What were the keys of the kingdom?
Introduction. Our question continues by asking "and how did Peter use these keys?" Of course, the verses under consideration are Jesus' words to Peter in Matthew 16: 18, 19. They read: "And I say also unto thee, that thou are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 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."
False views relative to Peter. Beloved, Peter was not the first Pope. In fact, the papacy, as such was unknown in the First Century, except for apparent prophesy (1 Tim. 4: 1-4; 2 Thes. 2: 3-4). The binding and loosing applied to all the apostles (Matt. 18: 18; John 20: 23 - notice the perfect tense, "shall have already been..."). Peter did not think of himself as the "vicar of Christ" (cf. Acts 10: 25, 26).
The keys of the kingdom. The first and natural mental association with keys concerns unlocking or allowing entrance (see Rev. 1: 18, 9: 1, 20: 1). It is important that we appreciate "church" and "kingdom" are interchangeably used in our passage. The kingdom or church became a reality in Acts 2 (see 2: 47, 5: 11). Peter extended the gospel invitation to the thousands who wanted to know what to do to be saved (Acts 2: 37, 38, 40). About three thousand accepted the teaching and were baptized for the remission of their sins (Acts 2: 38-41).
Conclusion. Peter allowed entrance (used the keys) into the kingdom on that day. He did so by preaching the gospel. The seed of the kingdom is the word of God (Luke 8: 11; Matt. 13: 19). When the gospel is preached today and people accept and obey it, they are allowed entrance into God's kingdom (cf. Col. 1: 13, 14). This is another reason the pure gospel is so important (see Gal. 1: 6-9).
False views relative to Peter. Beloved, Peter was not the first Pope. In fact, the papacy, as such was unknown in the First Century, except for apparent prophesy (1 Tim. 4: 1-4; 2 Thes. 2: 3-4). The binding and loosing applied to all the apostles (Matt. 18: 18; John 20: 23 - notice the perfect tense, "shall have already been..."). Peter did not think of himself as the "vicar of Christ" (cf. Acts 10: 25, 26).
The keys of the kingdom. The first and natural mental association with keys concerns unlocking or allowing entrance (see Rev. 1: 18, 9: 1, 20: 1). It is important that we appreciate "church" and "kingdom" are interchangeably used in our passage. The kingdom or church became a reality in Acts 2 (see 2: 47, 5: 11). Peter extended the gospel invitation to the thousands who wanted to know what to do to be saved (Acts 2: 37, 38, 40). About three thousand accepted the teaching and were baptized for the remission of their sins (Acts 2: 38-41).
Conclusion. Peter allowed entrance (used the keys) into the kingdom on that day. He did so by preaching the gospel. The seed of the kingdom is the word of God (Luke 8: 11; Matt. 13: 19). When the gospel is preached today and people accept and obey it, they are allowed entrance into God's kingdom (cf. Col. 1: 13, 14). This is another reason the pure gospel is so important (see Gal. 1: 6-9).