“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven and whatever you forbid on earth must be what is already forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth must be what is already permitted in heaven.”
Matthew 16:19. Williams Translation
It’s one thing to have authority, it’s a whole other matter to use it righteously. Psalm 89:14 reminds us that righteousness and justice are the foundation of God’s throne.
Righteous authority holds right judgment, and right judgment comes from agreement with God. “Only the impartial can know the will of God” is a great quote from Rees Howell on Intercession from John 5:30 ~
I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
I’m especially fond of today’s translation, by Charles B. Williams. This translation was published by Moody Press in 1957 for just this reason, they “recognized the significant contribution in bringing out the revealing tense distinctions in the Greek Verbs.” We see it here in Matthew 16:19 verse and again in Matthew 18:19.
Whatever you forbid on earth must be what is already forbidden in heaven.
Whatever you permit on earth must be what is already permitted in heaven.
We want to administrate the Kingdom here on the earth, but we must hold proper alignment before we can wield proper administration. The Centurion’s response to Jesus, “ I am also a man under authority” enabled the centurion’s faith to receive his servant’s healing. In that one statement the Centurion, completely outside the covenant of God, aligned himself with the Lord and judged righteously.
We know that Jesus lived to do the will of the Father. We know that Jesus only said what the Father told him to say. We know that Jesus only did what the Father showed Him to do and as a loyal son, His authority ruled over all natural and spiritual conditions. We learn from Johns gospel that even the Holy Spirit does not speak on his authority. “ He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”
All righteous use of authority will glorify our Father in heaven because it is ultimately done in obedience to what is already permitted or forbidden in heaven. It is rightly aligned to His will, things already established in heaven.
Jesus gave authority to his disciples, who at the time were not born again and not filled with the Spirit to carry His message and His works. Simple obedience to the one who had given them the right to do these things made their work and words effective.
Behold I give you all power (Greek word is authority) over all the power of the devil and nothing shall be any means harms you. Luke 10:1
Jesus sets, for all His disciples, a standard they must embrace to to have the same impact and results Jesus had on this earth.
Jesus said, Behold: all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, make disciples, baptize them, teach them to observe all I have commanded you and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Matthew 28:18..
The fruitfulness born from obedience to this verse comes because we are rightly aligned to His command. The promise of His presence comes because we are in agreement with Him.
We pray, “Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” May I encourage all, as we go forth to extend His Kingdom, let us use the Keys that He has given ~
What we forbid on earth must already be forbidden in heaven.
What we permit on earth must be already permitted in heaven.