Weekly message: The
keys of the kingdom of heaven (Matt.16:17-19)
by Rev. Katherine
Liu Bruce Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical Precepts & Gospel music
During the Christmas season, many people prepare
the gifts in order to give to the family and friends, my friends, what kind of Christmas
gift do you wish to have? In Orlando Florida, many dealers intend to promote
their new car for sale; some real estate brokers promote their housing and
property. As humanity, we all have the desires of hearts to have more keys for houses or cars as possessions. Do you know there are keys that the value beyond
the earthly treasure? Biblical precepts of rich in heaven, today, we will
discover the keys that Jesus gave to Apostle Peter, “the keys of the kingdom of
heaven.”(Matt.16:19).
When Jesus asked disciples “who do you say that I
am?” And Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ. The Son of
the living God” (Matt.16:16) Jesus replied,
“Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this
was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that
you are Peter and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades
will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of 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.” (Matthew16:17-19).
Jesus
mentioned about the keys of the kingdom of heaven, according to history, there
were two keys as follows,
The first key, apostle Peter used on the day of
Pentecost to open the gate so that the Jewish believers could enter the kingdom
of the heavens. Apostle Peter’s first
preaching of Pentecost and addressed the crowd of Jewish, who lived in
Jerusalem as follows,
Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to
you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God sis among you through him as you
yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and
foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by
nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from
the agony of death because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him…
God has raised this Jesus to life and we are all witnesses of the
fact…Therefore, let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus whom
you crucified, both Lord and Christ. (Acts2:22-36)
Peter
urged them “repent and be baptized, every one of you in the name of Jesus
Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the
Holy Spirit…those who accepted his messages were baptized and about
three thousand were added to their number that day.” (Acts2:38-42). They
devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship to the
breaking of bread and to prayers. Everyone was filled with awe and many wonders
and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together
and had everything in common, selling their possessions and goods; they gave to
anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple
courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere
hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people and the Lord
added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts. 2: 42-47). Apostle Peter became the first apostle
powerfully preached the Gospel and established the church, followership to the
breaking of bread, prayers, and meeting at home. He experienced the Lord’s
promises that he caught men like fish.
The second key, Apostle Peter used it when
he preached in the house of Cornelius to open the gate so that the Gentile
believers could enter. Cornelius was Gentiles,
and personally met Jesus who appeared to him in shining clothes stood before
him and affirmed his prayers have heard and remembered his gifts to the poor.
Jesus sent Apostle Peter to meet him. Cornelius gathered all his relatives,
friends, and community to wait for Peter. Peter realized that “God does
not show favoritism, but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what
is right.” (Acts10:34-35). Peter started to preach to Cornelius and all
people were there, he said,
“We are witnesses of everything he did in the
country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree,
but God raised him from death on the third day and caused him to be seen. He
was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen by
us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to
preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as
judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him and everyone
who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. While
Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who
heard the message.” (Acts10:39-44).
Peter was
astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the
Gentiles, for they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter
baptized them with water in the name of Jesus Christ. This was the first
Gentiles church established and Apostle Peter approved the Gentiles can be
saved. Once they repented and be baptized, they would receive the gift of
forgiveness of sins through Jesus’ name and receive the Holy Spirit.
(Acts.10:45-48).
Apostle Peter received the keys of the kingdom of
heaven, whatever he binds on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever he
looses on earth will be loosed in heaven. “The kingdom of the
heavens” here is used for Church and it is a strong proof that the genuine
church is the kingdom of the heavens in this age. This is confirmed by
Rom.14:17, in which the kingdom of God is mentioned in obvious reference to the
proper church life. This Gospel is concerned with the kingdom of the heavens,
which is a matter of authority. The church revealed in this book represents the
kingdom with its reign. Therefore, the authority to bind and to loose was given
not only to Peter, the apostle for the church here, but also the church itself
(Matt.18:17-18). Whatever the church people bind or loose on earth must be
something that has already been bound or loosed in the heavens. We can bind or
loose only what has already been bound or loosed in the heavens.
Peter was wondered and asked Jesus, “We have
left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” When a
rich man asked Jesus, "what good thing must I do to get eternal
life?" Jesus told the rich man to keep the Ten Commandments, sell all
possessions and give to the poor. But the rich man walked away sad because he
had great wealth. Jesus said to disciples that it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus ensured Peter, “I tell you the
truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious
throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging
the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or
brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will
receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.”
(Matt.19:28-29) After Jesus rose from death and ascended to heaven, everything
that Jesus foretold about Simon Peter, it did happen and became the reality as
a way and gate let Jews and Gentles walked into the kingdom of heaven. Apostle
Peter received the keys of the kingdom of heaven, gained the authority as the
first apostle to preach to Jews and Gentiles and established the church among
them. Apostle Peter received a bountiful life both spiritually and materially.
Through his preaching and witnessing, he gained multitudes Jews and Gentles to
follow Jesus Christ, received the forgiveness of sins, and the Holy Spirit.
Whoever believes in Jesus shall not perish, but have eternal life.
My friends, what kind of gift do you want to have this
Christmas? What kind of keys do you want to have? Apostle Peter received the best
gift that Jesus gave to him “the keys of the kingdom of heaven.” Apostle Peter
had forsaken all things to follow Jesus, and sought His kingdom and
righteousness first, he received a hundred times, all his needs, God provided and sustained him bountifully. Indeed, the blessings of
God made wealth and added no sorrows in it. Simon a fish-man be transformed
into first Apostle Peter caught men as fishers of men during A.D.61. Jesus gave him the authority to preach, to lead, to form the churches and healed disease in His name.
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