Lord’s Day 31
Q83. What are the keys of the kingdom?
The preaching of the gospel and church discipline that calls people to turn from sin. Both preaching and discipline open the kingdom of heaven to believers and close it to unbelievers.
Scripture Proofs — King James Version
Matthew 16:19
“And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Matthew 18:15–20
“Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
John 20:21–23
“Then said Jesus to them again, Peace unto you: as Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on , and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; whose soever ye retain, they are retained.”
Parent Guide
Discuss this question together
Discussion Questions
- 1
What are the two "keys" of the kingdom that the catechism describes?
- 2
How does preaching the gospel open the kingdom of heaven?
- 3
Why do you think Jesus gave his church both preaching and discipline instead of just one?
Illustration
A key can lock a door or unlock it. The same key does both jobs. Gospel preaching works the same way. When the good news is declared, it opens the door to everyone who believes. It also closes the door to everyone who refuses to believe. The same message does both.
Application
The next time you hear a sermon, listen for both parts of the message: the invitation to trust Christ and the warning to those who will not. Thank God that his church has been given the responsibility to proclaim both.