Matthew 16:18-19 — Peter's opinion, Binding and Loosing

[CutlerB]

I just went through scripturecatholic.com and found it to be a great resource. I read about Matthew 16 and agree that Peter is the Rock, Christ founded His Church on.

However, I am unsure about verse 19: Does it mean that Heaven will wait for Peter (and his successors) to bind or loose something?

 

[Nicea325]

I just went through scripturecatholic.com and found it to be a great resource. I read about Matthew 16 and agree that Peter is the Rock, Christ founded His Church on.

However, I am unsure about verse 19: Does it mean that Heaven will wait for Peter (and his successors) to bind or loose something?

God Bless!

Footnote from NAB:

[16:19] The keys to the kingdom of heaven: the image of the keys is probably drawn from Is 22:15–25 where Eliakim, who succeeds Shebnah as master of the palace, is given “the key of the house of David,” which he authoritatively “opens” and “shuts” (Mt 22:22). Whatever you bind…loosed in heaven: there are many instances in rabbinic literature of the binding-loosing imagery. Of the several meanings given there to the metaphor, two are of special importance here: the giving of authoritative teaching, and the lifting or imposing of the ban of excommunication. It is disputed whether the image of the keys and that of binding and loosing are different metaphors meaning the same thing. In any case, the promise of the keys is given to Peter alone. In Mt 18:18 all the disciples are given the power of binding and loosing, but the context of that verse suggests that there the power of excommunication alone is intended. That the keys are those to the kingdom of heaven and that Peter’s exercise of authority in the church on earth will be confirmed in heaven show an intimate connection between, but not an identification of, the church and the kingdom of heaven

 

[thistle]

I just went through scripturecatholic.com and found it to be a great resource. I read about Matthew 16 and agree that Peter is the Rock, Christ founded His Church on.

However, I am unsure about verse 19: Does it mean that Heaven will wait for Peter (and his successors) to bind or loose something?

D-R Bible, Haydock Commentary:

Ver. 19. And I will give to thee the keys, &c. This is another metaphor, expressing the supreme power and prerogative of the prince of the apostles. The keys of a city, or of its gates, are presented or given to the person that hath the chief power. We also own a power of the keys, given to the other apostles, but with a subordination to St. Peter and to his successor, as head of the Catholic Church. — And whatsoever thou shalt bind, &c. All the apostles, and their successors, partake also of this power of binding and loosing, but with a due subordination to one head invested with the supreme power. (Witham) — Loose on earth. The loosing the bands of temporal punishments due to sins, is called an indulgence: the power of which is here granted. (Challoner) — Although Peter and his successors are mortal, they are nevertheless endowed with heavenly power, says St. Chrysostom, nor is the sentence of life and death passed by Peter to be attempted to be reversed, but what he declares is to be considered a divine answer from heaven, and what he decrees, a decree of God himself. He that heareth you, heareth me, &c. The power of binding is exercised, 1st. by refusing to absolve; 2nd. by enjoining penance for sins forgiven; 3nd. by excommunication, suspension or interdict; 4th. by making rules and laws for the government of the Church; 5th. by determining what is of faith by the judgments and definitions of the Church. (Tirinus) — The terms binding and loosing, are equivalent to opening and shutting, because formerly the Jews opened the fastenings of their doors by untying it, and they shut or secured their doors by tying or binding it. (Bible de Vence) — Dr. Whitby, a learned Protestant divine, thus expounds this and the preceding verse: “As a suitable return to thy confession, I say also to thee, that thou art by name Peter, i.e. a rock; and upon thee, who art this rock, I will build my Church, and I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven, the power of making laws to govern my Church.” (Tom. i, p. 143.) Dr. Hammond, another Protestant divine, explains it in the same manner. And p. 92, he says: " What is here meant by the keys, is best understand by Isaias xxii. 22, where they signify ruling the whole family or house of the king: and this being by Christ accommodated to the Church, denotes the power of governing it."

 

[po18guy]

Example of binding sin: Acts 5:1-10 Ananias and Saphira.

 

[CutlerB]

By the way: The title of the thread is not quite right. I removed the section about Peter’s opinion, as I understood it while I was typing.

 

[Nita]

I just went through scripturecatholic.com and found it to be a great resource. I read about Matthew 16 and agree that Peter is the Rock, Christ founded His Church on.

However, I am unsure about verse 19: Does it mean that Heaven will wait for Peter (and his successors) to bind or loose something?

In a sense, yes – in certain areas; especially in the more metaphysical doctrines like the Incarnation, the Trinity, the sacraments…

For example, take the doctrine of the Incarnation. The truth has always been known in Heaven - it did not have to wait to be true until the Church defined it. But the binding and loosing on us to accept and profess that teaching became effective when the power of the keys was exercised by the Pope in regards to that doctrine. And once it was bound on us here on earth, then heaven also held us bound to accept it.

To explain: For those here on earth, that doctrine was not clearly defined in the early Church. There were various ways of attempting to explain it – ways that were later rejected in the process of ironing out the correct understanding and way to express it. Any of those living prior to the Church’s official and infallible definition of the doctrine would not have been judged guilty of heresy if they had previously taught something different (as long as the Church didn’t condemn that explanation). However, once the Church infallibly defined the truth, all were bound to accept and teach that definition under pain of anathema – guilt of heresy.

In other areas, especially many moral areas, God had already given the 10 commandments and Jesus had upheld them. Peter didn’t have to make some sort of infallible declaration that it was a sin to kill, commit adultery, etc. in order for it to be bound in heaven. In addition to God’s teaching, He has also inscribed those laws in the hearts/consciences of all.

 

[animalis]

In the book of Acts we read, “And as they were speaking to the people, the priests, and the officer of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them…” The officer of the temple mentioned by St. Luke is a official that carries the keys for the temple in Jerusalem. Jesus is giving Peter a new commission, the new covenant is the full expression of the heavenly temple in Heaven seen by the jewish figure Enoch (he mentioned in the letter of S. Jude). The officer of the temple was known to be the Prefect of the High Priest, this of which belongs to the Old Law. In the New Law, or the Law of the Gospel, Peter is being told that he will start the line of Prefects (the Popes) to the Eternal High Priest, Jesus. He is the eternal high priest who reigns in the heavenly temple, and the popes on earth hold the keys, spiritually, of this spiritual temple in heaven.