Yesterday, we spent some time reflecting on Y’shua Jesus’s questions to the disciples regarding their opinion of Him. Interestingly, after the Nougat was shared with you all, I thought to ask us, What about us – have we ever been unfairly judged by folks who ought to know us better? If so, remember to take a leaf from Y’shua.
Today, we continue in the same story but will focus on Y’shua’s response to Peter. While the other disciples were pondering how to correctly respond to Jesus, Peter chimed in with the most profound response. Jesus was heartened and began to make some powerful pronouncements over Peter. These pronouncements could also be about us. Among them were promises about what we say. Consider Today’s Holy Nougat.
Matthew 16:19 NIV
[19] 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.”
Whatever … will be
As I wrote that last line about what we say, it registered that binding and loosing are not wholly about speech. Those are action words. The Greek terms deó and luó speak to tying, and release, dissolve, set at nought, contravene, or annul. Strong’s further suggests that luó was critical to the Greek culture in legal, social, and religious contexts. This significance resulted from the association of ‘freedom’ with luó; including freeing a slave, dissolving a binding contract, or breaking a curse.
Deó, as is expected, carried multiple definitions, which included securing prisoners and ratifying covenants. Further, deó and luó were tasks assigned to rabbis, as theirs was the authority to interpret the Law, and make spiritual decisions based on the interpretation.
Those definitions don’t necessarily convey spoken actions. But they carry with them some weighty authority that would not be expected of mere fishermen. Yet, at Pentecost, we see that Peter walked in that authority.
Self-Check
Do we understand or walk in the authority God has gifted us with through Y’shua?
Application
Siblings, when we proclaim Y’shua Jesus as The Christ, we also have access to that authority. It comes from knowing Y’shua personally and spending time in Scripture and with the Word. Having the assurance that God’s Spirit will bring biblical truths to our memory, it means that we are authorised to make spiritual decisions. Siblings, that’s not the kind of authority we ought to take lightly.
It’s worth noting that there’s a somewhat unconditional authorization afforded us who know The Christ. Y’shua said, ‘Whatever …’ we ratify or loosen ‘will be’ done in Heaven, i.e., ‘who’, ‘what’ or ‘that which’. The decision, as with the Lord’s prayer, takes place not only on earth but also in Heaven.
On a final note (for now), I wish to say that there’s one interpretation that suggests that our binding and loosing on earth is already done in Heaven. Would knowing that our authority is already agreed on in Heaven affect how we think and speak in difficult situations?
Point to Ponder
When we pray in accordance with God’s will, even when it is contrary to our own nature, Y’shua understands and confirms it. What situation do we need to transform according to God’s will?
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May all we seek be found in Christ
