Michael Brooks
The phrase what you bind on earth is a reference to a passage in the Gospel of Matthew (16:19 and 18:18) in which Jesus says to his disciple Peter, Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. The binding and loosing imagery, which was also used by first-century rabbis, refers to the authority given by Jesus to his apostles to make doctrinal judgments, absolve sins, and make disciplinary decisions within the Church. This authority is sometimes referred to as the power of the keys, symbolizing the ability to govern the house of God.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reference | Matthew 16:19 |
| Who is given the authority to bind and loose? | Peter and the apostles |
| What does binding and loosing mean? | The authority to make decisions binding on the people of God |
| What does it refer to? | The ability to absolve sins or to retain them, doctrinal authority, disciplinary authority, and the power of excommunication |
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What You'll Learn
- Jesus gave the apostles authority to absolve sins
- Binding and loosing refer to the ability to retain sins
- Jesus gave the apostles authority to make doctrinal judgements
- Binding and loosing refer to the ability to make disciplinary decisions
- Binding and loosing refer to the ability to lift or impose excommunication
Jesus gave the apostles authority to absolve sins
The phrase "whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth" is referenced in the Bible's New Testament, in Matthew 16:19 and Matthew 18. In the former, Jesus says:
> "And whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
In Matthew 18, Jesus gives the apostles three forms of authority:
- The authority to reconcile through the sacrament of confession, or the authority to absolve sins
- Doctrinal authority, or the authority to make doctrinal judgments
- Disciplinary authority
The "binding and loosing" imagery was used by rabbis in the first century to refer to authoritative teachings. In giving the apostles the authority to bind and loose, Jesus was giving them the power to make decisions on behalf of God. This is further supported by the Catechism, which explains:
> "The words bind and loose mean: Whomever you exclude from your communion, will be excluded from communion with God; whomever you receive anew into your communion, God will welcome back into his."
In John 20:23, Jesus says:
> "Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them. Whose sins you retain are retained."
This passage has been interpreted in different ways. Some believe that Jesus was giving the apostles the authority to forgive sins, which they passed down to subsequent clergy. Others argue that Jesus was referring to the preaching of the forgiveness of sins, rather than the act of forgiving sins itself.
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Binding and loosing refer to the ability to retain sins
The phrase "binding and loosing" is originally a Jewish Mishnaic phrase, also mentioned in the New Testament and the Targum. It refers to the indisputable authority to make decisions on behalf of God's people. The Catechism explains that:
> The words bind and loose mean: Whomever you exclude from your communion, will be excluded from communion with God; whomever you receive anew into your communion, God will welcome back into his.
In the Gospel, Jesus gives his disciples the authority to bind and loose. This is connected to his statement regarding two or three people gathered in his name. In Matthew 18, Jesus says:
> Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Here, Jesus is giving the apostles teaching and disciplinary authority. He is also giving them the authority to reconcile sinners with the Church through the sacrament of confession. This is where the binding and loosing refer to the apostles' ability to absolve or retain sins. This is further supported by the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which states that Jesus not only forgave sins but also made plain the effect of this forgiveness by reintegrating forgiven sinners into the community of God.
The passage in Matthew 18 is also interpreted as giving the apostles the authority to make doctrinal judgments. The language of binding and loosing was used by first-century rabbis to talk about authoritative teachings.
In conclusion, binding and loosing refer to the ability to retain sins, as well as the ability to forgive sins and make doctrinal judgments. This authority was given to the apostles by Jesus, who instructed them to establish his Church.
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Jesus gave the apostles authority to make doctrinal judgements
In Matthew 18, Jesus says, "Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." This gave the apostles the authority to make doctrinal judgements. This is further supported by the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which interprets the language of binding and loosing in Matthew 18 as Jesus giving the apostles three forms of authority. Firstly, the authority to reconcile through the sacrament of confession, or the authority to absolve sins. Secondly, it refers to their authority to make doctrinal judgements. Finally, it refers to their disciplinary authority.
The apostles were given the power to make doctrinal judgements as they were entrusted with the Sacred Trust of the Gospel, which includes all sound doctrine. This is supported by Apostle Paul in Galatians 1:11-12, "I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ."
The foundation of Christ's church was laid by the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone. This foundation is not limited to the core doctrines of Christianity, but extends to all apostolic teachings on every issue, including church government, leadership roles and duties, relationships and discipline in the family, community, and workplace, homosexuality, morality, and ethics.
The apostles were given authority by Jesus to cast out demons in his name and to baptize. They were also given the power to forgive sins, as stated in John 20:23, "whatever sins you retain shall be retained, whatever sins you forgive shall be forgiven." This authority was shared with men because God is inviting us into his divine life.
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Binding and loosing refer to the ability to make disciplinary decisions
The phrase "binding and loosing" is a concept in Catholicism that originates from the words of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew, where he says, "Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." This phrase is part of Jesus' teachings to his disciples, imparting to them a specific authority.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church offers an interpretation of binding and loosing: "Whomever you exclude from your communion, will be excluded from communion with God; whomever you receive anew into your communion, God will welcome back into his." This explanation highlights the ability to reconcile sinners with the Church, reintegrating them into the community of God's people.
It is important to note that while Peter and his successors, the Popes, hold this authority, the bishops, as successors to the other twelve apostles, also share in this teaching and disciplinary authority. This authority was bestowed upon them by Jesus himself, as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, and forms the basis for the leadership and decision-making within the Catholic Church.
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Binding and loosing refer to the ability to lift or impose excommunication
The phrase "binding and loosing" is derived from the rabbis and refers to the authority to make decisions that are binding on the people of God. This includes interpreting and applying the Word of God, as well as admitting people to and excommunicating them from the community of faith. In the context of the Catholic Church, excommunication is an act of religious censure used to deprive, suspend, or limit membership in the religious community. It can be imposed either latae sententiae, which is automatic upon committing an offense, or ferendae sententiae, which requires imposition by a legitimate superior or an ecclesiastical court.
In Matthew 16:19, Jesus gives this authority to Peter, saying, "Whatever you bind on Earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on Earth shall be loosed in heaven." This authority is later extended to all the apostles in Matthew 18:18. By granting this power, Jesus is giving them the ability to lift or impose excommunication. The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains that binding and loosing mean excluding or receiving someone from communion, which will be reflected in their standing with God.
The apostles are given three forms of authority by Jesus: the authority to reconcile through the sacrament of confession, doctrinal authority, and disciplinary authority. The power to bind and loose is specifically related to their ability to absolve or retain sins and make doctrinal judgments. This authority was not given to just anyone, but to Jesus' personally chosen disciples, who would become the foundation and pillars of the future church.
The understanding of the power to bind and loose has been influenced by the context of fraternal correction and excommunication in the preceding verses of Matthew 18. While modern Catholic exegetes interpret these terms more broadly, the connection between these verses suggests that the Evangelist and the community for whom he wrote understood the power to excommunicate as an application of the power to bind and loose.
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Frequently asked questions
The phrase is derived from the Bible, specifically Matthew 16:19, where Jesus says, "Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
"You" refers to Peter, who Jesus said he would give the keys of the kingdom of heaven to.
"Binding and loosing" refers to the authority to make decisions that are binding on the people of God. This includes the power to absolve sins, make doctrinal judgments, and make disciplinary decisions.
Jesus gave this authority to his apostles, and in particular, to Peter, who is seen as the foundation of the Church.
It represents the teaching and disciplinary authority bestowed upon the apostles by Jesus. It also signifies the reconciliation of sinners with the Church, as Jesus forgave sins and reintegrated sinners into the community during his public life.
