Lord’s Day 31
Q83. What are the keys of the kingdom?
The preaching of the holy gospel and Christian discipline toward repentance. 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.”
Commentary — Zacharias Ursinus (1616)
Having now shown who are to be admitted to the Lord's supper by the church, the doctrine respecting the power of the keys of the kingdom of heaven, comes naturally next in order, which, in addition to other things, teaches in an especial manner, how those who are not to be admitted to the Lord's table ought to be kept back and excluded from the sacraments, lest they profane them by coming. The things which claim special attention in regard to this subject are, I. "What is the power of the keys given to the church, and what are the parts thereof?"
II. "Is there any necessity for ecclesiastical discipline, and excommunication?"
III. "To whom is this power committed; against whom and in what order is it to be exercised?"