Binding and Loosing
The Biblical concept of binding and loosing pertains to the degree to which actions are constrained by law. To illustrate, by way of secular example section 92.06 of the Akron, Ohio, city ordinances states: “No person shall dye or otherwise color any rabbit or baby poultry, including, but not limited to, chicks and ducklings.” This law has been bound and is thereby enforceable in Akron, Ohio. The Akron citizen is constrained from coloring baby ducks. However, since there are no laws in Akron, Ohio about painting your pet elephant, citizens are loosed (not constrained) in doing so. All citizens of Akron, Ohio, are bound or loosed by the laws pertaining to Akron. On the largest of scales, the Bible is the ultimate authority by which all actions are bound or loosed today. How does this book have such authority to bind and loose?
Binding and Loosing? How is this done?
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1). God is creator, we are creation. The man Job realized the state of humans when before God he stated: “Behold I am insignificant; what can I reply to Thee” (Job 40: 4). Isaiah 64:8 establishes that God is the potter, man the clay. The creation logically does not have authority over the creator. The Bible given to man is the Word of God. They are the edict of the King. They are uncontestable.
When the man Jesus came to the earth, God made it clear Jesus was His Son and man was to listen to Him (Matthew 17:5). The Jews of that time wondered when Jesus spoke how he could do so with authority (Matthew 21:23). Consider how Jesus received his authority:
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.
John 12:49-50 – For I spake not from myself; but the Father that sent me, he hath given me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life eternal: the things therefore which I speak, even as the Father hath said unto me, so I speak.
Jesus sought to do the will of his Father. He only stated what the Father would have him say. He did nothing of Himself, only that which the Father had given him authority to do. Consider John 1:1-3 where Jesus, the Word of God (John 14:6, John 17:17) creates all things. God says, “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3), it was done. Jesus did not simultaneously create a light source. God had not said to do so and Jesus only does what He is told. Jesus does not add to or do less than what He is told by the Father. Thus, through the Father, Christ has always constrained himself. When tempted by Satan in Matthew 4, Jesus followed the same pattern of stating his Father’s will, “it is written”. In the obedience of Christ, the Father than gave Jesus all authority (Matthew 28:18).
The apostles were gathered together by Christ. They were nobodies. However, Christ made them men with authority. How?
John 14:26 – But the Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you.
John 16:13 – Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Matthew 28:19-20 – Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.
The Holy Spirit comes to these men and by the authority of Christ, given by the Father, shares all truth (the Word of God) with them. They are then told to teach the truth Christ shared by himself and through the Spirit. In doing so, they are doing no less than what Christ himself did. They acted with authority of the Father. They constrained or bound themselves to it. Jesus tells Peter the following in Matthew 16:19:
“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you shall bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you shall loosen earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”
Of note is the false doctrine some twist from this verse of papal succession. It is believed that starting with Peter a line of succession to bind and loose doctrinal precepts upon mankind was handed down through today by the popes. This is a gross misunderstanding and misapplication of scripture. To begin with, “the keys of the kingdom” is a term referencing the sharing of the Word of God. Peter shared the Word on the day of Pentecost and 3000 souls were added to the kingdom. The doors to the kingdom were opened by the keys of the gospel. Next, the charge to bind and loose was not just given to Peter, but also to the disciples (followers of Christ – Matthew 18:18):
“Truly I say to you, whatever you shall bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”
The binding and loosing is not something that was assigned to an individual or a succession of popes, but to the followers of Christ. Yet, there is an even more important understanding that must be realized. In both Matthew 16 and 18, the ability to bind and loose, the ability to constrain according to authority of Christ given by the Father, is something which is directly tied to that which has already been bound or loosed in heaven. In simplistic terms: Share the word and stick to it. Don’t add to it and don’t take away from it. What is commanded to be followed is that which has been established by God already. There is not authority given to create new law. God’s law is not imperfect needing additions or subtractions to it depending upon the situation.
Romans 12:2 – Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 – All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
2 Peter 1:3 – His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,
Jude 1:3 – Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
The verses above all point to the fact that the Word of God has been given in complete to man. There are no further words or clarifications which are needed. There are no new laws to constrain upon mankind. Of importance in answering our question about how the Word of God has authority two more verses must be mentioned. We know that God the Father instructed Jesus and he followed. Jesus instructed the apostles directly and through the Holy Spirit and they followed. This is important in the understanding of the authority of the Bible for no word of scripture has been taught by the opinion of those apostles. It has only been through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit through Christ we have received the teachings of Christ.
2 Peter 1:20-21 – knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Galatians 1:11-12 – For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
If by Pope, “angel”, vision, emotion, friend, Bishop, or theologian an instruction is given which is not found to be in agreement with the Bible, there is no authority in their words (Galatians 1:6-10). Man cannot be constrained by that which the Words of God as found in scripture do not constrain. Man is free where there is no constraint. Binding and loosing is the responsibility of all who would share the gospel. It is a responsibility they follow with Christ, the Apostles, and past disciples. It is the binding and loosing of that which has been established previously in heaven and nothing more. Accursed are those who do not do so.