Sermon for Sunday, June 21th, 2026 at First Presbyterian Church at Unionville, NY (BPC)
Old Testament Reading:
[Isaiah 22:15-25 ESV] 15 Thus says the Lord GOD of hosts, “Come, go to this steward, to Shebna, who is over the household, and say to him: 16 What have you to do here, and whom have you here, that you have cut out here a tomb for yourself, you who cut out a tomb on the height and carve a dwelling for yourself in the rock? 17 Behold, the LORD will hurl you away violently, O you strong man. He will seize firm hold on you 18 and whirl you around and around, and throw you like a ball into a wide land. There you shall die, and there shall be your glorious chariots, you shame of your master’s house. 19 I will thrust you from your office, and you will be pulled down from your station. 20 In that day I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, 21 and I will clothe him with your robe, and will bind your sash on him, and will commit your authority to his hand. And he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. 22 And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. 23 And I will fasten him like a peg in a secure place, and he will become a throne of honor to his father’s house. 24 And they will hang on him the whole honor of his father’s house, the offspring and issue, every small vessel, from the cups to all the flagons. 25 In that day, declares the LORD of hosts, the peg that was fastened in a secure place will give way, and it will be cut down and fall, and the load that was on it will be cut off, for the LORD has spoken.”
New Testament Reading:
[Revelation 3:7-13 ESV] 7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. 8 “‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie–behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. 12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
Gospel Reading:
[Matthew 18:15-20 ESV] 15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 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. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
Sermon Text:
[Matthew 16:19 ESV] 19 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.”
Introduction:
I almost included this verse in last’s weeks sermon on “The Church’s One Foundation.” There we looked at that important question of “who/what is the rock?” concluding that the rock is none other than Jesus and the truth that He is the Christ and the Son of the Living God. And we learned that Christ conquers death; even the gates of hell shall not prevail over His church; the people who have faith in Christ are assured everlasting life.
Now, we have a continuation. Peter was the one blessed by God with that revelation and blessed to be the one so say “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” And so he got the nickname “Petros” for seeing the Rock of Jesus Christ. But again, Peter was not the rock.
In the next section of Matthew’s Gospel Jesus tells his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter said “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” And Jesus responded, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
So it is that Peter IMMEDIATELY is sinning. He immediately fails, just after being called blessed for speaking the truth about Jesus, he not is criticized – even called Satan! – for NOT understanding what needs to be done.
All that to say again, Peter is not the rock; he is clearly evidenced not be the one upon whom the church is built. Our hope – and our church – is built on nothing less than Jesus’s blood and righteous.
But now back to verse 19, our text for the sermon.
[Matthew 16:19 ESV] 19 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.”
What does this mean?
We just had the “gates of hell” now we have the keys of the kingdom of heaven.
The gates to hell are wide open, but heaven requires keys.
What are the keys to the kingdom of heaven? How does one get into heaven? And how is one kept out? Those are some of the question we’ll look at today.
To understand “the keys of the kingdom,” let’s first look at some historical background.
I. Historical Background of “The Keys of the Kingdom”
As we looked to the Old Testament to understand the term “the gates of hell,’ so we look there now to understand the keys of the kingdom.
We read of “the key of the house of David” in our Old Testament reading.
[Isaiah 22:22 ESV] 22 And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.
It is clear that Jesus has that verse in mind, because not only is there a key, but he speaks of “opening and shutting” just as he now in Matthew’s Gospel speaks of “binding and loosing.”
In Isaiah 22:22 God is addressing a man named Eliakim who was just appointed as the chief steward in for King Hezekiah of Judah. The former steward, Shebna, has been stripped of his authority, and God is replacing him with Eliakim. And giving Eliakim, “the key of the house of David,” God is giving him administrative control and access to the royal court. Eliakim can admit people into the King’s presence or entirely block their access. The decision is his. He is the gatekeeper.
So there are two things the keys do.
1: Grant control and authority to govern and make decisions.
2: Especially grant authority decide who sees the King.
So this is a delegated authority. The King (Hezekiah) had more work than he could do, so he brings on a chief steward in Eliakim, giving him “the keys of the house of David” as he (Hezekiah) is a descendant of David, and his house reigns in Israel.
But now in Matthew’s Gospel we hear about not any kingdom on earth, but the kingdom of heaven. These are the keys not to just any kingdom, these are the keys to the kingdom of heaven!
