Question 83
Section 31: Lord’s Day 31
What are the keys of the kingdom of heaven?
a The preaching of the holy gospel,b and Christian discipline, or excommunication out of the Christian church: by these two, the kingdom of heaven is opened to believers, and shut against unbelievers.c
a. Matthew 16:19
Matthew 16:19
16:19 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.
16:19 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."
King James VersionBerean Standard Bible
b. John 20:23
John 20:23
20:23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
20:23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld."
King James VersionBerean Standard Bible
c. Matthew 18:15–18
Matthew 18:15–18
18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. 18:18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
18:15 If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 18:16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' 18:17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. 18:18 Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
King James VersionBerean Standard Bible
