This week’s question was in relation to Matthew 16.19 and how it
should be taught: δώσω σοι τὰς κλεῖδας τῆς βασιλείας τῶν
οὐρανῶν, καὶ ὃ ἐὰν δήσῃς ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἔσται δεδεμένον ἐν τοῖς
οὐρανοῖς, καὶ ὃ ἐὰν λύσῃς ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἔσται λελυμένον ἐν τοῖς
οὐρανοῖς. I believe that the passage refers to the rabbinical
idea of ratifying the decrees of Heaven. In other words, the
Rabbi’s saw it as a judicial measure when they were interpreting
Scripture, much in the way pastors do so now with Scripture.
Scripture was from God, but to ratify it was to interpret it
according to the situation at hand. How to apply the Levitical
law or the like. in other words, I believe that this passage
refers to Scripture as our bedrock but the Church as the
magisterium of those words. By keys, I think that Christ is
referring to the Apostles as the gate keepers, as the preachers
and ministers to God’s household. To sum, this passage is not so
much about binding or loosening anything, but about the Church’s
authority to preach Scripture. It