Matthew 18:18 kjv
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.
Matthew 18:18 nkjv
"Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
Matthew 18:18 niv
"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.
Matthew 18:18 esv
Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Matthew 18:18 nlt
"I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.
Matthew 18 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mt 16:19 | "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven..." | Peter's personal endowment with the same authority, prefiguring the church. |
| Jn 20:23 | "If you forgive anyone's sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." | Disciples' authority to declare forgiveness or retention of sins. |
| 1 Cor 5:3-5 | "For my part, even though I am not physically present, I have already passed judgment... hand this man over to Satan." | Apostolic instruction on church discipline, exercising authority to exclude. |
| 1 Cor 5:12-13 | "Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. 'Expel the wicked person from among you.'" | The church's responsibility to judge and act on internal matters of sin. |
| 2 Cor 2:6-8 | "The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. Now instead, you ought to forgive..." | Authority to loose; restoration of repentant members. |
| Acts 15:28-29 | "It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond these essentials..." | The Jerusalem Council's collective decision-making under divine guidance. |
| Deut 17:10-11 | "You must act according to the decisions they give you... you must not turn aside from the verdict..." | Old Covenant principle of judicial authority within the community (priests/judges). |
| Isa 22:22 | "I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut..." | Parallel concept of administrative authority symbolized by a key, divine appointment. |
| Phil 2:9-11 | "Therefore God exalted him... that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow..." | Jesus' ultimate authority from whom all church authority derives. |
| Eph 4:11-12 | "He gave some to be apostles, some prophets... to equip his people for works of service..." | Christ giving leaders to the church for its proper functioning and edification. |
| Heb 13:17 | "Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you..." | Instruction to recognize and submit to the authority within the church. |
| 1 Thes 5:12 | "Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to appreciate those who work hard among you..." | Acknowledgment of leaders who have authority among believers. |
| Col 2:16-17 | "Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival..." | Application of "loosing"—the freedom from certain ceremonial laws in Christ. |
| Mt 7:1-5 | "Do not judge, or you too will be judged." | Boundaries of judgment—discernment of hypocrisy (private) vs. church discipline (public). |
| Jas 5:16 | "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed." | Collective accountability and intercession within the community. |
| 1 Jn 5:14-15 | "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us." | God's affirmation when prayers/decisions align with His will. |
| Lev 13:3-4 | "The priest is to examine the sore... if the hair in the sore has turned white... the priest shall pronounce them unclean." | Priestly function of declaring things "clean" or "unclean," similar to binding/loosing. |
| Mal 2:7 | "For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, and people should consult him for instruction..." | Priestly role in teaching God's law and providing rulings. |
| Acts 13:2-3 | "While they were worshiping... the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul...'" | Divine direction for church action and commissioning. |
| Rev 1:18 | "I hold the keys of death and Hades." | Christ's ultimate, supreme authority over life and death. |
| Rev 3:7 | "To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write... what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open." | Jesus possesses the "key of David," demonstrating his ultimate control and authority. |
Matthew 18 verses
Matthew 18 18 Meaning
Matthew 18:18 affirms that spiritual authority is granted to the community of believers—the church—to make pronouncements on earth concerning spiritual matters, especially those related to doctrine, moral conduct, and discipline. These pronouncements, when made in alignment with God's will and purpose, are then recognized and confirmed in heaven. It highlights a participatory role of the church in administering God's truth and will on earth.
Matthew 18 18 Context
Matthew 18 is often called the "Discourse on the Church" because it provides essential instructions for life and order within the community of Jesus' followers. The verses leading up to verse 18 (18:15-17) outline a step-by-step process for confronting and reconciling with a sinning brother. This process moves from private admonition to a more public church involvement, culminating in the scenario where if the brother refuses to listen even to the church, he is to be treated "as a Gentile and a tax collector." Immediately following this instruction on discipline, Jesus pronounces the binding and loosing authority. This establishes that the church's collective decision in such matters of discipline has divine backing. The historical context reflects rabbinic Judaism, where "binding and loosing" were common terms referring to the authority to forbid or permit, to declare something unlawful or lawful, or to excommunicate or absolve. This authority was not arbitrary but rooted in interpreting and applying God's Law. Jesus, however, extends and transforms this rabbinic concept to his new community, linking their faithful decisions to heavenly endorsement.
Matthew 18 18 Word analysis
- Amen (Ἀμὴν): Greek transliteration of the Hebrew ʾāmēn, meaning "truly," "verily," "so be it." Jesus' use of Amen at the beginning of a statement indicates solemn affirmation, profound truth, and divine authority behind His words. It underscores the certainty and importance of what follows.
