Bible Exposition Commentary (BE Series) - New Testament - Mt
16:13-20 Saving Faith�Confessing Christ (Matt. 16:13-20)
Keys of the kingdom. A key is a badge of authority (
Isa. 22:15,
22;
Luke 11:52). "The
kingdom of heaven" is
not heaven, for no man on earth carries the keys to
heaven! (All of the jokes about "St. Peter at the gate" stem from this
misunderstanding. They are both unbiblical and in bad taste.). We use keys to
open doors. Peter was given the privilege of opening "the door of faith" to the
Jews at Pentecost (
Acts
2), to the Samaritans (
Acts 8:14ff), and
to the Gentiles (
Acts
10). But the other Apostles shared this authority (
Matt. 18:18), and
Paul had the privilege of "opening the door of faith" to the Gentiles outside of
Palestine (
Acts
14:27).
Ac 8:9-25 A Clever Deceiver�Simon the Sorcerer (Acts
8:9-25)
It is important to note that the Samaritans did not receive the gift of the
Holy Spirit when they believed. It was necessary for two of the Apostles, Peter
and John, to come from Jerusalem, put their hands on the converts, and impart to
them the gift of the Spirit. Why?
436Because God wanted to unite the Samaritan believers
with the original Jewish church in Jerusalem. He did not want two churches that
would perpetuate the division and conflict that had existed for centuries. Jesus
had given Peter the "keys of the kingdom of heaven" (
Matt.
16:13-20), which meant that Peter had the privilege of "opening the door of
faith" to others. He opened the door to the Jews at Pentecost, and now he opened
the door to the Samaritans. Later, he would open the door of faith to the
Gentiles (
Acts
10).
Ac 15:6-18 The Defense (Acts 15:6-18)
First, God made a choice that Peter should preach the Gospel to the Gentiles
(
Acts 15:7).
Jesus had given the keys of the kingdom to Peter (
Matt. 16:19), and
he had used them to open the door of faith to the Jews (
Acts 2), the Samaritans
(
Acts
8:14-17), and the Gentiles (
Acts 10). The Apostles
and brethren in Judea had censured Peter for visiting the Gentiles and eating
with them, but he had satisfactorily defended himself (
Acts 11:1-18).
Note that Peter made it clear that Cornelius and his household were saved by
hearing and believing, not by obeying the Law of Moses.
Bible Knowledge Commentary - Mt 16:17-20
16:17-20
His church would
then begin to be built, starting on the day of
Pentecost, and Peter and the other apostles would have important roles in it. He
declared that Peter would be given significant authority,
the keys of the
kingdom of heaven. A “key” was a sign of authority, for a trusted steward
kept the keys to his master’s possessions and dispensed them accordingly (cf.
“the keys of death and hades” [
Rev. 1:18] and
“the key of David” [
Rev. 3:7], which
Jesus possesses). Peter was told he would possess the keys and be able to
bind and
loose people. These were decisions Peter was to implement
as he received instruction from
heaven, for the binding and loosing
occurred there first. Peter simply carried out God’s directions. This privilege
of binding and loosing was seen in Peter’s life as he had the privilege on the
day of Pentecost to proclaim the gospel and announce to all those who responded
in saving faith that their sins had been forgiven (
Acts 2). He was able to
do the same thing with the household of Cornelius (
Acts 10-11; cf.
Acts 15:19-20).
The same privilege was given all the disciples (
John
20:22-23).
AMG's Encyclopedia of Bible Facts - Part 4-Facts from the New
Testament - Encouragement from every New Testament book - Revelation
(3)
Rev. 1:18 "I
am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am Alive For Evermore, Amen; and
have the Keys Of Hell And Of Death."
Rev. 3:20 "Behold,
I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My Voice, and open the door, I
will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me."
Rev. 5:10 "And
hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth."
Rev. 7:12
"Saying, Amen: Blessing, and Glory, and Wisdom, and Thanksgiving, and Honor, and
Power, and Might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen."
Rev. 12:10,11
"And I heard a loud voice saying in Heaven, Now is come Salvation, and Strength,
and The Kingdom of our God, and the Power of His Christ: for the accuser of our
brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they
overcame him by The blood of the Lamb, and by the Word of their Testimony; and
they loved not their lives unto the death."
Rev. 15:3 "And
they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb,
saying, Great and Marvelous are Thy Works, Lord God Almighty; Just and True are
Thy Ways, Thou King Of Saints."
Rev. 15:4 "Who
shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and glorify Thy Name? for Thou only art Holy: for
all nations shall come and worship before Thee; for Thy Judgments are made
manifest."
Rev.
19:7 "Let us be Glad and Rejoice, and give Honor to Him: for The Marriage Of
The Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready."
Rev. 21:6,7 "And
He said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. I
will give unto him that is athirst of The Fountain Of The Water Of Life freely.
He that overcometh shall Inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall
be My son."
Rev. 22:16,17
"I Jesus have sent Mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches.
I am the Root And The Offspring Of David, and the Bright And Morning Star. And
the Spirit and the Bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let
him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the Water Of Life
freely."
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