The keys of the kingdom

Jesus promised Peter the keys of the kingdom, which represent the opening of the kingdom of heaven to the Jews first, and then to the Gentiles (Matthew 16:19). “Keys” represent power or authority (Isaiah 22:22), and Jesus was promising Peter that he would be given the power to open the kingdom. In Matthew 18:18, Jesus told the rest of the apostles that they would have the same keys.

The keys were first used in Acts 2 when Peter preached to the Jews. He used them a second time in Acts 10 when he preached to the Gentiles. Because they were endowed by the Holy Spirit (John 16:13), when they preached the requirements of salvation, they were “binding and loosing” God’s commandments.

Because they exercised the Holy Spirit that was given to them, we now have the requirements of salvation easily laid out for us in the New Testament. We need to read it and follow it so that we can be saved.

Kyle Campbell