Understanding Matthew 16:19: A Closer Look
In the King James Version, Matthew 16:19 reads: “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.”
However, Jay P. Green’s Literal Translation provides deeper clarity: “And I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of Heaven. And whatever you bind on earth shall occur, having been bound in Heaven. And whatever you may loose on the earth shall be, having been loosed in Heaven.”
The key phrase here is “having been bound,” indicating that God has already taken the prior action of binding and loosing. This sheds new light on one of the most misunderstood verses in the churches today, emphasizing God’s sovereignty and prior action in these matters.