II. The Keys of the Kingdom
But what ARE the keys? How does one get into the kingdom of heaven? What unlocks the door? And how is the door locked to keep others out?
These questions are well answered in the Heidelberg Catechism. Now, we are Presbyterians so we have the Westminster Shorter Catechism and the Westminster Larger Catechism, but the “Continental Reformed Churches” – those churches that began not in Scotland, England, and Ireland like the Presbyterians, but began in the Netherlands, Germany, and France – they have historically used the Heidelberg Catechism. It is an excellent document that we should have no problem agreeing with. And it is often said to be more “personal.”
Consider the first question in that catechism. This is one everyone memorizes in their churches.
Q: What is your only comfort in life and death?
A: That I am not my own, but belong body and soul, in life and death, to my faithful savior, Jesus Christ.
That is great.
Well, as for the Keys of the Kingdom, here is what the Heidelberg Catechism says:
Q 83: What are the keys of the kingdom of heaven?
A: The preaching of the Holy Gospel and Church discipline. But these two the kingdom of heaven is open to believers and closed to unbelievers.
The preaching of the Holy Gospel.
AND
The Church Discipline.
1. The Preaching of the Holy Gospel
They first key is doctrine, the preaching the truth of God, and especially preaching of the Gospel.
That is the key by which a Christian comes to faith in Jesus Christ.
How would we prove that?
In Luke 11:52 Jesus says that the scribes and pharisees have the “key of knowledge” because they have the Old Testament. But they don’t properly use that key.
[Luke 11:52 ESV] 52 Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.”
We need to HEAR the gospel to come to faith. The Gospel is the key to open heaven to us. Consider;
[Romans 10:14 ESV] 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?
The ordinary means of regeneration is by the preaching of the Gospel; that truth that in the death of Jesus, God forgives the sins of His people and gives them eternal life (in heaven).
And the Gospel functions as a key into heaven as described in John’s Gospel:
[John 3:36 ESV] 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
Then, the second key is church discipline.
2. Church Discipline
Church Discipline is mentioned in that 5th vow taken for membership in our church. It is something not practiced well enough in many churches throughout the ages. It is not always easy to do; but it is necessary.
When your brother sins against you, GO (and this is not optional), go and tell him.
If he refuses to repent, bring another with you.
If he still refuses to acknowledge his sin and ask for forgiveness, take it to the church.
This is direction of Matthew chapter 18.
Then, the church is to get involved; to use church discipline.
This can be various states of discipline. Warnings and counsel. And then, if a person REFUSES to turn from the error of the evil ways, they may be (as the Heidelberg Catechism says) “excluded from the holy sacraments and the Christian communion.” That is, they may be excommunicated.
[1 Corinthians 5:3-5 ESV] 3 For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. 4 When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.
But indeed, we ought to learn that Church Discipline has the goal not to punish, but to heal. Not to call out, but to call back. Not to defeat, but to win over and win back a straying member.
This key of discipline may not only lock a person out, it may bring them back in.
Again, Heidelberg says “if they promise and show real amendment, they are again received as member of Christ and His Church.”
We remember the parable of the prodigal son:
[Luke 15:20-24 ESV] 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
This is the “binding and loosing,” admitting a person into membership and the communion of the church or restricting them from membership and excommunicating them from the church.
So those are the keys of the kingdom of heaven.
But a big question arises in WHOM this power is invested. Who controls the keys?
III. Who is Given the Keys?
The Roman Catholic view of this passage includes that the keys are given to Peter. He then has authority over the whole church, and then gives that authority to his successors.
But this view is in error.
For one, if the keys had been given to Peter and his successors alone, there is in trouble, because Rome doesn’t preach the Gospel, and Church discipline is lax at best. Surely, Rome is great at control and making pronouncements, but of the keys of the Gospel and discipline they are found wanting.
Then, we find a similar verse in chapter 18 of Matthew that tells us it is not only Peter, but ALL of the disciples who are given the keys. Here the “you” is in the plural as Jesus says to all the disciples:
[Matthew 18:18 ESV] 18 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.
The keys – the preaching of the Gospel and the administration of church discipline – which first are given to the disciples soon become, according to the New Testament, the prerogative of the elders of each particular.
The elders (and pastors) of the church are called in the New Testament “overseers.” They are to “shepherd the flock” and they are the “rulers” who are given the keys. They are to preach the Gospel and they are to decide upon and enforce church discipline.
