Romans 9:33; 1 Peter 2:7-8). Next, §Acts 4:25.
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Acts 4:12
a[salvation] Greek: soteria (GSN-4991). It is translated:
1.Saving, deliverance from and preservation from destruction and judgment of Noah’s
flood (Hebrews 11:7)
2.Saved from enemies (Luke 1:71)
3.Saved from sins (Romans 10:1,9-10)
4.Deliver from slavery (Acts 7:25)
5.Health, preservation of life and physical health (Acts 27:34)
6.Salvation from physical infirmity (Acts 4:12 with Acts 4:10; Acts 3:1-12,16)
7.Salvation in general—all kinds of deliverances (Luke 1:69; John 4:22; Acts
13:26,47; Romans 1:16; Romans 11:11; 2 Cor. 1:6; 2 Cor. 6:2; 2 Cor. 7:10; Ephes.
1:13; Phil. 2:12; 2 Tim. 3:15; Hebrews 6:9; Jude 1:3)
8.Salvation from sins (Luke 1:77; Luke 19:9; Romans 10:10; 2 Thes. 2:13)
9.Salvation, final and complete deliverance from all the curse, including death
(Romans 13:11; Phil. 1:19,28; 1 Thes. 5:8-9; 2 Tim. 2:10; Hebrews 1:14; Hebrews
2:3,10; Hebrews 5:9; Hebrews 9:28; 1 Peter 1:5,9,10; 2 Peter 3:15; Rev. 7:10; Rev.
12:10; Rev. 19:1)
Thus, salvation cannot be limited to the initial stage of redemption—forgiveness of sins.
See §Romans 1:16, note.
b[none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved]
Matthew 1:21; Acts 2:38; Acts 3:6,16; John 14:12-15; John 16:16; John 16:23-26;
Mark 16:17.
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
Acts 4:13
a[boldness] Greek: parrhesia (GSN-3954), outspokenness. Translated:
1.Boldness of speech (2 Cor. 7:4)
2.Plainness of speech (2 Cor. 3:12)
3.Freely (Acts 2:29)
4.Openly (Mark 8:32; John 7:4,13; John 11:54; John 18:20; Col. 2:15)
5.Boldly (John 7:26; Ephes. 6:19; Hebrews 4:16)
6.Boldness (Acts 4:13,29,31; Ephes. 3:12; Phil. 1:20; 1 Tim. 3:13; Hebrews 10:19; 1
John 4:17)
7.Confidence (Acts 28:31; Hebrews 3:6; Hebrews 10:35; 1 John 2:28; 1 John 3:21; 1
John 5:14)
b[unlearned and ignorant men] Without the higher education of Judaism;
unprofessional men—men of the rank and file of the Jews. They were not destitute of
knowledge for they had divine knowledge.
c[took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus] They recognized them to
be followers or companions of Jesus of Nazareth.
14 And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
Acts 4:14
a [beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it] Seeing proof of a divine work in their midst their mouths were shut. Had the apostolic doctrine been false the man could not have been healed in Jesus’ name.
