Matthew 16:19 … The Keys to the Kingdom (03/26/17)
“I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven …
Whatever you bind on Earth will be bound in Heaven,
and whatever you loose on Earth will be loosed in Heaven.”
~ Jesus (Matthew 16:19)
First & foremost, please note that Jesus does not give anyone Heaven itself, only “the keys” thereto. And this is indeed spot on, for we are the ones who must do the insertion thereof into the lock on Heaven’s door (by choosing to envision purposefully selfless intentions) and we are the ones who must do the turning of that door’s handle to enter there (by choosing to courageously enliven selflessly Caring actions — see John 13:15-17 & Luke 8:4-15 & Matthew 24:12-14 & Matthew 7:21 & Matthew 5:43-48 & Matthew 25:35-40 et al).
Note as well that “Heaven” for Jesus was an internal experience (John 14:20 + Luke 17:20-21 et al), and that when this is taken into account, this verse takes on a meaning that is fully more profound. For if “Heaven” is within us, then anything that “binds on Earth” (i.e. all the mental & emotional attachments innate to our ego-based interactions between the mind-body and its surroundings) simultaneously “binds in Heaven” (i.e. creates a thicker layer of “tarnish” or “sludge” around our Hearts – further encapsulating us in our own lives, separating us further from our innate inner Divinity, and making it that much more difficult for us to pierce that “dirty veil” and re-experience a Oneness with our neighbors) … Similarly, whatever we “lose on Earth” (or whatever is “loosed” on Earth; i.e. implying the Love that flows forth after all acts of intentionally detached Kindness) will be “loosed in Heaven” (i.e. they will free inner feelings of Bliss & Contentment, along with an overwhelming desire to continue serving others).
There is one final point here that is quite worthy of note, and that is that the word translated as “bind” here is the Greek word “desete” in the ancient texts (Strong’s #1210); a word that actually meant “compel”, “prohibit” &/or “declare unlawful.” This is especially intriguing considering the fact that one of Jesus’ primary missions during his ministry was to dramatically reform the overly strict & primitively condemnatory regulations of the Old Testament.
;