Notice this amazing and revelatory word of Jesus.
Matthew 16:19
15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
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.
In recent posts, we have been considering some things that reveal and prove the plan of salvation. One proof we present now concerns what Jesus described as, the keys to the Kingdom of heaven (Matthew 16:19). Few people I have encountered over the years were even aware of this important verse and no one that I recall had any idea of its meaning. I think that is because most preachers themselves don’t understand it or don’t want to go where it might lead theologically.
I believe the expression, the keys to the Kingdom of heaven, is one of the most purposefully attention-getting things Jesus ever uttered. Undoubtedly, it was intended to pique our curiosity and interest into the idea it graphically presents— obtaining the means of access into the heavenly realm, to which all persons should aspire. It also creates deep interest in Peter and the special role he was designated to play. Since Christ orchestrated the intrigue contained in this passage, none of it should be treated lightly. Anyone truly interested in making heaven his home or any preacher or Christian witness who claims to care about the souls of others should pay special heed to this passage and what it involves regarding Peter and the keys.
Let’s make some points about this curious expression of Christ:
What is meant by the expression, the Kingdom of heaven?
As we approach a definition of this expression, we should point out that there are similar New Testament references to the Kingdom, such as the Kingdom of God (John 3:5) and the Kingdom of Christ (Ephesians 5:5; 2Peter 1:11). These various expressions are interchangeable. They refer to one and the same thing, though they are styled somewhat differently for theological use, just as we may say on one occasion that we are going to heaven and on another that we’re going to be with God. Both expressions refer to the same thing, although a particular wording may better suit the idea we are conveying at the time.
The expressions, the Kingdom of heaven/God/Christ, denotes heaven itself, the abode of God, and its realm which extends on earth among the people of God, who are its citizens (Philippians 3:20 NKJV). By the Gospel, we are called into the Kingdom of God (John 3:5; Acts 1:3; 8:12; 14:22; 19:8; 20:25; 28:23,31; Romans 14:17; Colossians 1:12-13; 1Thessalonians 2:12). As Jesus prescribed, we enter the Kingdom by a new birth involving the Gospel tenets of water and Spirit (John 3:5). Christians, therefore, become a part of the Kingdom of God. Prior to the Church age, the people of God were in the kingdoms of Judah and Israel.
The Kingdom of God on earth was initiated on the Day of Pentecost, the beginning of the Christian era. It was consequent upon Christ’s ascension to heaven ten days earlier when He sat down, according to prophecy, on the right hand of God (Psalms 110:1). Peter quoted this prophecy on the Day of Pentecost, signaling to his Jewish audience that the Christ they had crucified rose from the dead, ascended to heaven, and now forever reigns as both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:33-37). As a result of Christ’s ascension to the throne, all of His enemies shall eventually be subdued, either by surrender to His Lordship, through conversion, or by personal destruction at His hand (2Thessalonians 1:7-10). This is what the Messianic prophecy of Psalms 110:1 implies and is the reason Peter’s hearers, who were abundantly familiar with it, felt the great conviction of soul that moved them to ask what to do (Acts 2:33-37).
What is meant by, the keys?
Jesus expressed personal access into the Kingdom of God by means of keys. Keys are a graphic and understandable metaphor for grasping the concept of entrance into God’s Kingdom. They clearly signify use of a predetermined means which is exact and reliable always and ever by any person who uses them. Significantly, and, I think, apparent to all, they denote a means of access otherwise unattainable.
As previously stated, the keys to the Kingdom is a purposefully attention-getting expression on the part of Christ. They signal the surest hope for interested souls to enter the realm of heaven. The concept of keys should rally every soul inclined to Christ and His heaven to understand, attain, and use them. It should also inspire every preacher and Christian witness to truly and precisely represent the Christian Gospel message of salvation. Whatever was given Peter should be sought after by all of us.
So, what do the keys represent? They represent the plan of salvation, the means to be saved. They are the very necessary tenets that will give a person access to the City of God.
What is the significance of Peter having the keys?
Jesus gave Peter the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. In doing so, Christ was anticipating the Day of Pentecost when the plan of salvation would be announced to the world and, for the sake of order, there would need to be a spokesman. Peter was given that role and, consequently, that is what transpired on the Day of Pentecost. When the assembled crowd was perplexed by the phenomenon of the Christians speaking in tongues, they asked for an explanation (Acts 2:12). Without a trace of delay or confusion as to who should respond, Peter stood up to address their inquiry. And he continued in a theological discourse of Christ until he revealed the plan of salvation in verse 38.
Christ placed Peter in a unique position among the Apostles to use the keys and, thus, to be the sole human agent to disclose the means of access into the Kingdom of heaven. Jesus marking Peter as He did was a distinct effort by the wisdom and love of God to made it easy for an earnest soul to know the plan of salvation because Christ literally pinned it to him. Matthew 16:19 screams, “Keep your eyes on Peter! He will divulge the plan of salvation.”
Correct interpretation of Matthew 16:19 is a matter of simple chronology. Necessarily, Christ’s word to Peter had a fulfillment. And that fulfillment was on the Day of Pentecost when Peter used the authority given to him, revealed the plan of salvation for the Christian era, and souls came to be in the Kingdom of God for the first time. Fulfillment had to take place on the Day of Pentecost because it was the beginning point of Christianity. On the Christian salvation timeline, there is just no other possibility for the keys to the Kingdom to be used for the first time.
Jesus referred to this awesome royal status of Christians when He said, in comparison to the esteemed John the Baptist, the person who is least in the Kingdom of God is greater than John (Matthew 11:11). That greater status is simply owing to the fact of the tremendous advantage of being in Christ and His Kingdom, a child of Christ through new birth, and an heir of heaven, for whom Christ will return (John 14:2-3; 2Thessalonians 4:16-17). Being in Christ’s Kingdom was not possible prior to the Day of Pentecost. That is why persons in the Christian era with a previous faith experience in Christ that did not include the Kingdom tenets (keys) were more perfectly informed by those Apostolics who met them (Acts 18:24-28; 19:1-6).
Conclusion
Combining these points, then, this word of Christ to Peter is one of the surest proofs that Acts 2:38 is the Christian plan of salvation. And Peter stated Acts 2:38 to be the plan of salvation for the Church age in verse 39. And verse 42 makes it clear that what Peter had just enjoined upon everyone became the Apostles’ doctrine. That is why Acts 2:38 was universally preached by all the ministers of the New Testament without exception. The application of this fact to us is that whatever Peter used as access to the Kingdom of God, we must, likewise, use.
A closing admonition
Israel was admonished to hearken to God’s statutes and judgments so that they could enter the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 4:1-2). How much more should we hearken to the clear word of salvation that was preached by Peter on the Day of Pentecost, the man who was marked by Christ to reveal the plan of salvation to the world!
The command to Israel in verse 2 was that they neither add or diminish from the Word of the Lord. How much more does this principle apply to Christian salvation doctrine. We aspire to our own Promised Land in heaven. Obeying and keeping the tenets of salvation is our wisdom and understanding (Deuteronomy 4:6; 1Timothy 4:16).
[I have included a lesson on the Various Bible Lessons page that delves a little deeper into this subject of the Kingdom of God. It was written many years ago. It is lesson 11, entitled, The Kingdom of God. Following is a button to that page.]