Matthew 18:18

[OneAccord]

Assuredly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

We see this verse again in Matthew 16:19 after the Lord gives Peter the keys to the kingdom.

I'd love to discuss this verse. I don't believe I've had a full revelation of this verse.

I know it is used by some in prayer to bind forces that are working against someone, and to loose healing and such in people.

Is this the right way to use this verse??? Not sure.

It seems to suggest that what is done on earth is reflected in heaven and vice versa, something like the 'as above, so below' theory I've heard before.

Does this verse tie into the 'on earth as it is in heaven' scripture that we see in the Lord's prayer?

Look forward to some responses from y'all.........

[godrulz]

The charismatic/Word Faith people tend to bind Satan and loose healing. I do not think this is good exegesis (I am Pentecostal, so I have heard it all).

The Mt. 18:15 ff. CONTEXT is about a brother who sins against you. There is a concern for the soul of the sinner and the health of the church. This takes place through discipline and forgiveness. It may have to do with fellowship/disfellowship/admission/exclusion.

Keys= authority

[Dad Ernie]

Greetings OneAccord,

You may want to do a word search on the following words:

CHAIN, CHAINS, BOND, BONDS, BONDSERVANT, BONDMEN, BONDWOMEN, etc., BOUND.

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

[OneAccord]

Thank you, Dad Ernie. I have already done a word search on these, also CAPTIVES and KEYS.

It is a major theme in the Bible. It appears that ultimately either you're a slave or bondservant to Satan or to Christ. (Those who are not against us are for us).

Is 61:1 Jesus came to proclaim liberty to the captives and release those who are bound in prison.

I gather this to mean that unsaved souls are literally being held captive 'bound' by the adversary and must be 'loosed' and set free by a saving knowledge of Christ.

On the flip side, there are also demons, or workers of iniquity, that are 'loosed' and freely roaming about seeking those whom they might devour, that need to be 'bound', as some already are (in chains of darkness in the abyss).

Jesus handed Peter, in this case representing the coming church, the keys to the kingdom. I assume this means some kind of authority to 'bind and loose'.

This suggests some responsiblity on our part (as the church) to bind and loose---take captive or set free.

The passage also says 'whatever' you bind or loose, rather than 'whoever'. I venture to consider this to mean the workers of iniquity (demons) which are often represented in the Bible as creatures like foxes, bulls, birds of the air, etc.

Thus, binding demons or demonic forces, and loosing those held captive by them?

Yet there is also the concept of 'on earth as it is in heaven'......that these bindings and loosings that are accomplished here on earth are somehow reflected in heaven, as if there is some kind of counterpart in the heavenlies of which the earthly realms are mirroring or shadowing?

In researching this verse, I see that this one has been debated down through the centuries, so it is clearly not an easy one to grasp.

I welcome more insights or corrections if I'm on the wrong track.

[Dad Ernie]

Greetings OneAccord,

Yet there is also the concept of 'on earth as it is in heaven'......that these bindings and loosings that are accomplished here on earth are somehow reflected in heaven, as if there is some kind of counterpart in the heavenlies of which the earthly realms are mirroring or shadowing?

When I read the first book by Frank Pirrete (sp?), I saw in an instant what God was telling me in the scriptures as to how the physical and the spiritual realms exist side by side. Though his books are fictional, I believe there is a lot of truth in what he relates.

After Jesus sent out the disciples and upon their return He exclaimed:

Luke 10:18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

So the events of the disciples, I believe, were paralleled with a war in heaven where Satan was removed permanently to take up residence as "prince of this world".

We find that Daniel prayed 21 days, but his ordeal in prayer was because their was an ordeal raging in heaven. The angel sent by God at the moment of Daniel's first prayer was delayed by the Prince of Persia.

I believe that, even as God knows our every thought, He also hears and answers our prayers even as we are led by the spirit of God to bring them forth. So you are correct that their is a distinct correllation between the events of heaven and of this earth.

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

[OneAccord]

A verse that jumped out at me during a recent reading of the Gospels was

Luke 3:21

Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened,

While He was praying, heaven was opened...........

Do you suppose prayer gives us access to heaven? When we pray, heaven is opened?

Could prayer have something to do with the keys to the kingdom?

It certainly has much to do with binding and loosing.........

About binding and loosing:

If it is to do with binding demons and loosing souls from bondage to sin and death, then here we are being told its our responsibility to do these things......

Are Christians today binding and loosing?

[godrulz]

It still seems that a significant charismatic doctrine is being built on a verse or two. Context is important. I agree with the nature of the spiritual/natural realm, but feel preaching the Gospel and praying for the sick, etc. is the power of God unto salvation. "Pleading the blood' and 'binding and loosing' are practices in certain circles, but not in the majority of churches. If these practices were essential and efficacious, I think it would be more explicit in the N.T.

Frank Perreti is good fiction and probably has many relevant principles. We should be discerning lest our ideas are based on books and teachers, rather than the Word properly interpreted.

Anyone take time to look at some commentaries on the Mt. verses (it may help to have a more conservative alternate understanding)?

[OneAccord]

I think it's interesting that if you take the verse in context it is used right after the first mention of the church, which seems quite significant to me.

Also this verse as used in 16:19 is later repeated in 18:18 in the context of dealing with an unrepentant sinner, apparently within a 'church-type' setting, calling in witnesses, etc.

Godrulz, I agree that these verses get abused in certain settings, and I am also seeking a more conservative interpretation, but it all seems to point to binding demonic or adversarial forces.

[OneAccord]

Let's look at Luke 13:11-13; 16

11 And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity(demon of sickness?) eighteen years, and was bent over (heavy laden?)and could in no way raise herself up.

12 But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, "Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity."

13 And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight (upright?), and glorified God.

16 So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?

I think we see a clear picture of loosing here. It doesn't show this demon being bound, however.

Back to Matthew 16:19 Who are we to bind? Demons?

Is this our responsibilty as suggested in the Great Comission of Mark 16:17, 18 And these signs will follow those who believe...........

And later in 16:20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs.

What are the signs? Casting out demons, speaking in new tongues, taking up serpents, laying hands on the sick and they will recover.

[OneAccord]

Here's a verse I found in John that may be related to the Matthew 16:19, 18:18 verse:

John 20:23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.

This verse was used when Jesus said to the disciples, As the Father has sent me, I also send you.

Then He breathed on them and said to them, "Recieve the Holy Spirit."

Then He said the above verse.

Are we given the power to bind and loose, and to forgive sins??????????????? Is binding and loosing the same as or similar to or related to forgiveness of sins?????????????