What are the “keys of the kingdom”?

A key is used to open a lock. Jesus once explained that “whoever commits sin is a slave of sin,” but, “If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:34, 36). In spiritual terms, there is a key that sets us free from sin and allows us to enter heaven. When the disciple Peter acknowledged Jesus as the Son of God, he put his finger on the very key that sets people free from sin. Peter himself is not the key; it is his confession of Christ that is a key.

Some people take Jesus’ words to mean that only certain ecclesiastical authorities have been given power to forgive sin. They believe a few individuals can “bind” or “loose” people by rights given to them by God. But salvation does not come through a human, but through the words of Christ given to His disciples. The Bible is clear: “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12).

Using a similar illustration, Jesus once explained that He was the “door” to salvation (John 10:9). When we accept the words of Christ and have faith in His name, we receive the gift of eternal life. It is not given to us by a church representative, but by Jesus. God uses people as instruments through which to share His message, but the messenger is not the message.

Many scholars believe a more accurate translation of Matthew 16:19 would be, “shall have been bound in heaven.” In other words, God’s church on Earth should be in harmony with heaven. The church requires and prohibits only the things that God requires or prohibits. The only authority a church body has to make decisions is when it works in cooperation with heaven.

Key Bible Texts

And 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 KJV)