Application of Matthew 18:18: “Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven”

Do you know that a Bible verse in scripture can have more than one meaning and application? I will say that some verses in the scripture is like a stem with different branches and leaves and Matthew 18:18 is not an exception. It all depends on the application and meanings revealed by the Spirit at that given point in time (Matthew 10:27).

Just as it is written in Matthew 18:18: “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.”

This also is repeated almost verbatim in Matthew 16:19 when Jesus promised to give Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven.

As children of God, we have authority over the kingdom of darkness and over all the powers of the enemies (Luke 10:19; Psalm 91:13) and we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers in high places (Ephesians 6:12). By the power bestowed on us by Jesus and through prayer and supplication (Philippians 4:6; Ephesians 6:18) whatever we bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatever we loose also on earth shall be loosed in heaven (Matthew 18:18).

Whatever we decree on earth is also acted upon in heaven. A case study of this is Daniel in Daniel 10 when he prayed and fasted (Daniel 10:2-3) and heaven acted after being heard by God (Daniel 10:12). Though the forces of darkness waged war to prevent his prayers to be answered, but his prayer was answered eventually (Daniel 10:1-21).

The days of Daniel was in the days of old when Jesus was yet to come to the world to die for our sins and since Jesus Christ has come to die for the sins of man, no agent, demon or devil himself can wage war against the prayers of the children of God prayed in the name of Jesus because at the mention of the name “Jesus” all knees bow and all tongues confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord (Philippians 2:9-11) and there is power in the name of Jesus to break every chain and let loose (Acts 12:7; John 11:44).

Another application of Matthew 18:18, is on the authority bestowed on the spiritual heads of the church on biblical issues and disciplinary conducts. The spiritual head has the authority to humbly discipline anyone who goes contrary to the laws of the scriptures and the laws of God (1 Timothy 5:20). This authority is from God because it is God who set the spiritual heads on the positions as leaders (1 Corinthians 12:28), with Christ the overall head of the church (Ephesians 5:23).

For example when someone is placed on a church discipline, he is bound by the leadership and it’s also recorded in heaven (Matthew 18:18). That individual should not out of annoyance leave the church at that given point in time as this may attract some eternal consequences.

We have been told in the scriptures to be subject to higher powers and obey what is commanded so long it’s in alliance with the scriptures.

Titus 3:1: “Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,”

It is God who placed us under a particular church and we should not leave for trivial reasons except for situations like the church teaching that which is not in alliance with the scripture or immoralities right inside the church (Revelation 2:20).

Written by Faithful Servant


Origin: Biblical Christian Quotes and Lessons by FaithfulServant

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