Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven

Matthew 16:18-19

¹⁸ And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. ¹⁹ And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 

This passage has been interpreted differently by different people due to the lack of understanding of context, symbolism, and terminology. 

Let’s break it down:

“... on this rock I will build My church…”

We all know that the name “Peter” means rock. 

A better interpretation of this word is actually a mass of rocks or a body of rocks. In other words, it means a solid foundation. 

“... and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it”

“Gates” usually represent the strength / power of a city.

If the gates are compromised, the city is compromised. 

“Hades” means death. 

“Prevail” also means overpower.

So, Jesus was essentially saying, “The power of death shall have no power over My church”. 

This is why Paul said in 1 Cor 15:55, 

“O Death, where is your sting?

O Hades, where is your victory?” 

It’s plain and simple. The church is supposed to be a people who are saved from the power of sin and death. Sin and death should have no power over the church and this is why we see the apostles Paul and Peter constantly talking about… dying to sin, dying to old ways, being holy, living a new life, etc…

“... 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.”

When we give keys to a place to someone, we are practically giving authority and responsibility to the person. The person will then have the right to permit or prohibit people from entering the place. 

So, Peter was given authority and responsibility to the kingdom of heaven. With his ministry, he had the right and power to permit or prohibit people from entering the kingdom of heaven. His ministry would determine if people could be part of the church or not, depending on how people responded. 

This will explain what Jesus said about binding and loosing.

The direct meaning of these words would be:

“Bind” means to tie or fasten.

“Loose” means to untie or unfasten. 

“Binding” and “loosing” were terms that the Jews were very familiar with. Rabbis would use these terms to tell people if they were… 

• “Bound” or “tied” to the law (prohibited) 

• “Loosed” or “untied” from the law (permitted).  

Therefore, Jesus was simply describing the authority and responsibility that He gave to Peter. There would be people who are permitted to be part of the church, and there would be people who are prohibited to be part of the church. 

This is why we see examples in the New Testament of how Peter and Paul permitted and prohibited people from being part of the church. 

While there were many people who believed and entered the kingdom of heaven, there were some who were rejected from the kingdom of heaven because of their sin (Acts 5, Acts 9, 1 Cor 5, 1 Tim 1:19-20). 

Jesus also spoke of such authority and responsibility in John 20:21-23. 

John 20:21-23

²¹ So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” ²² And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³ If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” 

This passage essentially means the same thing as the keys to the kingdom of heaven. People who are sent by Jesus to make disciples are given such authority and responsibility. As we preach about sin and repentance, if they respond and repent, their sins are forgiven. But if they do not respond, their sins remain with them, and so does death also continue to have power over them.