The Westminster Confession explains:
“The Lord Jesus, as king and head of his Church, hath therein appointed a government in the hand of Church officers, distinct from the civil magistrate.”
“To these officers the keys of the kingdom of heaven are committed, by virtue whereof they have power respectively to retain and remit sins, to shut that kingdom against the impenitent, both by the Word and censures; and to open it unto penitent sinners, by the ministry of the gospel, and by absolution from censures, as occasion shall require.”
That is, the keys are given to the church as a body but are exercised specifically by the church officers. Now, many Congregationalists churches historically would have it that the keys are given to the whole congregation. But it is impractical to have majority votes on membership decisions, especially if a church were hundreds or thousands of members. And the scriptures give warrant for the elders (and pastors) having the keys as they are called to teach and preach (1 Timothy 3:2, 5:17), to guard the church against false teachers (Titus 1:9), to oversee and care for the church (Acts 20:28), and to shepherd the flock (1 Peter 5:2).
A few other questions to answer:
Question 1: What then is the relationship between church and kingdom of heaven?
Jesus said “I will built my church.” Then he said “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.”
There is a connection between the church and heaven. It is stronger than some would like to admit; but it is not as full as others might have it.
That is, you are not saved by being a member of a church. There are many who are members of a church who do not believe the gospel (In such cases the elders have failed to use the keys rightly), and there are some who believe though they are not members of a church. If the former was a greater problem in the past, the latter is a greater problem today. Christians – believers – ought to join a church; they ought to be counted among the brethren, and not forsake the assembly of the brethren. This is the persons fault, for the elders cannot accept them in to the church, if they do not seek to become members. Christians should WANT to be member of the church.
Now, what is the relationship between the church and the kingdom of heaven.
The keys “open” a person into faith (and consequentially and normally) into membership of a church, or the keys “shut” the door on the person is the event of their rejection of the Gospel or of excommunication from the church. And as the keys “open and shut” faith and church membership, the same (under nearly all circumstances) is done in the kingdom of heaven.
But…
Question 2: What do we make of the order? We – then God.?
“whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Is God taking orders from us? Surely not.
We in fact are taking orders from him, and only bring a person into membership or kick them out from the church based on what God has told us in the Scriptures of these things.
The decision of the pastors and elders in their use of the key of discipline is their decision only in a derivative sense; truly they are merely acknowledging that God has brought a person to faith, or that a person has rejected God.
And so when we acknowledge what God says, and follow his commands, naturally he is on the same page; and those we proclaim forgiveness to are the same God forgives, and those we without forgiveness from, God does likewise. That’s what we hear in a similar passage:
[John 20:21-23 ESV] 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”
Matthew Henry well says:
It is a power which Christ has promised to own the due administration of; he will ratify the sentences of his stewards with his own approbation; It shall be bound in heaven, and loosed in heaven: not that Christ hath hereby obliged himself to confirm all church-censures, right or wrong; but such as are duly passed according to the word,-the key turning the right way, such are sealed in heaven; that is, the word of the gospel, in the mouth of faithful ministers, is to be looked upon, not as the word of man, but as the word of God, and to be received accordingly.
In short, when things are going well, the church (led by its officers) are on the same page with God. That should not be a controversial statement.
Now, maybe something that is controversial, or at least get you thinking. At the end of the New Testament reading we had early from Matthew 18, Jesus said “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” And most Christians hear this and think it is about them joining together in prayer, or maybe having a really small church of just a few people and then can say “Jesus is with us.” Well, what this is primarily referring to, in the context, is the “office of the keys.” Where TWO OR THREE ELDERS are gathered together, deciding to open or shut the door, THERE Christ is with them; what they do on Earth, he agrees to in Heaven. Two or three; this tells you that the eldership is plural, not just a Peter making the decisions.
Application: Hear the Gospel
This has been a lot of theology. It is the doctrine of the church. Ecclesiology.
But what are WE ALL to do?
Above all else we ought to continue through that gate (the Lord Jesus Christ) which faith has open by the key of the Gospel preached. We may never have to deal with removing a person from church membership, but with each person the call is given: believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.
Know then that they key into heaven is not your, but it is the Gospel. And let us thank the Lord for that key, given to the church by the Lord Jesus Christ as we thank him and enter into His kingdom.
Let us pray.