Kingdom Keys – Matthew 16:13-20
The United States of America has a form of government called a federal republic. The “federal” part is the combination of our 50 states. Each state has a certain amount of sovereignty, making its own rules. The “republic” part shows that the sovereignty actually rests with the people, through her representatives instead of a monarchy.
When Jesus came to establish His church, He chose to use that latter form of government – monarchy – as His form of government.
In His day, according to Daniel 2:44, Jesus promised: “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who shall not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power” (Mark 9:1).
That brings us to Matthew 16:13-20, which is the context of Mark 9:1 (the parallel being found in Matthew 16:28).
In Caesarea Philippi (the farthest north Jesus travels), Jesus decides to confront His closest followers with the misconceptions of the people about Him and then ask who they think He is.
THE QUESTION:
“Who do men say that I am?” Various answers were given: John, Jeremiah, Elijah.
But then Jesus asks them: “But who do you say that I am?” This is an emphatic question addressed to the apostles. They have been preaching His message and working miracles in His name. Who do they believe that He really is?
THE ANSWER:
“Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”
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THE BLESSING AND PROMISE:
Jesus then blesses Simon and makes the promise to build His church. In doing so, He introduces a new word into biblical terminology, “Church.” It was actually used to translate the Hebrew word “assembly” or “congregation.” Here is, then, yet another indication that the church of Christ is the true “Israel of God” (Gal. 6:16).
Clearly the Church of Christ had not yet been established, nor the Kingdom (verse 19) at this point in Christ’s ministry. Jesus says He will soon establish it. But, something will happen to Him that might suggest to them that His prediction will not succeed (the impending death and crucifixion), so Jesus states that the power of Hades will not overpower Him establishing His Church.
“Hades” is the unseen world, translated appropriately in Romanian as “the dwelling place of the dead”. I believe Jesus’ statement here refers to Himself. In the words of Morris (425): “There may also be the thought that although Hades is strong and the dead do not come back from it, it is not strong enough to contain Jesus and it is not strong enough to contain the Christian dead.” In this sense, it is a prediction of the resurrection of Jesus.
The terms in verse 19 – “shall be bound in heaven” and “shall be loosed in heaven” are future perfects. The NASV marg. renders them “shall have been.” This seems to suggest that what the apostles bind and loose on earth, through the influence of the Holy Spirit, has been previously bound and loosed in heaven.
WHEN WAS THE KINGDOM ESTABLISHED?
For the sake of space, we’ll simply point out that a confluence of all the passages pointing to the kingdom converge on Acts 2: Luke 24:46-49; Acts 1:4-5; Mark 9:1. The reign of Christ on earth (His kingdom) began in Acts 2.
Jesus wants to reign in your heart! Submit to His leadership, being baptized into Christ, based on faith in Him. We, then, need to spread His image throughout the world!
–Paul Holland
