The key of David opens the door to the Messianic Kingdom. The Jewish rabbis said that they were therefore able to open or close the access to the Kingdom, that they were able to ‘bind’ or to ‘loose’, i.e. make doctrinal statements as to what is permitted and what not, and to apply or annul a ban. However, Jesus says to the Jewish leaders of His time: You shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces.1 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the Kingdom of Heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.” He says to Peter: “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in Heaven.”2 The risen Lord Jesus gives this authority to make such strong statements to the disciples by the Holy Spirit, not only to Peter, but to all the disciples present there.3 Disciples become apostles—those who are ‘sent out’. This authority is not only given to them, but also to all the members of the church4—and thus to us as well. This is delegated authority. It is authority to make strong declarations. You are able to say: ‘Your sins are forgiven in Christ, in His Name.’
For He is the only One who is able to bind and loose. We are able to proclaim Him,
and to say, in His Name, following confession of sin: ‘Rest assured, He bore your sins as well; you are free, on the basis of God’s Word.’ Peter uses the keys for the first time when he preaches on the Day of Pentecost. He has the privilege of being the first person to proclaim the good news of God’s joyous message.5 Paul uses the keys when he delivers Hymeneus and Alexander to Satan, to teach them not to blaspheme.6 Philip the deacon uses the keys when proclaiming the Gospel to the eunuch,7 Peter when preaching to Cornelius,8 Paul and Silas in prison,9 and thus an open door is also given to the church in Philadelphia—a rich and blessed proclamation of the Gospel, powerful evangelism, an open door to God’s throne of grace and an open door to men’s hearts, a mighty door that no one can shut. And then comes the reason why: for you have little strength, but… This Church’s secret is that it has no strength of its own, that it depends completely upon the Holy and True One Who holds the keys. For when I am weak, then I am strong,10 says Paul. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the Kingdom.11
• This Church has no other strength than that of the Word. That Word of God is alive and active and it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit.12 That Word is like a hammer that can crush even the hardest hearts; like a fire that can thaw out and melt even the iciest hearts.13 This church has not denied ‘The Name’ by following Jesus. The Jews have perhaps thrown this accusation at their feet—just as Jesus was accused of blasphemy14 against ‘The Name’ by claiming to be God’s Son. He is the only One Who can claim to be so, however!
• The key to the authority to exclude people from the church is to be used by the church according to the rules given in Matthew 18:15–17. These are intended to keep a brother or sister in the church rather than to exclude them!
Bible References:
1.Matthew 23:13 2.Matthew 16:19 3.John 20:19–23 4.Matthew 18:18 5.Acts 2:14–40 6.1 Timothy 1:20 7.Acts 8:26–40 8.Acts 10 9.Acts 16:19-34 10.2 Corinthians 12:7–10 11.Luke 12:32 12.Hebrews 4:12 13.Jeremiah 23:29 14.Matthew 26:63–66
