Great Themes of the Bible (continued)
Church 35 pertaining to the kingdom of God" (Acts i. 3). It is the power of the keys that is given. This alludes to the custom of investing men with authority in such a place by delivering to them the keys of the place; or, as the master of the house gives the keys to the steward, the keys of the stores, where the provisions are kept, that he may give to everyone in the home meat in their due season, and deny it as there is occasion according to the rules of the family.
Christ has not obliged Himself in this to confirm all Church censures, right or wrong, but only such as are duly passed according to the Word. The key turning the right way, the matters are sealed in heaven. The word of the Gospel in the mouth of faithful ministers is to be looked upon, not as the word of man, but as the Word of God, and to be received accordingly (1 Thess. ii. 13).
6. THE Keys oF THE KINGDOM Now the keys of the kingdom of heaven are, first, the key of doctrine. "Your business shall be to explain to the world the will of God, both as to truth and duty. And for this you shall have your commissions, credentials, and full instructions.' To bind and loose, in the common speech of the Jews at that time, signified to prohibit and permit. To teach or declare a thing to be unlawful to bind; to be lawful was to loose. Now the apostles had an extraordinary power of this kind. Some things forbidden by the law of Moses were now to be allowed, as the eating of such and such meats. Some things allowed there are now to be forbidden, as divorce. And the apostles were empowered to declare this to the world, and men might take it upon their words.
Some make the giving of the keys to allude to the custom of the Jews in creating a doctor of the law. This was to put into his hands the keys of the chest where the book of the law was kept. It notes his being authorised to take and read the book. Binding and loosing alludes to the fashion about their books, which were in rolls. They shut them by binding them up with a string, which they untied when they opened them. Christ gives His apostles power to shut or open the book of the Gospel to people, as the case required (see the exercise of this power, Acts xiii. 46; xviii. 6). When ministers preach pardon and peace to the penitent, wrath and the curse to the impenitent,