1. THE APOSTLES AND THE KEYS TO THE KINGDOM

2. THE APOSTLES’ ROLE MISUNDERSTOOD  Matthew 16:18-19, Matthew 18:18-20, John 20:19-23  The Apostles made law  The Apostles determined Heaven or Hell  Peter was a Pope  The Truth – 2 Corinthians 5:20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.

3. MATTHEW 16:18-19 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

4. MATTHEW 16:18-19  Jesus directs these words to Peter.  In Greek, “you” plural and “you” singular.  The “you” here is singular.  Peter was no Pope.  Galatians 2:11, Acts 10:25-26, 1 Peter 5:1, Matthew 23:8-12

5. MATTHEW 16:18-19  Bind = restrict; Loose = permit  The tense of the verbs  I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” NASB

6. MATTHEW 16:18-19  Psalm 119:89 Forever, O L ORD, Your word is settled in heaven.  John 16:13-15  Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

7. MATTHEW 18:18-20 18 “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. 19 “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

8. MATTHEW 18:18-20  These verses are addressed to the apostles. (Matthew 18:1, “you” plural).  The verses are tied together (“again” v. 19; “for” v. 20)  V. 19-20 speak of God’s protection and provision for the apostles as they performed their work as ambassadors.

9. MATTHEW 18:18-20  V. 19 “if two of you agree on earth…” – God the genie?  Sent 2 by 2 - Mark 6:7, Luke 10:1  God’s protection  Matthew 10:1-5, 16-20; Acts 5:17-21; Acts 12:5-11; Acts 16:16-30  Acts 8:1 – The apostles did not flee the persecution in Jerusalem.

10. MATTHEW 18:18-20  V. 20 – Wherever 2 or 3 are gathered together in My name…  God is with us when we gather to worship Him. Hebrews 12:22-24; Revelation 1:12-13, 20  God is with us whether anyone else is or not.  Psalm 27:10; 2 Timothy 4:16-17; Hebrews 13:5; 1 John 4:13; John 14:23  Remember the audience (the apostles).

11. JOHN 20:19-23 19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, [a] for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.a 21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

12. JOHN 20:19-23  Jesus tells the apostles to receive the Holy Spirit, and they did in Acts 2.  Forgiveness or retention of sins is conditioned on the terms revealed by the Spirit they were to receive.  Acts 2:1-4, 21, 36-38, 40-41

13. BE SAVED TODAY!  Believe – John 8:24  Confess – Matthew 10:32-33  Repent – Luke 13:3  Be Baptized – Mark 16:16  Be Faithful – Revelation 2:10