The Church Binds and Looses

18“Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be^e bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be^f loosed in heaven. (Matthew 18:18)

Thoughts: What does this mean?  The context is of treating someone as a pagan when they rebel against the church.  Basically, Jesus is saying that the church has some heavenly power, that is not to be taken lightly.  In a similar phrase in Matthew 16:19, Jesus is talking about the church and says to Peter, "I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven and whatever yo bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."  The Jewish Targums speak of this binding and loosing as forbidding and permitting (like deciding a judgment in court).  Some see this as opening the kingdom of heaven to others by preaching and giving other an opportunity to respond to Jesus
    Today many think that there is no authority in the church.  The church sins, and how can an imperfect institution judge.  But the mistake is to think that sinners cannot be used by God and that the church is an institution instead of the children of God together.  John Calvin speaks of the church liberating people (loosing them) by restoring them after discipline, but also reminding people that their sins are forgiven when they truly confess them.  The church not only has the power, but should use its power to rebuke those who are leading others astray- causing them to stumble, and to free people of guilt by reminding them of their forgiveness in Christ- that if we confess our sins He forgives them.  The power to do this is by the Word of God- not the church's own proclamations.  The promise also pertains to prayer- when we agree on earth it is done in heaven (18:20).  There is power in the church AND power in prayer.  

Prayer: Lord, thank you that you steer me on the straight path but also set me loose on that path in true freedom.