In Basics of Biblical Greek Grammar, William D. Mounce gives a clear and insightful explanation of the underlying Greek text showing that what Jesus taught is ENTIRELY different from what many religious authorities assume, teach and practice. He writes: "In some translations of Matthew [16:19 and] 18:18, it sounds like Jesus promised his disciples that whatever they bound on earth would be bound in heaven, and whatever they loosed on earth would be loosed in heaven. In other words, they had the power to bind and loose, and Heaven (i.e. God) would simply back up their decrees. But the matter is not quite so simple; the actions described in heaven are future perfect passives — which could be translated ‘will have already been bound in heaven … will have already been loosed in heaven.’ In other words, the heavenly decree confirming the earthly one is based on a prior verdict [God had already made — "Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in the heavens" (Psalms 119:89).] "This is the language of the law court. Jewish legal issues were normally decided in Jesus’ day by elders in the synagogue community (later by rabbis). Many Jewish people believed that the authority of Heaven stood behind the earthly judges when they decided cases based on a correct understanding of God’s law. (This process came to be called ‘binding and loosing.’) Jesus’ contemporaries often envisioned God’s justice in terms of a heavenly court; by obeying God’s laws, the earthly court simply ratified the decrees of the heavenly court" (p. 121, bracketed comments added).
What is
PAPAL INFALLIBILITY? | | | | The doctrine of Papal infallibility states that the Pope, when believed to be acting under the Holy Spirit, will be free from ANY errors when he declares to the church a dogmatic teaching on faith as being contained in or connected to divine revelation.
Papal infallibility did not become an official tenet of the church until the First Vatican Council of 1870 A.D. | | | | |
What AUTHORITY did Jesus give His disciples? Jesus did NOT give His apostles and disciples the authority to make binding decisions regarding anything on earth that had not already been decreed in heaven. Jesus specifically taught that He did not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets: "'DO NOT THINK that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. "'Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called LEAST in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called GREAT in the kingdom of heaven.'" (Matthew 5:17-19, NKJV)
Therefore, whatever is bound or loosed CANNOT be contrary to the laws and commandments of God, the revelation of the prophets or the teachings of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ did NOT give His apostles the authority to loose any of the Ten Commandments or any of God’s laws that are not connected with the priesthood and Temple ritual. In fact, as the above scripture from Matthew 5 states, those who break the commandments and teach others to disregard God's laws are considered the LEAST! Jesus, however, DID give His apostles the authority to loose man-made religious traditions of the Jews (Mark 7:1-13; Acts 10:28) as well as pagan religious traditions (1Peter 1:18; Acts 14:8-18). | | What is the HOLY SEE?
What is the emblem of the PAPACY? | | | | | The "Holy See" (from the Latin term Sancta Sedes which means "holy chair") is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. The Holy See is the highest authority in the Catholic Church's top-down church government structure. The Holy See acts and speaks for the entire Roman Catholic Church and as such, since medieval times, has been recognized as a sovereign entity headed by the Pope. Although it is often referred to by the term "the Vatican", the Holy See is NOT the same entity as the Vatican City State, which came into existence in 1929 A.D. The Holy See, according to Catholic tradition, dates back to early Christian times. The Holy See maintains formal diplomatic relations with 179 sovereign states around the world. Ambassadors are officially accredited not to the Vatican City State but to "the Holy See", and papal representatives to states and international organizations are recognized as representing the Holy See, NOT the Vatican City State. |  Emblem of the PapacyThe crossed keys represent the keys Catholics believe were given to Peter. A gold and silver key, bound by a cord, is used to symbolize Peter (and successors) are given the power of "binding and loosing." |
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What Old Testament teachings are still BOUND in the New Testament? New Testament teachings that were foreshadowed and prophesied in the Old Testament and were "bound" or decreed in heaven before Jesus Christ came in the flesh are as follows: To love the Lord God with all one’s heart, soul and might (Deuteronomy 6:4-6; Matthew 22:37-40) For Jesus to magnify the Law and make it glorious (Isaiah 52:14; Matthew 5-7) For Christ to die for the sins of the world (Psalms 22; Isaiah 53; John 1:36; Revelation 13:8) Forgiveness of sin, upon repentance, without temple animal sacrifices (Psalms 32:1-2; 51:1-17; Romans 3:20-24; Hebrews 10:1-17); Circumcision of the heart (Deuteronomy 10:16; Romans 2:28-29; Colossians 2:2-13) Seventh-day Sabbath and God's annual feast days keeping for uncircumcised Gentiles (Isaiah 56:1-6), which was taught by Paul (Acts 13:42-44; Hebrews 4:9;1Corinthians 5:8) and many others . . .
What are some MAJOR church decisions that are NOT honored in heaven?Any Christian-professing ministry or church that promotes sin — the transgression of the Law — in its binding or loosing decisions is operating contrary to the Word and will of God. Its decisions are simply inventions of men and do not have the authority of heaven behind them. Examples of these are: Adding to or taking away from the Word of God (Deuteronomy 12:30-32; Revelation 22:18-19); - Worshiping other gods or goddesses (Exodus 20:2-3;1Corinthians 10:20-21);
Endorsing the making and worshiping of idols (Exodus 20:4-6; Isaiah 42:8, 17; 44:9-20;1Corinthians 10:14; 12:2; Revelation 9:20-21; 21:8); Worshiping the dead "saints" (Isaiah 8:19-20); Apostate Christendom exchanged the Sabbath and holy days of God for pagan Sunday worship and occult holidays: such as Halloween, Christmas, New Years, Lent, Easter, etc., or any other so-called holidays of the religions of this world.
All binding and loosing decisions made by the ministry and brethren of Jesus Christ must be in complete accord with the Word of God and the teachings of Jesus Christ. These decisions are authoritative because they have "already been bound or loosed in heaven." As Jesus said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me" (Matthew 28:18). All binding and loosing must be based on the authority of Jesus Christ and the Word of God. |
