What did Jesus mean when He talked about binding and loosing?

TL;DR:

Peter was not given authority to admit people into God's kingdom or to choose what he wanted to allow and disallow. Rather, Jesus gave authority to Peter and the other apostles to correctly interpret God's message and to share it with others.

what does the bible say?

When Jesus spoke about binding and loosing, He gave Peter and the apostles the authority to correctly interpret and apply God's will, not to create their own laws. This authority was symbolized by the "keys of the kingdom of heaven," meaning they were empowered to open or close access to God’s kingdom based on the gospel message (Matthew 16:19). Jesus’ words meant that what Peter and the apostles declared on earth regarding God's will had already been determined in heaven. This authority was not solely for Peter, but for all believers, as they are part of the Great Commission to spread the gospel. Ultimately, binding and loosing reflected the apostles’ role in establishing and interpreting God's kingdom through the teachings of Jesus.

from the old testament

The concept of "binding and loosing" in the Old Testament is not directly referred to with the same phrasing, but there are passages that speak to authority over laws and decisions. In the context of the Old Testament, binding and loosing establish (bind) or loosen (remove) laws, restrictions, or obligations. In Deuteronomy 13:5, for example, a false prophet who leads others away from God is to be "put to death," which is an example of binding a law for the protection of the people and the holiness of Israel. This "binding" decision preserved the community’s purity. Leviticus 16:21, on the other hand, speaks about the ritual of the scapegoat, where the high priest symbolically "loosed" the sins of the people by placing them on the goat and sending it into the wilderness. This could be seen as "loosing" the people from the weight of their sin.

from the new testament

Binding and loosing is a Jewish legal phrase giving authority to someone to determine whether something is allowed or forbidden. Jesus uses the phrase in Matthew 16:19 when talking to Peter, but within hearing of the other apostles: "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
Jesus was telling Peter that he would have the right to enter the kingdom of heaven himself. The keys symbolized general authority. Preaching the gospel would be the way to open the kingdom of heaven to all believers and shut it against unbelievers. Peter, preaching at Pentecost in Acts 2:14-40, opened those doors.
Jesus intended Peter and the other apostles to continue His ministry of bringing the kingdom of God to earth by preaching the gospel. All Christians have a part in this effort, as we are taught to pray in Matthew 6:9-10. We are also included in the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20.
Diving deeper into the Greek words and verb tenses in Jesus' words to Peter, we find that what Peter is given authority to do does not originate with him. The verbs used clearly communicate that whatever Peter binds or loosens on earth has already been bound or loosened in heaven (see Matthew 16:19 as above, and 18:18 where Jesus teaches about church discipline).

implications for today

The authority to bind and loose, as Jesus described, reminds us today that we are entrusted with the responsibility to interpret and share God's truth accurately. This responsibility doesn't give us the power to make our own rules but calls us to align our actions and teachings with God's will, as revealed through Jesus and Scripture. As believers, we are part of the larger mission to spread the gospel and welcome others into the kingdom of God. This calls us to share God's message of salvation with clarity, understanding that our actions reflect what has already been established in heaven. In our own lives, this means living in accordance with God's truth. In doing so, we are instruments of His kingdom and help others experience the freedom found in Christ.

understand

Jesus gave Peter and the apostles the authority to interpret God’s will, not to create their own laws.
The "keys" that Jesus gave for binding and loosing symbolized authority to open or close access to God’s kingdom through the gospel.
The authority to bind and loose does not refer to saving people but sharing the gospel.

reflect

How are you actively seeking to align your actions and teachings with God’s will in your daily life?
How can you support others in understanding and applying God’s truth, rather than creating your own rules?
How does knowing that the authority to bind and loose is based on what has already been established in heaven affect how you approach your faith and decisions?

engage

The idea that the authority to bind and loose has been transferred to church leadership today misinterprets the original purpose of this authority, which was given to the apostles to proclaim and interpret God's truth, not to create new doctrines or laws for the church. In what ways does binding and loosing apply today and in what ways does it not?
How can we ensure that we interpret God’s word accurately and share it effectively?
How can we support others who might struggle with understanding the gospel message and its implications for their lives?