- I say to you (λέγω ὑμῖν): A characteristic expression of Jesus' authoritative teaching. It signifies a declaration from a divine source, contrasting with scribal traditions based on precedent or human interpretation.
- Whatever (ὅσα): A general, all-encompassing term, indicating that the authority covers all things within the sphere of the church's spiritual and disciplinary domain, not limited to a single issue.
- You (ὑμεῖς): This is a plural pronoun, referring to all the disciples present and by extension to the collective body of believers—the church. This contrasts with Mat 16:19 where "you" (singular) refers specifically to Peter. In chapter 18, the authority is given to the gathered community.
- Bind (δήσητε - dēsēte): From the verb deō (δέω), meaning "to tie," "to bind." In rabbinic terminology, it refers to forbidding, prohibiting, declaring something unlawful or unclean, or exercising ecclesiastical discipline (e.g., excommunication). It relates to spiritual injunctions or judgments.
- On earth (ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς): Refers to the sphere of human activity and existence, where the church carries out its mission and functions.
- Shall be bound (ἔσται δεδεμένον - estai dedemenon): This is a future perfect passive verb. The construction estai dedemenon means "it will already have been bound." This crucial grammatical point suggests that the church's "binding" or "loosing" on earth is not a primary, independent action but rather a recognition or alignment with what has already been determined or ratified in heaven. It implies that the church discerns and acts upon God's pre-established will. It's not human decree dictating to God, but God's heavenly decree being manifest and recognized on earth through the church's Spirit-led action. This is often termed the "divine passive."
- Loose (λύσητε - lysēte): From the verb lyō (λύω), meaning "to untie," "to release," "to permit." In rabbinic terms, this means to permit, to declare something lawful or clean, to absolve from guilt, or to restore to fellowship. It refers to spiritual permissions or declarations of freedom.
- In heaven (ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς): Refers to the divine realm, the source of all authority and truth. This phrase confirms that the church's legitimate decisions, made according to God's will, are upheld and ratified by God Himself.
Matthew 18 18 Bonus section
- Relationship to Matthew 16:19: While Matthew 16:19 grants "the keys" specifically to Peter, Matthew 18:18 extends the "binding and loosing" authority to all the disciples and, by extension, to the entire gathered church. This suggests that while Peter held a unique, foundational role in the early church, the power to govern, judge, and administer the affairs of the kingdom (within the bounds of Christ's teaching) ultimately rests with the collective body of believers.
- Connection to Agreement: This verse sets the stage for the following verses, Matthew 18:19-20, which speak of agreement in prayer ("if two of you on earth agree") and Christ's presence "where two or three are gathered." This reinforces that the authority of binding and loosing is communal, exercised within the context of spiritual unity and Christ's presence, implying the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
- Limits of Authority: The authority is not unlimited or autonomous. It is bounded by Christ's teaching and the will of God, implying constant prayer, reliance on the Holy Spirit, and careful study of Scripture to discern heavenly decrees. The church's judgments must reflect divine righteousness and love, serving God's kingdom purposes, not human agenda.
- Ecclesiastical Authority: This verse is foundational for understanding the concept of ecclesiastical authority and the basis for church discipline. It empowers the local congregation to make vital decisions concerning faith and conduct within its sphere, knowing that these Spirit-led decisions are upheld by God in heaven.
Matthew 18 18 Commentary
Matthew 18:18 is a profound declaration of the authority Christ bestows upon His church. It immediately follows the process of church discipline, thus indicating its primary application in matters of exclusion or restoration within the community. The "binding and loosing" authority refers not to arbitrary human power to control eternal destiny or invent doctrines, but rather to the church's Spirit-guided ability to interpret and apply God's will on earth regarding moral conduct, spiritual laws, and membership. The critical nuance provided by the future perfect passive tense ("shall have been bound/loosed") implies that the church acts as an instrument or agent through which God's pre-established heavenly decrees are recognized and implemented on earth. It is not about human decisions dictating to heaven, but about the church discerning and aligning with heaven's will. This ensures that the church's judgments, whether in forbidding certain practices (binding) or permitting certain actions (loosing), or in disfellowshipping/restoring members, carry divine weight when done faithfully and obediently to Christ's teachings. This divine endorsement underscores the seriousness and spiritual weight of the church's role in stewarding the Kingdom of God on earth. Practical examples include a church congregation prayerfully deciding to excommunicate an unrepentant member (binding) or accepting the repentance of a wayward member and restoring them to fellowship (loosing).