Chapter 1 - Keys of the Kingdom

In 1985, God began to shake my understanding of Jesus' words in Matthew 16:19, "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."

Jesus spoke these words in Matthew 16:19 and 18:18, revealing a spiritual principle to those who believed in Him. "Heaven" here is the same Greek word as used in the other Gospels to denote the abode of God. It is the same word used in the references by Jesus to the "kingdom of heaven" and "our Father which is in heaven." Whatsoever we bind on earth (whatsoever covering an infinite scope), shall be bound in the abode of God as well.

Once more: Jesus said, "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" (Matthew 16:19).

Christ's giving of these keys in the first part of this verse represents the giving of permission, authority and ability to enter into the kingdom of heaven to transact spiritual business. The remainder of the verse tells the believer how to transact that spiritual business.

Nearly everyone has heard teachings on binding and loosing, depending upon the church or denomination where you received most of your teaching. The basic teaching I learned illustrated the binding of the devil or evil spirits and the loosing of the Holy Spirit or a ministering spirit to a troubled person or into a troubled situation. I have also heard this Scripture used as a means to "loose" a person from bondage.

I moved in a limited understanding of this, but I did not practice it with much assurance. My main problem was there is no record of Jesus ever binding an evil spirit or a demon. He either rebuked them or told them to get out. Binding an evil spirit will restrain or deactivate that spirit's power, but Jesus knew this was not a resolution of the root problem. That would require a different approach. Jesus was more interested in driving evil spirits away. He knew there was a far more beneficial use of binding and loosing.

I began to search for the fulness of the truth of Matthew 16:19 in prayer and from commentaries, lexicons and study books. I initially found that the Greek word for bind, deo (deh'-o), means to bind, be in bonds, knit, fasten, tie and wind. This word is related to deomai (deh'-om-ahee) meaning to beg as in binding oneself to petition, beseech, make request and pray. It is also compared to dei and deon (die and deh-on'), basically meaning it is necessary, must, needs, ought and should.

Now what do we do with these word studies? I ask you to do one thing at this pointÑsimply recognize that the word "bind," in its various tenses, is more complex and meaningful than generally thought. It is meant to be used for far more than just tying up an evil spirit.

The Greek word for loose, luo (loo-oh), means to loosen, break up, destroy, dissolve, unloose, melt and put off. Luo is related to rhegnumi (hrayg-noo-mee) and agnumi (ag-noo-mee) which mean to break, wreck, crack to sunder by separation of its parts, shatter to minute fragments, disrupt, lacerate, convulse, burst, rend and tear. Now those are words a spiritual warrior can get into!

Reconsider the idea of "loosing" the Holy Spirit or a ministering spirit that they might intervene in a situation. What in the world would you possibly loose the Holy Spirit from, anyway? He's about as free and unfettered as anyone could ever be. What might you really be saying when you loose an individual from his or her bondage?

I didn't really understand the ramifications of these definitions at first, so I took my dilemma to several who taught on spiritual warfare and prayer. I was repeatedly told I didn't understand, I had a wrong interpretation and I was headed for trouble. That did not exactly inspire me to continue along this vein! But I checked and rechecked the references again, prayed about them and it still looked like there was something important there. I could not get anyone else to see it, though. As I was not eager to pursue or promote "wrong doctrine," I finally gave up after two years.

But the thoughts continued to gently simmer in my spirit. In early 1988, the Lord caused me to browse through a book of an internationally known Bible teacher I have always respected. I found he also disagreed with the general interpretation of binding and loosing that I had been taught. I am fully aware this is not the best reason for surrendering to a new revelation, but this was the push I needed. I repented of my doubt and fear of rejection and asked God to enlarge my understanding. I was finally ready to stop seeking understanding from others and listen to Him.

Continue to pray the Prayers of Commitment from Germaine's Prayers That Avail Much Commemorative Edition and ask to receive Jesus as Savior and Lord! You may also use the online Prayer Search to find additional prayers to address your specific concern.