In certain Christian circles the tradition of “binding and loosing” may extend all the way from binding ‘a spirit of snoring’ to loosing ‘my perfect personal trainer’.

I’m here to tell you — those are the wrong keys!

Don’t misunderstand me please. I’ve tried opening the doors to God’s Kingdom using those very keys myself. But that was when I was very new to The Word. Today, being older and (I hope) somewhat wiser, I’ve learned that it’s critical to check out those crazy traditions more thoroughly. Remember, “If it sounds too good to be true…”

So, let’s take a look at the way the the Greek scholar J.B. Phillips translates Jesus’ words in Matthew 16:

^17-20 “Simon, son of Jonah, you are a fortunate man indeed!” said Jesus, “for it was not your own nature but my Heavenly Father who has revealed this truth to you! Now I tell you that you are Peter the rock, and it is on this rock that I am going to found my Church, and the powers of death will never prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of Heaven; whatever you forbid on earth will be what is forbidden in Heaven and whatever you permit on earth will be what is permitted in Heaven!” Then he impressed on his disciples that they should not tell anyone that he was Christ.

Matthew 16:17-20 J.B. Phillips New Testament

Did you see it? If we’re going to bind something on earth it must be forbidden already in God’s Kingdom (Heaven). If we plan on permitting anything here on earth it must be something already permitted in God’s Kingdom (Heaven). That tells me we need an intimate knowledge of God’s Kingdom. Wisdom is absolutely necessary to the success of our walk.

Let’s look at Jesus’ earlier teaching from Matthew chapter 6:

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷ And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life? ²⁸ And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; ²⁹ yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ³⁰ But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O men of little faith? ³¹ Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.
³⁴ “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day’s own trouble be sufficient for the day.

Matthew 6:25-34 RSV

For this reason I suggest asking yourself, “Am I attempting to open the doors to God’s Kingdom using the wrong keys? Do I know what God permits and what He forbids? Am I clinging to the teachings of Jesus, or am I following current religious traditions and already fulfilled laws?”

And remember, modern Charismatic tradition regarding binding and loosing is truly just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to seeking God’s Kingdom and His righteousness. Starting now, let’s check our information against what is really being said in God’s Word.